A 36‑year‑old woman from Ho Chi Minh City spent more than two years looking for a sperm donor so she could become a single mother. Her long, stressful search shows how hard it is to find donors in Vietnam.

Vietnamese regulations require that sperm donation and receipt be anonymous, and that the sample pass strict health testing before it can be stored in a sperm bank. Dr. Nguyen Huu Trung, an obstetrician‑gynecologist at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, said the sample must be healthy and tested for infectious diseases such as HIV, and may also be screened for genetic disorders.

Dr. Trung explained that Vietnamese men often hesitate to donate because the act can invite social judgment and raise concerns about biological relationships. This cultural sensitivity makes many potential donors reluctant to come forward.

He also noted that very few people voluntarily donate sperm, so recruiting donors is not easy. The relatively stringent testing, health screening and consent procedures discourage many potential donors, adding another layer of difficulty.

Dr. Trung said demand for donated sperm is high, but the supply remains limited. The combination of strict regulations, cultural hesitancy and demanding health checks explains why many women endure long, stressful searches for a donor.