Sperm Donor Genetic Testing

Current generally recommended genetic testing

Genetic testing helps reduce risk for certain specific genetic disorders.

None of this eliminates risk. 

For all donors:

Cystic Fibrosis mutations, Chromosome analysis (Karyotyping), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) mutations and hemoglobin evaluation for abnormal hemoglobins and thalassemia.

Donors of Ashkenazi Jewish origin:

Current recommendations include, Tay-Sachs disease, Canavan disease, Familial dysautonomia, Bloom syndrome,  Fanconi anemia type C, Gaucher disease, mucolipidosis type IV and Nieman-Pick type A.

Egg donors:

Recommended to have testing for Fragile X as well as the same diseases listed for sperm donors.

It is important to understan that the donor sperm recipient provides fully ½ of all the DNA of a child. Ideally the recipient should have genetic evaluation similar to that of the sperm donor.

There are also some diseases that are inherited solely from the mother. These are mitochondrial disorders. We humans inherit our mitochondria exclusively from our mothers.

If you know you are a carrier for a known genetic disease we strongly urge you to discuss this with the sperm bank before you choose a donor.