Sperm donation in Germany: process, costs, law and the donor register

The Sperm Donor Register Act: what it means for your child

The Sperm Donor Register Act, or Samenspenderregistergesetz, abbreviated SaRegG, has applied since 1 July 2018. Its central purpose is to allow people conceived through medically assisted fertilization with donor sperm to learn about their genetic origins. The register is now maintained by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, or BfArM. Older information still refers to DIMDI. Federal Ministry of Health on the sperm donor register.

Records kept for 110 years, with access before age 16 too

Register data is stored for 110 years. From their 16th birthday, the person concerned must exercise the right to information themselves. Before then, their legal representatives may act on their behalf. This is the child’s right; parents have no separate right of their own to the donor’s identity. The frequently repeated statement that a child generally cannot learn anything until 16 is therefore too sweeping. BMG: questions and answers about SaRegG.

The stored information includes, in particular, details that identify the donor and the recipient and treatment data needed to link the records. The register is not a publicly searchable donor catalogue. Disclosure gives the child information about their origins; it does not promise a personal relationship with the donor. SaRegG, particularly sections 2, 5 and 10.

Requests go to BfArM. Someone requesting information about themselves provides their birth certificate and a copy of their identity card. Before disclosure, the institute points them towards appropriate counselling. If applying as a legal representative, check with the institute which supporting documents are required. BMG on the information request process.

Which treatments are covered

The statutory register pathway covers medically assisted artificial fertilization with donor sperm within the specified institutional framework. A private home insemination is not automatically registered. For treatments before 1 July 2018, the first point of contact is the sperm bank or treatment facility involved at the time. Section 13 SaRegG requires these facilities to retain certain information that was still available then for 110 years. This does not create a complete retrospective record of all earlier donations. Section 13 SaRegG.

Why reporting the birth is part of the process

Documentation does not end with a positive pregnancy test. Under section 4 SaRegG, the recipient must inform the treating facility about the child or children and their date of birth no later than three months after the birth. Ask before treatment how to provide this update. It helps reliably link the records for the child’s future right to information. SaRegG, sections 4 and 6.

Fifteen children per donor: a voluntary recommendation, not law

Germany has no statutory limit of 15 children per sperm donor. The familiar number comes from professional self-regulation. The Working Group on Donor Insemination, or Arbeitskreis Donogene Insemination, abbreviated AKDI, brings together sperm banks and reproductive medicine professionals, among others. Its 2006 guideline recommended a limit of 15 living offspring. That was a working group recommendation, not a child limit passed by Germany’s Bundestag. AKDI’s 2006 guideline, section 10.

The current AKDI statement recommends a maximum of 15 families per donor. Several siblings within one family can therefore have the same donor. This recommendation is also not a statutory nationwide limit. AKDI: statement on the 15-family limit.

This is more than a difference in wording. If, for example, 15 families each have two children using the same donor, that is 30 children. This calculation does not describe an average number of children; it shows why a family limit differs from a child limit.

A voluntary restriction can become part of a sperm bank’s contracts and procedures. But this does not mean every provider uses the same rule or that all of a person’s donations worldwide are recorded. Some facilities therefore prohibit their donors from also donating privately or joining another bank; Erlangen Sperm Bank explicitly lists this condition. Erlangen Sperm Bank: donor requirements.

Specific answers are more useful for choosing a provider than the number 15 alone:

• Does the bank limit children, recipients or families, and how does it define what it counts?
• Does the limit apply to Germany, to that bank alone or to every country it supplies?
• How are pregnancies, births and treatments for siblings tracked?
• How does it handle donations through other channels, missing updates and limits discovered to have been exceeded later?

The sperm donor register serves the right to know one’s origins. Its existence does not guarantee that a particular child or family limit is monitored and met through it.

Does the sperm donor become the legal father?

Genetic descent alone does not automatically make a private sperm donor a legal father. Under section 1592 of Germany’s Civil Code, or BGB, paternity arises particularly through marriage to the mother at birth, a valid acknowledgement or a court determination. Which route applies is crucial for child support and other parental rights. Section 1592 BGB.

The legally regulated medical pathway

For the regulated medical pathway, section 1600d(4) BGB provides an important protection: if the sperm comes from a collection facility within the meaning of SaRegG and the child is conceived through medically assisted artificial fertilization in the specified medical facility, a court cannot establish the donor as that child’s father. Those conditions matter, not simply calling someone a sperm donor. Section 1600d BGB.

Private donation: three common starting points

This special exclusion does not apply to private home insemination. To understand the position, start with the parenthood that already exists or is planned:

There is no legal father yet

With private donation, the donor’s paternity may then be established by a valid acknowledgement or by a court. An agreement that he will only be a donor does not replace a statutory exclusion.

The mother is married to a man when the child is born

As a general rule, the husband is the legal father. The donor is not also registered as a second father. Whether the existing paternity can be challenged is a separate question with its own conditions.

The birth mother lives with a woman

Even marriage currently does not automatically make her partner the second legal mother. A planned stepparent adoption needs separate preparation; until then, your family plans do not conclusively settle the private donor’s legal position.

The foundations are set out in section 1592 BGB and section 1600d BGB; Germany’s federal family portal explains the current law on a second mother’s status.

Acknowledgement means more than signing a donor agreement

An acknowledgement of paternity and the legally required consents must be formally authenticated by an authorized public official. Acknowledgement is possible before birth; as a general rule, it has no effect while another man’s paternity exists. Discuss who is to become a legal parent before anyone makes the relevant declarations. Section 1594 BGB, section 1595 BGB and section 1597 BGB.

The decision is binding for an intended father too: if he and the mother consented to artificial fertilization with donor sperm, they cannot themselves challenge the paternity established in this way. The child has an independent right to challenge, subject to further conditions. Adults therefore cannot contract away every future question about the child’s parentage. Section 1600 BGB, particularly subsections 1 and 6.

Private sperm donation: child support, custody and contact

The common question of whether a donor later has rights or duties contains several legally distinct questions. A wish for contact, a child support obligation and authority to make decisions for a child do not arise simply from the same private agreement.

A child support waiver does not bind the child

If a private donor becomes the legal father, statutory child support obligations may arise. The claim belongs to the child. The mother cannot validly waive it in advance through an agreement. A clause requiring another adult to cover the donor’s costs also does not remove the child’s statutory claim against a father who owes support. The legal basis includes section 1601 BGB and the prohibition on waiving future support in section 1614 BGB.

A professionally reviewed agreement can still organize expenses, responsibilities and expectations between the adults. Its effect must fit the actual legal parenthood. Downloading a form headed sperm donor agreement does not create that protection on its own.

Paternity does not automatically mean joint custody

For legal parents who are not married to each other, joint custody follows separate rules, such as joint custody declarations or a court decision. Acknowledgement of paternity alone is not a joint custody declaration. Section 1626a BGB.

A private donor may have contact without being a legal father

A less widely known point: in 2021, Germany’s Federal Court of Justice clarified that a biological father who is not the legal father may also have a right to contact in a private sperm donation case. He must have shown a serious interest in the child, and contact must serve the child’s welfare. He must also respect the legal parents’ role in raising the child. This is neither an automatic visitation right for every donor nor a right to raise the child jointly. BGH, decision of 16 June 2021, XII ZB 58/20; section 1686a BGB.

In the case decided by the court, the mother’s partner had adopted the child. The private donor’s consent to the adoption did not in itself amount to giving up contact where getting to know the child and maintaining contact had been intended. A stepparent adoption therefore does not automatically answer every later question about contact.

Access for single women, female couples and unmarried couples

Treatment with donor sperm is also available in Germany to single women and lesbian couples. However, sperm banks and fertility centres have different acceptance criteria. Ask directly about your family situation, age limits, required counselling and documents before selecting a sample. The general availability of a service does not guarantee acceptance by an individual facility. BIÖG: sperm donation.

For unmarried couples, the intended second parent’s status should be part of counselling from the start. Consent to treatment and the child’s legal parentage serve different purposes. Ask the clinic which declarations it requires and what additional steps are needed with the relevant authorities.

For a female couple, however, the birth mother’s partner does not automatically become the second legal mother through marriage alone under current law. The usual route is stepparent adoption. Transgender, intersex and non-binary parents may face additional parentage questions. The federal family portal on parenthood explains the current distinctions. Do not confuse announced reforms with law already in force.

Finding a sperm bank and a suitable donor

For the clinical pathway, the first useful question is which sperm banks your treating facility works with. The AKDI sperm bank directory can help with the search. It is a membership directory, not an independent ranking or a complete official list of all providers.

Compare more than appearance, education or an appealing profile. For a long-term decision, it is at least as important that health information can be verified, that you know what information your child will receive later, and that the bank remains reachable if new findings arise. Available profile details and selection procedures vary between providers.

If you can imagine having more children with the same donor, discuss reserving samples early. Ask about storage fees, availability, cancellation terms and what happens to samples that can no longer be used for medical reasons. A reservation should fit your family plans, not pressure you into starting treatment quickly.

A good provider can explain who is medically responsible, where the sample comes from, which limit applies and how you can obtain documents later. Evasive answers to these questions are a reason to keep looking.

Which examinations and safety rules apply?

A clinical sperm donor’s suitability is medically assessed. This includes age, health and medical history, plus a questionnaire followed by a personal interview. A normal semen analysis answers only some of the questions: it describes semen quality but does not replace infection testing or assessment of diseases in the family. Section 6 of Germany’s TPG Tissue Regulation.

For heterologous use, the TPG Tissue Regulation requires, among other things, negative tests for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis, as well as a negative chlamydia nucleic acid test. Further tests are specified depending on medical history. The regulation also provides for at least 180 days of quarantine followed by repeat testing; under certain conditions, such as additional nucleic acid tests for HIV, HBV and HCV, repeat blood testing can be omitted. Do not turn this into your own clearance rule for private samples. TPG Tissue Regulation, Annex 4.

With genetic testing, specific questions are worthwhile: which conditions were actually tested, what family information was available, and what can the results tell you about your situation? A broad testing panel does not guarantee a healthy child. AKDI also emphasizes that not every genetic risk can be recognized at donation and that relevant later findings must be communicated to affected families. AKDI on providing medical information to affected families.

Our detailed guides explain how to interpret results and the limits of carrier screening in sperm donation. Whenever possible, bring the actual reports to your medical appointment, rather than just an advertising claim of comprehensive testing.

From counselling to treatment: IUI, IVF or ICSI?

Using donor sperm does not automatically determine the treatment method. In intrauterine insemination, or IUI, prepared sperm is placed in the uterus at the right time. In in vitro fertilization, or IVF, fertilization takes place in a laboratory; in ICSI, a single sperm is introduced into an egg. The appropriate method depends on the medical situation.

A typical clinical process can be planned as follows:

1. Initial consultation and assessment: Discuss your wish for a child, medical history, family situation and necessary examinations.
2. Counselling and documents: Clarify consents, the right to know one’s origins, parenthood and funding.
3. Donor selection and clearance: Coordinate the sperm bank, donor and sample type with the clinic.
4. Ordering and treatment: Plan delivery, storage and the treatment date with the facilities involved.
5. Updates and further planning: Discuss the outcome and provide the required information, particularly after a birth.

The treatment process published by Erlangen Sperm Bank, for example, shows how these steps fit together. Timing and the medical plan may differ at other facilities.

A tested donor sample does not guarantee pregnancy. The chances depend in part on the age and fertility of the person hoping to become pregnant. Ask your clinic for an assessment relevant to you and whether quoted success rates mean pregnancies or actual live births per attempt. BIÖG on the chances with donor sperm.

How much does sperm donation cost in Germany?

The price of a sperm sample is not the price of treatment. Depending on the offer, you also pay for shipping, storage, counselling, diagnostics, cycle monitoring, medication and the treatment itself. You therefore need a written overall plan to compare costs.

One concrete example: at the time of research, Erlangen Sperm Bank listed €700 per donor sperm sample and €150 shipping plus VAT per shipment. It additionally listed approximately €200 to €400 in medical treatment costs per insemination cycle, or €2,000 to €4,000 for IVF or ICSI; storage may also be extra. These are published guide prices from that provider, not a complete quote for your treatment. Erlangen Sperm Bank: costs.

For your budget, distinguish three levels:

One-time preparation

Counselling, initial examinations, required documents and legal advice where needed. Ask which services are charged regardless of whether you later begin treatment.

Costs per attempt

The sample, shipping and preparation where applicable, medical monitoring, medication and treatment. Establish which charges still apply if a cycle is cancelled.

Longer-term expenses

Further attempts, storage of reserved samples, plans for siblings and, where needed, steps to secure the second parent’s legal status.

Do not automatically budget for just one attempt. A transparent clinic can discuss which results should trigger a review of the plan.

Does health insurance pay for donor sperm treatment?

Standard cost sharing by Germany’s statutory health insurance for artificial fertilization under section 27a SGB V requires, among other things, that only the married couple’s own egg and sperm cells are used. Treatment with donor sperm therefore does not create a standard entitlement under this provision. Wanting a child or having a doctor’s recommendation does not by itself remove that requirement. Section 27a SGB V.

Still, request a written breakdown for your specific situation showing which examinations or treatments are covered and which you must pay for. For private insurance, public-service medical assistance or funding programs, contact the responsible body with the specific treatment plan. A general statement about IVF reimbursement is not enough to confirm coverage for IVF with donor sperm.

Becoming a sperm donor: requirements and process

To become a sperm donor in Germany, you apply to a sperm bank. It first checks whether you fit its program. Age limits are provider-specific: Berlin Sperm Bank, for example, seeks people aged 20 to 40 from the local area who can donate regularly. That is its acceptance criterion, not a statutory age range applying throughout Germany. Berlin Sperm Bank: application and process.

The usual process includes a questionnaire, discussions of your health and family history, a trial donation and further examinations before signing a contract. Quality after freezing and thawing matters too. Rejection from a donor program therefore does not automatically mean you are infertile. Erlangen Sperm Bank explicitly points out this distinction. Erlangen Sperm Bank on donor suitability.

Alongside appointments, consider what donation means over the long term. A person conceived through your donation may later want to learn your identity. Discuss how to report new illnesses in your family, which contact details to keep up to date and what rules apply to other donations. These questions are part of the decision, even if possible contact feels far away.

How much compensation do sperm donors receive?

Sperm banks offer compensation for time and expenses. Amounts, eligible samples, trial donations and payment schedules differ. An advertisement’s projected monthly earnings therefore say little about what you will actually receive.

Two published examples illustrate the differences: Berlin Sperm Bank lists €80 per donation. Ludwigsburg Sperm Bank lists €100, pays in two instalments and does not pay for its two trial donations. These are provider figures, not a uniform statutory rate.

Before agreeing, read when a sample counts as suitable, which follow-up appointments are required and the conditions for payment of the balance. Expect a selection process and reliable participation over time, not a guaranteed side income.

Planning private sperm donation: what to settle before the first attempt

A known donor can be a deliberate and suitable choice for a family: the person is available for conversation before pregnancy, and expectations about later contact can be discussed directly. Other people want to raise a child together. That is a different family model from donation with occasional updates. Our questions to ask a sperm donor help make these expectations clear early on.

A good first conversation is a start. Your decision also needs verifiable information and a plan that works after a separation, a move or a new relationship. Go through these points together:

• Role: Will the donor be a known person connected to the child’s origins, a regular presence in the child’s life or an actively involved parent? What does that mean in everyday practice?
• Identity and origins: How will you verify and document identity, and how will the child later access this information themselves?
• Health: Which original reports are available, when are they from, and which examinations or repeat tests does the treating professional consider necessary? Also use the overview of health information in sperm donation.
• Other donations: Are there already donor-conceived children, ongoing attempts or donations to other families or sperm banks? How will you hear about later changes?
• Parenthood and money: Which legal declarations, possible adoption, cost agreements and counselling steps does your situation require?
• Contact and conflict: How will you arrange updates, possible meetings and options for stepping back? Who will help if expectations diverge?

Put your answers in writing and have the medical and family-law parts reviewed by the appropriate professionals separately. A forwarded lab report needs interpretation, particularly regarding the test date and possible subsequent infection risks. A promise in a chat does not replace that assessment or the required legal declarations.

Home insemination using the cup method is different from IUI. Clinical preparation and placing sperm inside the uterus belong in qualified hands. Sex is not a requirement for sperm donation. If someone demands intercourse or pressures you by claiming better chances, you do not have to agree.

With a known donor, asking about a clinical pathway can be worthwhile. Whether the requirements of the register law and the statutory exclusion of donor paternity are met must be checked for the entire process. Medical advice before a private insemination alone does not turn it into treatment within the legally protected framework.

Donor sperm from abroad and treatment abroad

A foreign donor does not automatically mean treatment outside Germany’s register system. If a German facility uses donor sperm from abroad, section 5 SaRegG requires additional safeguards for transmitting donor data to BfArM. Have your clinic confirm the bank and the specific donor before ordering. Section 5 SaRegG.

If the treatment itself takes place abroad, however, do not assume without checking that it will be recorded in Germany’s register. Ask what right the child has there to know their origins, who keeps the data, whether the bank counts globally or by country, and how you can request information later.

The rules for legal parenthood and documentation must also fit your family.

Origins, privacy and talking with your child

The right to information explains how your child can obtain information. When and how you talk as a family about their conception is a separate task. Finding age-appropriate language early can make the story a natural part of family life. You do not need to anticipate every future question.

The German Society for Fertility Counselling, BKiD, offers support for parents, donor-conceived people and donors, including preparation for possible contact. A child can be curious about similarities, health or half-siblings without questioning the parents who raised them. BKiD: information and contact with the sperm donor.

Keep contracts, donor identification codes, facility contact details and relevant reports secure and accessible over the long term. Public profiles and large group chats are not suitable archives for identity documents or complete health records. Discuss who gets access and how the child can later obtain their own documents.

For specific wording to use in family conversations, see How do I explain sperm donation to my child? Decisions about future contact can develop as the child grows; they do not have to be settled completely before birth.

Preparing your next step

An initial conversation with clear questions about your own pathway is most useful. If you are looking for donor sperm, take these questions to the clinic or counselling appointment:

• Will you treat someone in my family situation, and which documents do I need?
• Which sperm banks or known donors can be considered?
• How are register reporting, information about origins and legal parenthood handled?
• Which child or family limit actually applies, and how is it tracked?
• What does the entire process cost, including further attempts and possible plans for siblings?

If you want to donate yourself, start with the acceptance criteria and contract of a sperm bank within reach. Give the long-term questions as much time as the medical ones. Good planning leaves room both for the wish for a child and for the person who may be conceived.