Sperm donation laws vary depending on which country you live in.
Across the world there is a limit to the number of children born from a sperm donor. The main reason for this is to reduce the risk of accidental inbreeding between sperm donor’s offspring.
Sperm donor anonymity laws also vary from country to country. There has been a growing recognition of children’s rights to know their genetic parents so a lot of countries now enforce sperm donor’s details to be made available when a children reaches 18 years of age.
Sperm Donation Law in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom HFEA guidelines mean that clinics must show all the non-identifying information available on sperm donors in addition to a hand written letter to the child.
The HFEA rules that 10 families can be created from one sperm donor. A donor can however help to create more siblings within one family.
Donors throughout the UK are paid just £35 per donation.
Sperm Donation Law in the United States
The ASRM guidelines in the United States limit a donor to 25 births per population area of 850,000 although these numbers are not officially tracked.
Sperm Donation Law in Australia
Sperm donors do not receive any pay for their sperm. They are allowed to claim for expenses such as travel and parking.
In the state of Victoria, donors are only allowed to create 10 families. In Western Australia the number of families for each donor is limited to 5.
Sperm Donation Law in New Zealand
In New Zealand fertility clinics limit each donor to fathering a maximum of 10 children to four families.
It is illegal to pay a sperm donor in New Zealand however you can be reimbursed for general expenses.
Sperm Donation Law in Canada
Donors in Canada are not restricted on the number of families created however a maximum of 25 offspring per population of 800,000 can be born.
The Assisted Human Reproduction Act prevents sperm donors being paid for their donations.
Sperm Donation Law in Europe
Denmark
Denmark is one of the most popular countries worldwide for exporting sperm. A Danish donor is allowed by law to create up to 12 families.
Worldwide there could be thousands of families created by donors from Danish sperm banks.
In recent years there has been a huge surge in the numbers of foreign women buying sperm from Danish sperm banks. Cryos in Denmark sells sperm to 70 countries and is said to create more than 2,000 babies a year.
Belgium, France and Spain
Donors in France and Belgium can create a maximum of six families.
France does not allow single women and lesbian couples to have treatment using donor sperm.
Germany
German donors are not allowed to produce more than fifteen children.
Norway
Clinics in Norway allow a maximum of eight children per sperm donor.
Sweden
Sperm donors in Sweden can help a maximum of six couples to have a baby and also have a sibling.
Switzerland
Gay and lesbian couples are not allowed to receive sperm donation treatment. Only married heterosexual couples can have treatment. A donor can create eight children through his donations.
Here is your quick guide to sperm donation law by country.
Country Sperm Donor Pay Maximum number of children born or families allowed to be donated to. Is a Sperm donor anonymous?
United Kingdom Sperm donor is set as £35 per visit across the UK. Donors can successfully donate to 10 families in the UK. No. Sperm donor identity is released to any children born when they are 18 years old.
United States US sperm banks pay varying amounts:
Seattle Sperm Bank pay $70 per donation
Fertility Center of California pay $60 per donation
The Sperm Bank of California pay $60 per donation
Massachusetts New England Cryogenic pay $100 per donation
Washington Northwest Andrology & Cryobank Inc. pay up to $1000 per month US guidelines recommend 25 children per 850,000 population however there is no law that governs this. Sperm donors have the option to remain anonymous, or to agree that the children can get in touch when they turn 18.
Canada
Canadian clinics cannot legally pay sperm donors. Canada base their donor children as acceptable for 25 children per 800,000 population. Donors in Canada can consent to having their information known, but may also remain anonymous
Australia
Sperm donors do not receive any pay for their sperm. They are allowed to claim for expenses such as travel and parking. Sperm donors can have successful donations to between 5 and 10 families depending on which state you are donating in. A donor-conceived person can request access to their identity once he/she has either reached the age of 18
New Zealand
It is illegal to pay a sperm donor in New Zealand however you can be reimbursed for general expenses during the donation process. New Zealand has a voluntary policy law stating that a sperm donor can have a maximum of 10 children to four families. Sperm donors in New Zealand are not anonymous.
Europe Denmark pay up to 500 Krone per donation.
Sweden pay up to 300SEK
Most other European countries including France, Germany and Switzerland do not pay a fee but allow a sperm donor to claim expenses. Across Europe donors can legally conceive between 5 (France) and 25 children (Netherlands).
Belgium and Spain allow 6 children, Norway 8 and Germany 15.
Sperm donors in Denmark, France and Spain can remain anonymous however in Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland your details will be made available to your children.
Sperm donor anonymity remains a huge debate worldwide. Debates are still in full flow about which rights are more important: the donor’s right to privacy or the child right to a full identity.