Can you reapply to a sperm bank after being rejected?

It depends on the reason for rejection. If you were disqualified for a temporary condition — such as a recent tattoo, short-term medication use, or a treatable STI — you can typically reapply after the waiting period has passed. Permanent disqualifications like genetic conditions, HIV, or hepatitis cannot be reconsidered.

Do all sperm banks have the same disqualification criteria?

Most major banks follow similar core disqualifiers, but there are meaningful differences in areas like height minimums (5'7" to 5'9"), tattoo waiting periods (6 to 12 months), mental health evaluation flexibility, and medication policies. It is worth researching multiple banks before applying.

Can you be disqualified for family medical history alone?

Yes. Banks review three generations of family history. Conditions like Huntington's disease, cystic fibrosis, hereditary cancer syndromes, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder in your parents, siblings, or grandparents can disqualify you even if you are personally healthy and unaffected.

Is being overweight a disqualifier for sperm donation?

It can be. A BMI above 28 to 30 is considered a soft disqualifier at most banks and your application will be reviewed cautiously. A BMI above 35 is generally disqualifying, and a BMI above 40 (morbid obesity) is universally disqualifying across all major accredited banks.

Sperm Donor Disqualifications: Complete List of What Gets You Rejected (2026)

Sperm banks reject more than 95 percent of applicants. If you want to avoid wasting time on applications you will not pass, this complete disqualification list tells you exactly what gets men rejected — organized by category so you can quickly assess your own situation before applying.

Physical Requirements: Height, Weight, and Age

Height

Under 5'7": disqualifying at all major accredited U.S. banks
Under 5'8": disqualifying at Xytex, New England Cryogenic, European Sperm Bank USA
Under 5'9": disqualifying at California Cryobank, Manhattan Cryobank, Cryos International (U.S.)

BMI and Weight

BMI above 28 to 30: most banks consider this a soft disqualifier; application reviewed cautiously
BMI above 35: generally disqualifying
BMI above 40 (morbid obesity): universally disqualifying
BMI below 18 (underweight): typically disqualifying; indicates potential health issues

Age

Under 18: universally disqualifying regardless of parental consent
Over 39: disqualifying at most banks (some accept up to 44)
Over 45: universally disqualifying at all major accredited banks

Sperm Quality Disqualifications

Poor sperm quality is the single most common reason men are rejected — more common than medical or lifestyle disqualifiers. Sperm banks require quality levels three to five times higher than the WHO minimum for clinical fertility.

Azoospermia: no sperm in ejaculate — permanent disqualification
Severe oligospermia: fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter
Low total motility: fewer than 50 to 60 percent progressive motility
Poor morphology: less than 30 percent normal forms (banks require far above the WHO's 4 percent threshold)
Poor post-thaw survival: samples that lose too much motility after freezing — banks require at least 40 percent motility recovery
Low volume: ejaculate under 2.0 ml consistently
High white blood cells in sample: indicates active infection

Medical and Health Disqualifications

Chronic Conditions (Generally Permanent Disqualifiers)

Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
Heart disease or any structural heart abnormality
Hypertension requiring medication
Kidney disease or dysfunction
Liver disease (including non-alcoholic fatty liver)
Autoimmune disorders (lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease)
Bleeding disorders (hemophilia, von Willebrand disease)
Severe or uncontrolled asthma
COPD or chronic lung disease
Thyroid disorders requiring ongoing medication
Epilepsy (current seizures or on anticonvulsant medication)
History of cancer (most types, especially before age 50)

Infectious Diseases (Permanent Disqualifiers)

HIV positive (any status)
Hepatitis B (current or past infection)
Hepatitis C (current or past infection)
HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 (human T-cell lymphotropic virus)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or family history of it
Active syphilis (treated syphilis may be reviewed after documented cure and waiting period)

Infectious Diseases (Temporary Disqualifiers with Waiting Periods)

Zika virus exposure or travel to endemic areas: 6-month waiting period
Malaria: 12-month waiting period after treatment
Gonorrhea or chlamydia: 12 months after documented successful treatment
COVID-19 infection: 1 to 3 months depending on bank policy
Recent tattoos or piercings: 6 to 12 months
Recent blood transfusion: 12 months
Recent surgery with general anesthesia: typically 6 months

Genetic and Family Medical History Disqualifications

Note on Family History:

Banks review three generations of family history. A condition in your grandparents, parents, or siblings can disqualify you even if you are personally healthy. This is one area where applicants are frequently surprised.

Hereditary Genetic Conditions (Disqualifying in Donor or Close Family)

Huntington's disease
Cystic fibrosis (carrier status or affected)
Sickle cell disease or trait (some banks)
Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy
Fragile X syndrome
Polycystic kidney disease
Marfan syndrome
Neurofibromatosis (type 1 or 2)
Hereditary cancer syndromes: BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations, Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis
Tay-Sachs disease (carrier in certain populations)
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

Disqualifying Family History Patterns

Three or more first-degree relatives with the same cancer
Multiple relatives with heart disease before age 55
Alzheimer's disease in a parent or sibling
Multiple family members with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
Unexplained infant deaths or multiple miscarriages in close relatives
Congenital birth defects in siblings or children
Multiple relatives with Type 1 diabetes

Mental Health Disqualifications

Permanent or Near-Permanent Disqualifiers

Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
Bipolar I or II disorder
Major depressive disorder with current treatment or multiple episodes
Any personality disorder (borderline, antisocial, narcissistic)
Autism spectrum disorder (most banks)
History of suicide attempt or current suicidal ideation
Any history of psychiatric hospitalization
Current use of any psychiatric medication
Severe or recurrent panic disorder
OCD requiring ongoing medication or intensive treatment

Sometimes Reviewed Case-by-Case

Single episode of situational depression fully resolved without ongoing medication
ADHD managed without stimulant medication
Mild anxiety without medication history
Past therapy for life events (grief, adjustment disorder) with no current treatment

Substance Use Disqualifications

Current Use (Disqualifying)

Any illegal drug use, including marijuana in any form (even in legal states)
Tobacco products — cigarettes, vaping, chewing tobacco, cigars
Anabolic steroids
Alcohol abuse or dependency
Prescription drug misuse or abuse
Any intravenous drug use ever (permanent)

Waiting Periods After Cessation

Marijuana: 3 to 6 months clean
Tobacco: 6 to 12 months
Cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA: typically 1 to 2 years
Opioids (non-IV): 1 to 3 years depending on history
Alcohol abuse (not dependency): 12 months of documented sobriety

Sexual History and Behavior Disqualifications

HIV positive status: permanent disqualification
Men who have sex with men (MSM) in the past 3 to 5 years: many banks still follow FDA-derived deferral policies, though this is evolving
Sex work or pornography industry participation
Multiple concurrent sexual partners with unprotected sex (assessed by risk level)
Active untreated sexually transmitted infection

Medication Disqualifications

All psychiatric medications (SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines)
Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) — hair loss and prostate treatment
Isotretinoin (Accutane) — acne treatment; disqualifying while on it; waiting period after stopping
Testosterone replacement therapy or anabolic hormones
Immunosuppressants (for autoimmune conditions or organ transplant)
Chemotherapy agents (past or current)
Opioid pain medications (chronic use)
Blood pressure medications (most types; indicates hypertension which itself disqualifies)
Anticoagulants (warfarin, rivaroxaban, etc.) — indicates underlying clotting disorder

Criminal History Disqualifications

Any violent felony conviction: permanent disqualification
Sexual offenses of any kind: permanent disqualification
Domestic violence history: disqualifying
Child abuse or neglect findings: disqualifying
Current probation or parole: disqualifying
Drug trafficking or distribution convictions: disqualifying
Minor misdemeanors (traffic violations, petty theft more than 5 years ago): sometimes reviewed case-by-case

Travel and Geographic Disqualifications

Born in or lived in the United Kingdom or France between 1980 and 1996 for a cumulative three months or more: permanent disqualification due to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease risk from mad cow disease outbreak
Received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and 2001
Travel to Zika-endemic areas: 6-month waiting period
Travel to malaria-endemic areas: 12-month waiting period
Military service in certain high-risk zones: evaluated by specific period and location

Lifestyle and Logistical Disqualifications

Living more than 45 to 60 minutes from the sperm bank (most banks require proximity for regular donations)
Planning to move within six months
Unable to commit to donating one to three times per week for six to twelve months
No legal authorization to receive compensation in the United States (tourists, expired visas)
Already at maximum donor offspring limit for a bank (if transferring between banks)

The Most Commonly Overlooked Disqualifier:

Sperm quality. The majority of men who pass the initial screening — healthy, educated, tall enough — still get rejected because their sperm does not survive the freeze-thaw cycle at the required quality level. This is biological and cannot be changed through application strategy. It is also why banks typically ask for a trial sample early in the process before investing in full medical screening.

Conclusion

The scope of sperm donor disqualifications is broad, and most men who apply will not pass. That is not a personal failing — it is a function of how demanding the process is designed to be in order to protect recipient families and their children.

If you have reviewed this list and believe you are free of hard disqualifiers, your next step is choosing the right bank, submitting an initial application, and completing a trial semen analysis. The sperm quality test will tell you quickly whether the rest of the process is worth pursuing.

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