Demand for donated sperm in Vietnam is substantial, but few men volunteer. For women seeking motherhood on their own, finding an eligible donor can take years.
A 36-year-old Vietnamese woman seeking to become a single mother after her marriage ended spent more than two years finding a willing sperm donor whose sample qualified for storage.
Repeated appeals, repeated setbacks
Sperm samples stored in a sperm bank. Photo: P. Thuy.
N.H.A., 36, who lives in Ho Chi Minh City, had been through a failed marriage and had no children. Unwilling to marry again, she decided to become a mother on her own.
More than two years ago, she began visiting medical facilities for health checks. Doctors advised her to have a child soon because her reproductive window was narrowing. Back home, she shared her wishes with her mother and received her family’s support.
Mother and daughter visited a fertility clinic to apply for donated sperm in preparation for in vitro fertilization (IVF).
The biggest obstacle, however, was finding a sperm donor.
Under the rules, sperm donors and recipients must remain anonymous to each other. A woman seeking donated sperm needs to find a suitable man willing to complete the donation process at a medical facility. Once his sample has been tested and meets the requirements, it is coded and stored in a sperm bank. The woman is then allocated a different sample in accordance with the rules, rather than the one provided by the man she recruited.
H.A. repeatedly asked acquaintances for help. Some initially agreed but changed their minds when it was time to visit the hospital for testing.
Seeing his sister struggle to find someone willing to donate, her older brother agreed to help. His sample, however, did not meet the requirements and could not be accepted by the sperm bank.
Hope repeatedly gave way to disappointment. Each time she approached acquaintances, they initially agreed, but many hesitated when they had to visit a medical facility for testing.
At one point, she considered seeking sperm outside the formal system. Concerned about health risks, the sample’s origins and legal issues, she decided against it. Her search stretched beyond two years.
Eventually, she worked up the courage to ask a colleague who is a member of the LGBT community. He agreed to help, and his sample passed the checks required for acceptance by the sperm bank.
For H.A., it was a turning point that allowed her to continue pursuing motherhood on her own.
In fertility support communities, many women describe similarly difficult journeys. N.M.L., 31, from Hanoi, spent more than three years finding a donor so she could obtain a sample for IVF. Fortunately, her first embryo transfer was successful, and she welcomed a healthy baby.
A shortage of sperm donors
Dr. Nguyen Huu Trung performs a cesarean section. Photo courtesy of the doctor.
Dr. Nguyen Huu Trung, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, said demand for donated sperm is substantial, while supplies remain limited.
“Sperm samples must meet quality requirements before they can be stored. Donors must be healthy and undergo testing to rule out infectious diseases, including HIV. Some facilities may carry out additional screening to assess the risk of genetic disorders,” Trung said.
Once a sample meets the requirements, it is coded and stored. When someone needs donated sperm, the bank provides a sample in accordance with the rules, ensuring that donor and recipient do not know each other’s identities.
“Very few people volunteer to donate sperm, so recruiting donors is not easy. Once samples are available, sperm banks must manage and use them in accordance with the rules to serve people who may need them in the future,” Trung said.
Demand comes not only from women choosing to become single mothers but also from lesbian couples who want children, he said.
The number of women seeking solo motherhood is increasing, but Vietnamese men remain hesitant to donate sperm. It is a sensitive subject, and some fear being judged or worry about biological ties to a child. Strict requirements for testing, health checks and signed declarations also discourage potential donors.
Trung warned that buying sperm online carries risks involving genetic disorders, birth defects and legal complications if donors have not undergone proper screening. He called for greater awareness, simpler procedures and policies to support donors.
Under Decree No. 207/2025/ND-CP, single women wishing to have children may receive donated sperm for assisted reproduction if they meet the prescribed conditions. Sperm donation and receipt must follow the principle of anonymity between donor and recipient.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
