A viral claim circulating online that Denmark requires sperm donors to have an IQ of at least 85 is misleading. While one Danish sperm bank, Donor Network, does use an IQ threshold, there is no nationwide legal requirement for donors to meet a specific level of intelligence.
Denmark is known for its liberal sperm donation policies and has at least a dozen active sperm banks, though there is no comprehensive public registry.
The country’s largest internationally recognised sperm banks are Cryos International, often described as the “world’s largest sperm and egg bank”, and the European Sperm Bank.
Cryos International requires donors to be 18 to 45 years old, physically and mentally healthy, legally and medically screened, and residents of Denmark while donating. Danish regulations also limit a single donor’s contribution to a maximum of 12 families.
In 2011, Cryos introduced an additional rule turning away red-haired donors, citing sufficient supply. Similarly, the European Sperm Bank screens for serious hereditary conditions and sexually transmitted infections.
Despite online claims, IQ requirements do not apply to all Danish sperm banks. Donor Network, based in Aarhus, is an exception. The bank’s CEO, Jakub Knudsen, confirmed that the institution requires donors to have an IQ of at least 85 and excludes those with a criminal record.
“As far as we know, we are the only bank in the world with these requirements,” Knudsen added.
Confusion began after a November article by Danish broadcaster DR highlighted Donor Network. A later social media post reinterpreted the article, leading many to mistakenly believe that IQ requirements were mandatory across Denmark. The topic has since sparked debate and memes online.
The issue also raises ethical questions. Screening for hereditary conditions can reduce the risk of passing on serious medical issues. There was a Danish case between 2007 and 2018, when a donor with a cancer-related gene mutation fathered 52 children. However, assessing potential donors based on IQ or criminal record is far more controversial.
Daniela Cutas, associate professor of medical ethics at Lund University, notes that intelligence and criminal behaviour are influenced by both genetics and environmental factors, making it difficult to justify such screening.
Knudsen, however, argues that IQ is strongly heritable (50-80%) and correlates with outcomes such as academic performance, income, and even health risks such as ADHD.
“We wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting these individuals as donors, nor recommending them to our own patients,” he said.
In short, while Donor Network applies an IQ threshold, the claim that Denmark as a whole rejects donors based on IQ is false. Prospective donors across the country still undergo medical and genetic screening, but there is no universal IQ requirement.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Was...
Australian citizens evacuated from a Dutch-flagged cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak have returned home after two weeks overseas. The...
The 13th edition of the World Urban Forum, due to begin in Baku on Sunday (17 May), is an ideal opportunity for Azerbaijan to show the world what s...
Russia has carried out its most extensive aerial attack over a two-day period since the start of its full-scale...
Indian drivers face higher fuel costs after state-run fuel retailers raised petrol and diesel prices for the first ti...
Australian citizens evacuated from a Dutch-flagged cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak have returned home after two weeks overseas. The passengers will now undergo quarantine and further testing in Western Australia.
The 13th edition of the World Urban Forum, due to begin in Baku on Sunday (17 May), is an ideal opportunity for Azerbaijan to show the world what successful post-conflict urban development looks like, a representative for the conference has said.
Russia has carried out its most extensive aerial attack over a two-day period since the start of its full-scale invasion, striking Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with hundreds of drones, Ukrainian officials said.
Indian drivers face higher fuel costs after state-run fuel retailers raised petrol and diesel prices for the first time in four years by three rupees ($0.03) per litre, equivalent to more than 3%.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that the conflict is causing a shift in alliances across the Middle East.
When Donald Trump boarded Air Force One for Beijing on Tuesday, he brought two cabinet members whose presence in China would have seemed unlikely a year ago, highlighting an unusual moment in U.S.–China relations.
The Eurovision Song Contest opened in Vienna on Tuesday amid heightened political tensions, as Israel competed in the first semi-final despite a boycott by five European broadcasters over the war in Gaza.
A new trilateral energy partnership involving Uzbekneftegaz, Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR and BP has been announced during Uzbekistan Energy Week 2026 in Tashkent.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
The risk from hantavirus to the general public remains very low, and the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more than 100 staff members actively working on the outbreak, a governmental health official said on Wednesday.
A Dutch hospital has quarantined 12 staff members as a preventive measure after blood and urine from a hantavirus patient were handled without observing strict protocols, according to officials, as medics around the world work to stop the spread of the outbreak.
The European Union is preparing sweeping new regulations targeting the addictive design features of major social media platforms, including TikTok, Meta and X, amid mounting evidence linking their use to serious mental health harm among children and teenagers.
Biological samples from an Italian man were transferred to a specialist hospital for testing on Tuesday, after he was suspected of contracting hantavirus. Meanwhile, World Health Organization boss Tedros Ghebreyesus said there were “no sign” of a larger outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise.
The public health challenge linked to the emergence of a rare strain of hantavirus is complex, according to pharmacist and health commentator Thorrun Govind. She told AnewZ's Daybreak the situation was complicated by the number of nationalities involved and the need to safely return the passengers.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment