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Common FAQ's
Who requires donated eggs?
Women with premature menopause.
Women who carry a genetic disease they do not want to pass on.
Women who have no ovarian function due to medical treatment or surgery.
Women who continue to respond poorly in IVF cycles.
Women whose egg quality and quantity has declined due to age.
Male same sex couples or singles who wish to become parents.
Do recipients get to match their looks with their donors?
There are so few donors that matching looks is usually not possible, particularly with anonymous donation. The only time this is a consideration is where the donor is non-caucasian - their eggs would be offered to a non-caucasian couple or a couple who had already indicated they were not concerned about this issue.
Will the child know who I am?
Check your state's legislation. In most states, unless the family chooses to tell the person of their conception (and thankfully growing numbers do), the donor conceived person will not know how they were conceived, let alone who provided half of their genetic material. By choosing to pursue a known donation, you can in some way try to ensure that the person you help conceive knows their genetic truth. Research heavily supports the concept that known donations where children are told the truth and have access to their donor is the healthiest option in the long term.
Does it matter what contraception I am using?
While most donor cycles will commence with the birth control pill, women who are using other methods of long term contraception may have to wait a couple of months after stopping before they can donate, to ensure that hormones have returned to normal. The clinic will advise you what to do, and it is important to let your IPs know as they will have to factor in this delay into their own schedules if necessary.
Will I get paid to donate?
Egg donation in Australia and New Zealand is altruistic and it is illegal to either offer or request payment. Generally, depending on the clinic and recipients, donors are reimbursed for travelling expenses, any medical costs incurred in their name, time taken off work for appointments, egg pick-up and a day's recovery as well as child care if necessary. Donors should never be out of pocket because of their donation.
Who "owns" the embryos I help create?
In every state but Victoria, a donor can withdraw consent for the use of her eggs right up until the time of fertilisation - until that time, the eggs are legally hers. Once the egg is fertilised, it is considered to be the legal property of the recipient couple. Donors have no rights whatsoever over any children conceived, or any legal obligation.
In Victoria, the donor has a right to withdraw consent until the embryo is transferred to the intended mother (IM).
In Victoria, the donor has a right to withdraw consent until the embryo is transferred to the intended mother (IM).
What if my husband/wife/partner doesn't want me to donate?
Your partner is an important part of your decision making. In order for you to donate he/she will have to attend a counselling session, have to sign consent forms and have a blood test. As well as this, you might require his/her emotional support during your donation.
How will I tell my own children?
Research into adoption and some recent research into donor conceived children, shows that telling children early on in their lives in child-friendly language and concepts at the appropriate time, actually enables children to accept the information much more naturally into their lives. Be prepared that they might "play out" this knowledge in the company of other children and adults, which may impact on who else you choose to tell.
What sort of time would I need off work or away from my children?
You may be on the pill for a few weeks before starting the cycle and then the actual cycle takes about four weeks. Be aware that depending on how well your body responds to the drugs, the cycle may be shorter or longer by a few days.
For initial appointments with the donor co-ordinator and fertility specialist (FS), you will probably need to go during work hours. Blood tests are done early in the day for same day results so could possibly done before work (clinics open quite early). Ultrasound times will depend on clinics. Counselling can often be done in the early evening or after initial appointments, via phone or Skype.
Be aware that if you respond poorly to medication and the follicles need more time to develop, you may require one or more extra blood tests and scans to see how they are developing.
For initial appointments with the donor co-ordinator and fertility specialist (FS), you will probably need to go during work hours. Blood tests are done early in the day for same day results so could possibly done before work (clinics open quite early). Ultrasound times will depend on clinics. Counselling can often be done in the early evening or after initial appointments, via phone or Skype.
Be aware that if you respond poorly to medication and the follicles need more time to develop, you may require one or more extra blood tests and scans to see how they are developing.
How will I tell my own children?
Research shows that telling children early on in their lives in child-friendly language and concepts at the appropriate time, actually enables children to accept the information much more naturally into their lives. This conversation should not be a one off, but rather an ongoing conversation as your childs understanding evolves. There are several books and other teaching tools that can help, but this often starts as a simple story such as 'Mummy is giving her eggs to help 'Alice' try to have a baby because having you makes me so happy'. This can be in whatever language you feel your child would understand and consider their age.