Can LGBTQ+ Men be Sperm Donors?

When it comes to sperm donation, there’s a lot of confusion about what’s actually permitted for gay and bisexual men. The short answer is that the FDA currently does not allow men who have had sex with another man in the last five years to be anonymous (or “non-directed”) sperm donors. However, for directed donations, when the donor is known to the recipient, it is allowed, as long as specific steps are followed.

What the FDA Rules Say

Under FDA regulations, all sperm donors must be screened for infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis B and C, and others. On the FDA’s standard donor eligibility form, any man who has had sex with another man in the past five years is automatically considered “ineligible.”

That word sounds final, but in practice, it isn’t. In directed donations, where the recipient(s) personally know and choose their donor, the FDA allows the recipient parents to waive this ineligibility. This means that gay or bisexual men can legally and safely donate sperm to people they know — for example, to friends or a couple they’ve built trust with.

How This Differs from Anonymous Donations

Anonymous donations are regulated more strictly because recipients don’t know the donor personally. In those cases, the FDA prohibits sperm banks from accepting donations from any man who has had sex with another man in the past five years. This policy was first introduced during the height of the HIV epidemic and hasn’t been fully updated to reflect modern science and public health advances.

The Role of PrEP and Modern HIV Prevention

Today, many gay and bisexual men take PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a once-daily oral medication (or injectable) that reduces the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99% when taken consistently, making it even more effective than condoms. Despite this, the FDA’s sperm donor policy still uses a five-year sexual history window, which does not take into account PrEP use, monogamous relationships, or regular HIV testing.

This is one reason many LGBTQ+ advocates and fertility professionals are calling for reform of the donor eligibility criteria: to ensure the policy reflects current science rather than outdated assumptions.

Quarantine Requirements for Directed Donations

Another common misconception is that sperm from directed donors must be quarantined (frozen and held for a waiting period before use). The FDA does not require a quarantine for directed donors, but the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) encourages clinics to observe a 35-day quarantine. This allows for repeat infectious disease testing and provides an added layer of safety and reassurance for everyone involved.

The Bottom Line

• Anonymous donation: Gay and bisexual men are currently excluded under FDA rules.

• Directed donation: Allowed, but donors are technically marked “ineligible” requiring recipient parents to sign a waiver.

For LGBTQ+ men who want to help others build families, and for the parents who want to choose a donor they know and trust, the directed donation pathway offers a safe, legal, and affirming route. 

At The Seed Scout, we’re proud to work with and support our LGBTQ+ sperm donors. We know how much love, generosity, and courage they bring to this process, and we’re deeply grateful for the families they help create.