Using donor sperm or eggs
Some couples or individuals will require the use of donated eggs, sperm or embryos to create a family.
This decision to create a family using donor gametes (eggs or sperm) or embryos will have a significant impact on everyone involved, including those who donate. The dedicated Melbourne IVF donor team provides guidance and support throughout the entire process, helping donors and recipients make considered and informed decisions.
Victorian donation laws
All donor procedures in Victoria are regulated by the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008. Under this Act treatment from one donor may result in only ten women having children who are genetic siblings. This includes children the donor has had with their current and former partners. Donors may choose to donate to fewer than 10 women.
It is an offence under the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 to intentionally receive or offer to receive payment for donation other than travel and medical expenses actually incurred.
Rights for donor-conceived individuals
The identity of the de-identified donors is not known to the recipient but under current Victorian legislation, the donor must give explicit consent to providing identifying information to the Donor Conception Registrar.
When the child is aged 18, they will be able to access this information, or in some circumstances under 18, if the parent(s) consent to this or a counsellor advises the Donor Conception Registrar in writing that the child is sufficiently mature to understand the consequences of disclosure.
For more information about the registrars please visit the Department of Health.
Changes to the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act
On 1 January 2025 the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008, and the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Regulations 2019 were amended.
The main amendment to the Act and the Regulations is to establish a Health Regulator for ART providers, that provides a consistent baseline of appropriate regulatory tools to enable graduated, risk-based and proportionate regulation.
The establishment of the Health Regulator requires that all regulatory requirements which were previously reported to the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) will now report to the Health Regulator. From 1 January 2024, VARTA no longer exists.
The following reforms have also been included in the amendment to the Act and the Regulations
- The role of the Donor Conception Registrar has been created, and the Central Register and Voluntary Register are now managed by the Donor Conception Registrar.
- Replacing the requirement for the regulator’s pre-approval to bring donor gametes or embryos formed from them into, or out of, Victoria with a certification requirement.
- Removing mandatory counselling requirements before disclosure of information from the Registers or lodgement of a contact preference.
- Removing the functions relating to education, consultation and research promotion from the ART Act.
What does treatment involve?
Becoming a recipient of donor sperm involves attending a series of pre-treatment appointments with a Melbourne IVF fertility specialist, counsellor, nurse and Patient Liaison Administrator, to understand and discuss all of the procedures and processes involved.
In Victoria, it is a legislative requirement that recipients and their partners (if appropriate) meet with a counsellor at least twice to discuss the implications of sperm donation and to sign consent forms. Recipients of clinic recruited donor sperm will select a donor after counselling consents are signed. Prior to commencing treatment, recipients of donor sperm will meet with a Patient Liaison Administrator to discuss management and treatment fees, and a member of the nursing team to understand the medications involved and treatment cycle timeline.
Treatment options using donor sperm
Treatment with donor sperm may be by intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF), depending on your circumstances, the quality and amount of sperm available for use, and any previous treatments. All IVF cycles using clinic-recruited donor sperm involve the use of ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).
