Researching general sperm donation qualifications in your area to see if you qualify? Let us be your expert sperm donation guide as you cruise the internet! One of the most common queries about qualifying to donate sperm is, “what age can you donate sperm?” Read on as we’ll do more than scratch the surface of age requirements, donor requirements in general, and unfold the surprisingly quick donation process!
What age can you donate sperm?
So, what age can you donate sperm? While most sperm banks in the United States are comparable in that aspiring sperm donors must be at least 18 years of age, at The World Egg and Sperm Bank you can be a donor from 18 years old up until 39 years of age.
Why do you have to wait until you’re 18 to donate sperm?
While this may seem unnecessary to clarify, sperm donors need to be of a legal consenting age. Becoming a donor, whether it be for eggs or sperm, is a significant choice to make, one that takes serious consideration and preemptive thought with the guidance of our clinical staff and psychologist. Even if you are of age, we always want to make sure that all aspiring donors understand the journey and responsibilities ahead and feel physically and mentally ready to embark.
Why can you only be a sperm donor up until 39 years old?
Men can only be eligible to donate their sperm up to a certain age, and this largely concerns changing fertility status as men grow older.
Sperm Count and Quality
Researchers have found that many aspects of men’s sperm decrease as they age concerning quantity and quality:
- Quantity of sperm– the amount of sperm in semen.
- Normal sperm morphology– The shape and size of your sperm.
- Sperm viability– percentage of live sperm found in semen.
- Sperm motility– the sperm’s ability to move toward the egg.
Male fertility generally begins to reduce from ages 40 to 45. This reduces the chances of pregnancy and increases the time it takes to become pregnant.
Genetic Risks
Research also shows correlation of reduced genetic quality of the sperm and genetic issues when dealing with older men. According to research older genetic fathers are more likely to have children with:
- Autism
- Bipolar Disorder
- Childhood Leukemia
- schizophrenia
Overall, the viability of sperm depletes as you age, leading to a lower percentage of healthy, usable sperm for our bank to collect and freeze for future families.
What are the other requirements to donate sperm?
So, what other parameters must you meet besides age to qualify to donate sperm with us?
Location: Within driving distance of our facility located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sperm donors will need to visit our facility multiple times for screenings and testing, as well as coming 1-3 times per week for their donations.
Citizenship: You must be a U.S citizen or hold a permanent residency the United States.
Health: Sperm donors will complete a general physical, blood draws, as well as psychological screening to determine the overall health of the donor as well as assess their willingness to donate.
Sperm Health and quality While you may meet our age requirements, we still must ensure the quality of your sperm. In the screening process, before you start regularly donating, you will provide a test sample. Our clinical staff will then test your sperm for health and quality, looking at:
- sperm count – Amount of sperm in your sample.
- Sperm motility – The sperms ability to swim towards the egg.
- Sperm morphology – The shape and size of your sperm.
- Sperm overall vitality – The percentage of live sperm in your sample.
What are the steps to become a sperm donor?
Potential donors like you can begin donating in as little as 5 simple steps!
1. Apply to Donate
Aspiring sperm donors will fill out our quick online application to see if you meet the initial qualifications to donate sperm.
2. Meet with Our Team
After you’ve been approved in our application, you’ll visit our state-of-the-art facility located in Scottsdale Arizona, to meet with one of our team members and provide a test sample.
3. Test Sample
Sperm donors will provide their initial test sample and our clinical team will test it for quantity and quality.
4. Health Screening
- Blood draws
- Urine sample
- General physical
- Genetic counseling
- Psychological screening
5. Start Regularly Donating
Sperm donors will begin making regular donations at our facility 1-3 times per week. This frequency of donations is based on set standards of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
Take the Plunge- Become a Sperm Donor Today!
We create a customized, comfortable environment for our sperm donors along with flexible scheduling and the needed privacy with our scattered donor appointments. Start your journey today by filling out our online application in less than 15 minutes!
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