There are a number of factors that may preclude a woman from being able to use her own eggs. These may include:
A woman may be unable to produce her own eggs due to older age or premature menopause. It may also occur as a consequence of cancer treatment, because chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause permanent damage to the ovaries.
Egg quality is one of the most important factors affecting IVF success. Egg quality declines with age, so older women may require donor eggs in order to achieve a successful pregnancy. Poor egg quality can also contribute to multiple unsuccessful IVF cycles and recurrent miscarriages.
Some women carry a genetic disorder that they do not wish to pass on to their child. If there is potential for this to occur, genetic testing of embryos is often sufficient in order to screen for and prevent inheritance of the disorder. However, in the event that genetic testing is not suitable, the use of donor eggs can be an appropriate alternative.
Gay male couples who want to have a child also require a donor egg, in addition to finding a surrogate.
You may prefer to find an egg donor from your own social circles, including acquaintances, family and friends. Letting people know about your fertility journey and asking those around you for help can feel scary, but you may be surprised at who is willing to consider donation.
Some people choose to obtain a donor egg by publishing an advertisement in an online forum or printed material. Before officially publishing an ad, it is a legal requirement to obtain approval by sending a copy of the advertisement to the Department of Human Services.
Newlife IVF is dedicated to recruiting egg donors so that you have another means by which you can access a donor egg. Newlife IVF expects to have donor eggs available for use from late 2019.
Once a donor egg has been secured, the IVF process will continue as usual. The donor egg must be fertilised with sperm. The resulting embryo must then begin to develop and grow. Following these steps, the embryo will then be transferred into the woman’s uterus (womb), in the hope that it will implant in the wall of her uterus and lead to a successful pregnancy.
The information on this page is certainly not exhaustive, and we recommend that you refer to the information provided by the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) to gain a more complete understanding of the issues pertaining to the use of donor eggs. If the use of donor eggs is a suitable option for you, our fertility specialists will also dedicate time to helping you navigate this process.
Becoming an egg donor