Are You Eligible to Earn Money As a Sperm Donor?
While being a sperm donor may seem like a straightforward process with minimal requirements, this is not the case at all. That’s because the ideal sperm donor has to meet a set of strict requirements that have been put in place to ensure that good health and other qualities are prioritized. With between 1% and 5% making the cut, it’s a good idea to know if you have a good chance to qualify as one. Here are a few of the considerations that you have to make to tell whether you’ll be selected as one so that you know your odds from the start.
You Should Be in the Right Age Range
For the ideal outcome to be realized with the donated sperm, most sperm donor clinics have an age limit that the donor should fall within. This may be different from one clinic to the next, but most sperm banks require that donors be aged between 18 and 39. Some sperm banks can set the upper age limit at 34 depending on their own set of guidelines. The reason why this is the case is that sperm quality deteriorates with age, and it’s important to have the best quality so that it can pass several tests and survive being frozen for storage. To lower the chances of ending up with lots of donations that are not viable for use when necessary, it’s best to fit within the required age bracket.
You Should Be in Good Health
You also need to be in perfect health to be a viable sperm donor. This means that you’re going to be screened for some illnesses and infections, and the tests should all come back clear. From Hepatitis and Chlamydia to Syphilis and even COVID-19, there’s a list of diseases and infections for which you’ll be tested during the initial screening. You should also be in generally good health and fall within a certain weight and fitness window, something that’s possible if you exercise regularly. Up to 45% of millennials take part in regular exercise. This is one of the things that can keep you healthy enough to be a viable sperm donor.
You Should Pass a Thorough Background Check
The ideal donor should be prepared to undergo a thorough background check as well. This may involve a psychological assessment as well as a criminal background check. This will clear you of mental health issues, and it’s normally carried out in a series of interviews by the sperm bank.
By the end of this, you should be found to be both emotionally and psychologically ready to participate in the program. During these tests, you may be asked if you use recreational substances, something that may disqualify you. This is an important detail because, according to the CDC, diabetes and tobacco are two risk factors for gum disease, and it’s important to ensure that this isn’t a possibility.
You Should Be Genetically Fit
Finally, you also need to pass genetic screening, which involves reviewing your extended genetic profile. This includes the donor’s information, as well as information about the health of the donor’s parents, siblings, grandparents, and even aunts, uncles, and cousins. Birth defects and known genetic conditions are checked at this point, and any donor whose family history shows that their offspring may have a high risk for these is disqualified.
The screening process can be long and has some requirements, and this is to ensure that your sperm is in the best health. If you pass this process, you’ll be taken to the next stage at which your sperm is evaluated for the ability to stay viable after it’s frozen. This is the second and final stage, which means that you need to be prepared to go through a long process to be accepted as a sperm donor.