A sperm bank recruits, screens, and stores human sperm for assisted reproductive procedures. The process of becoming a donor is highly selective, involving multiple layers of evaluation to ensure quality and safety. Screening begins with a comprehensive application to assess eligibility before moving on to medical and genetic testing. Potential donors often ask about the role of physical attributes, particularly height, in the acceptance process.
Height as a Screening Factor
Most sperm banks impose a minimum height requirement for potential donors, a criterion not based on medical necessity. The height floor is typically set to align with recipient preferences, as many people utilizing donor sperm desire certain physical characteristics. While standards vary, the minimum is often 5 feet 8 inches or 5 feet 10 inches, reflecting a demand for taller donors. The rationale is market-driven, aiming to provide a donor pool that reflects common physical desirability.
Some cryobanks may adjust this requirement slightly lower, sometimes to 5 feet 6 inches, or even lower for specific ethnic groups to ensure diversity. This physical screening criterion relates purely to aesthetic preferences rather than the health of the resulting child. Other physical criteria, such as a healthy body mass index, are enforced because they correlate with overall health and sperm quality.
Mandatory Health and Genetic Screening
The most non-negotiable requirements are mandated by regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect public health. These regulations classify donor sperm as a Human Cell and Tissue Product (HCT/P), requiring extensive infectious disease screening and testing. Donors must be tested for a specific panel of infectious diseases, including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) types I and II, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea.
Infectious disease testing is not a one-time event; donors undergo re-testing every six months throughout their participation to ensure continued safety. Beyond infectious agents, the screening process requires a deep dive into the donor’s medical history, spanning back three generations of both maternal and paternal lines. This review helps identify any patterns of inherited disorders or conditions that could be passed to offspring.
Genetic screening is also performed to test for carrier status of hundreds of conditions, which is standard practice for quality cryobanks. Common tests include screening for conditions like Cystic Fibrosis and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. If a donor is found to be a carrier for a serious recessive disorder, their sperm may still be used, but only for recipients who are not carriers for the same condition, requiring careful genetic matching.
Age, Education, and Administrative Requirements
Beyond the physical and medical criteria, a donor must meet specific demographic and administrative standards. The age range for donors is strictly enforced, typically between 18 and 39 years old, though some banks may extend the upper limit to 44. This range ensures the donor is mature enough to understand the commitment while minimizing the risk of genetic mutations associated with advanced paternal age.
Educational attainment is a frequent requirement, often demanding that applicants be currently enrolled in college or have already obtained a degree. Recipients often place a high value on cognitive traits, and educational background is used as a proxy for intelligence and potential. This preference for higher education significantly narrows the application pool, contributing to the high rejection rate.
The administrative commitment is substantial, demanding logistical compliance. Applicants must typically live within a short commuting distance of the facility to facilitate frequent donations, often once or twice per week. The donation commitment can last for a minimum of six to twelve months, and donors must also pass a psychological evaluation.