We are not recruiting
 donors at this time.

Information for Men Interested in Becoming Donors

Rainbow Flag Health Services is seeking donors whose identity will be revealed to the biological mother when the child is 3 months old. Many Lesbians want contact and want the donor to play an uncle-type role in the child's life. Donors have no financial obligations nor custody rights.

Donors must be in good health and make a commitment to give about 15 semen samples which will be frozen and quarantined for 6 months. After quarantine the donor returns to be retested for HIV (and other tests) before his semen is released for insemination. Because the donor's identity is released to the mother when the child is 3 months old, money should not be the primary reason for becoming a donor. Maximum compensation for being a donor is $200, which is given after the follow up blood tests (about 8-12 months after qualifying for the program).

Donations are given weekly or twice weekly. For this reason donors must live in Northern California, unless they are willing to fly in weekly at their own expense. (Believe it or not, some have actually done this.)  Unfortunately, we are the only program like this in the world and we only have one location in Alameda, California.

To begin the process you must call to make an appointment and we will conduct a brief phone interview. For reasons we do not understand, many men who have perfectly good fertility, have sperm which does not survive the freezing process. After abstaining from ejaculating for no less than 2 days and no more than 5 days you will give us a semen sample. If the sperm count is high enough we will freeze it and in one week defrost it and see how many sperm cells survive.  If cryosurvival is good we will call you back for a complete physical, lab tests and, of course, more sperm.

Who will be getting the sperm?

Primarily Lesbians, but all women are welcome.

What if the mother does not wish to contact the donor?

Women come to Rainbow Flag Health Services specifically because they wish to contact the donor and they sign a contract stating they will. However, they also agree that if they have not contacted the donor by the child's first birthday the donor may contact her.

Do donors have any legal or financial obligations to the child?

No. Under California law if the donor provides his sperm to a medical facility with licensed physician he is not the legal father. [California Family Code Section 7613(b)]

Will donors have custody rights to the child?

No. Rights come with obligations. The same law that protects you from financial obligations also protects the mother's right to sole legal custody.

Are donors paid for providing sperm?

Yes, but not a lot. Your primary motivation for being a donor should not be financial.

What are some of the requirements to be a donor?

You must be:

• In general good health.
• HIV negative.
• Practice safer sex.
• Have no genetic family diseases.
• Under 55 years of age.
• Be willing to have a physical exam, blood tests and fill out a questionnaire.
• Make a commitment to provide 15 to 20 sperm samples over 4 to 8 months.

Our donors are screened for the following:

HIV 1 & 2	Syphilis
Hepatitis B & C	HTLV 1
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)	Gonorrhea
Chlamydia	Complete Blood Count
Blood Type	Past medical history
Liver and Kidney Function	Sexual history
Family medical history	And others

Why so many sperm samples?

Some women take many months to get pregnant.

How do I become a donor?

Call toll free to make an appointment for screening. If you reach our recorded message, please leave your name and phone number. We are located in Alameda, Ca and have weekly evening hours available in San Francisco's Castro District.