The FDA is proposing to eliminate its longstanding ban on anonymous sperm donations from gay and bisexual men and replace it with more targeted screening questions to assess HIV risk.
The current blanket ban originated in the 1980s amid the AIDS crisis but medical groups argue screening methods are now more advanced.
Under the proposed changes, which could take effect later this year, the FDA would extend the relaxed restrictions to other cell and tissue donations as well.
This comes after the FDA made a similar policy change recently to allow more gay and bisexual men to donate blood.
Expanding the donor pool could help address shortages that have worsened during Covid, and allow LGBTQ+ individuals and families more options when using sperm banks.
“The current policy ‘is based on outdated thinking and is contrary to evidence-based science, and serves to perpetuate discrimination and stigma,’ a coalition of groups including the American Medical Association and nonprofit National Center for Lesbian Rights wrote to the FDA last year,” the report stated.
“Sperm banks have been experiencing shortages of donors, especially donors of color. The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the problem as young professionals and university students, who often compose a large portion of prospective donors, left cities,” the report added.
The proposal is aimed at replacing the broad ban with an evidence-based approach focused on individual risk factors rather than sexual orientation alone.
