Choosing a trusted sperm bank starts with understanding how donors are screened—and how their medical, genetic, and psychological histories are evaluated. At MySperm Bank, donor qualification follows rigorous, evidence based standards rooted in ASRM, FDA, CDC, and AATB guidelines. These standards protect recipients, ensure donor eligibility, and support the long term health of donor conceived families.
Below, we break down how donors qualify, what health history we collect, and the age requirements involved.
Why Donor Criteria Matter
The integrity of donor selection isn't just about minimizing medical risk—it's foundational to ethical, safe, and transparent donor conception. ASRM underscores that donor screening must include infectious disease testing, genetic risk assessment, and psychological evaluation, ensuring both donors and recipients are fully prepared for the implications of gamete donation.
1. Donor Eligibility: Who Can Become a Sperm Donor?
Age Requirements
ASRM's Gamete and Embryo Donation Guidance establishes donor eligibility criteria, including the requirement that donors meet health, screening, and psychological standards—but it does not specify age minimums/maximums in the excerpt available through search. It does confirm that donors undergo a structured evaluation process that includes medical, genetic, and psychosocial screening.
Most U.S. sperm banks (including those aligned with ASRM guidelines) typically accept donors aged:
- 18–40 years old (industry standard; upper limits are driven by best practice risk reduction for genetic and medical factors)
2. How Donors' Health History Is Collected
ASRM's 2024 donor guidance outlines a multi layered process for gathering and evaluating health history, including:
A. Detailed Medical History Questionnaire
Donors must complete an extensive medical questionnaire as part of FDA required donor eligibility screening. This includes:
- Past medical conditions
- Hereditary diseases
- Surgical history
- Medication use
- Family history of genetic disorders
- Lifestyle factors
B. Infectious Disease Screening
FDA mandated infectious disease testing includes:
- HIV
- Hepatitis B & C
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhea
- Chlamydia
C. Genetic Risk Assessment
ASRM calls for genetic screening and family history review to identify autosomal recessive, X linked, and other inheritable conditions. Donors must meet ASRM recommended genetic assessment standards to qualify.
This process helps:
- Identify carriers of heritable diseases
- Ensure compatibility with recipient genetic profiles
- Reduce risk to future offspring
D. Psychological Assessment
Psychoeducational counseling is an ASRM recommended requirement for both donors and recipients. It evaluates:
- Motivation to donate
- Emotional readiness
- Understanding of long term implications (incl. identity release and DNA era traceability)
ASRM specifies that donor screening includes psychological assessments to ensure donors are fully informed and provide voluntary, ethical consent.
3. What Donors Must Go Through to Qualify
Step 1: Initial Application & Pre Screen
- Demographic information
- Health/lifestyle questionnaire
- Motivation and background assessment
Step 2: Medical Screening
- Physical examination
- Blood testing
- Urine testing
- Infectious disease testing
Step 3: Genetic Screening
- Carrier screening panel
- Family history review
Step 4: Psychological Evaluation
A reproductive mental health professional conducts a structured assessment to ensure:
- Donor understands potential future contact
- Decisions are voluntary
- Donor is stable, informed, and emotionally appropriate
- A background check is also performed at this stage
Step 5: Semen Analysis
Donors must meet strict quality thresholds, including:
- Sperm count
- Motility
- Morphology
Only a small percentage of applicants ultimately qualify.
Step 6: Quarantine & Retesting
Semen samples are quarantined and donors are retested after a mandated period to ensure safety. ASRM outlines semen quarantine and eligibility requirements for donor gametes.
4. Why This Matters for Recipient Parents
Following ASRM guidelines ensures:
- Safer conception
- Reduced genetic risk
- Protection against infectious diseases
- Ethical transparency for donors and recipients
- Long term psychological and identity support for future offspring (through counseling and informed consent)
Final Thoughts
High quality donor selection isn't simply a checklist—it's a carefully regulated, multi step process designed to protect the physical and emotional well being of donors, recipients, and donor conceived children. At MySperm Bank, we follow the highest standards informed by ASRM, ensuring every donor is screened with care, transparency, and ethical responsibility.