Increase in open-identity sperm donation in the United States since 1996
Despite fewer US sperm banks, donor pool remains stable with major shift toward open-identity options
Valido, A., Harbour, V., & Scheib, J. E. (2024). Increase in open-identity sperm donation in the United States since 1996. Fertility and Sterility. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.09.012
Geographic Region: United States
Research Aim: To assess the number of US sperm banks, their open-identity donation options, and the size and composition of the sperm donor pool over time.
Research Methods: Longitudinal study design. Publicly available data was collected over 18 years on bank-level (1996, 2006, 2012, 2024) and donor-level (2006, 2012, 2024) information.
Sample: In 2006 there were 1,693 donors across 31 banks. In 2012, there were 1,512 donors across 15 banks. In 2024, there were 1,763 donors across 14 banks.
Analysis Methods: Descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests for comparing proportions. Kruskal-Wallis H test for comparing medians. Spearman's rank correlation.
Key Findings
The total number of US sperm donors remained relatively stable over time.
The proportion of open-identity donors increased significantly from 11.9% in 2006 to 65% in 2024.
The number of US sperm banks decreased from 29 in 1996 to 16 in 2024.
The number of banks offering open-identity donation increased from 3 in 1996 to 9 in 2024.
Larger banks tended to have a greater proportion of open-identity donors in 2006 and 2024.
Limitations: Limited donor-level data available for the 2012 timepoint. Reliance on publicly available data, which may not capture all aspects of the industry. Potential for selection bias in banks that make their data publicly available.
Applications: The data indicate a shift towards more open-identity options in the US, which demonstrates the growing importance of open-identity donation programs and need for state and federal policies on gamete donation and donor anonymity
Funding Source: Not stated
Lead Author: Austin Valido is a medical student with a scholarly concentration in biomedical ethics and medical humanities at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Regulatory Context:
There are no comprehensive federal laws regulating gamete donation or donor conception in the US. The process is largely self-regulated by the fertility industry.
The US is considered one of the world's largest exporters of sperm, with some sperm banks sending 60% of their vials overseas.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does have some oversight, primarily related to screening and testing of donors for infectious diseases.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) provides ethical guidelines and recommendations for donation practices. However, these are not legally binding.
There are no legal limits on compensation for donors. A 2011 court ruling (Kamakahi v. ASRM) determined that price caps on donor compensation violate antitrust laws.
ASRM recommends a minimum age of 21 for gamete donors, but this is not legally mandated.
The U.S. does not have federal laws prohibiting anonymous donation. One state (Colorado) prohibits anonymous donation.
Some states have enacted their own laws regarding aspects of assisted reproduction, and parentage, but these vary widely.
Bonus: You might also be interested in what the research says about using kids books to talk about donor conception!