• Registered: 19th-Jul-2010
  • Posts: 2

Topic: International Egg donor clinics

Although we have only been on IVF for a year my husband and I are on our last "legs" sort of speak, in terms of IVF. We are both still relatively young (37) but my ovaries...let's just say they're  #@*!
It was devastating to find out that our chances of having another baby of our own are slim to none, (we have one biological child - for which we will be eternally grateful I can tell you)  But also that I am pre-menopausal!!!!
After the initial shock wore off we started thinking a little more "creatively". With no known donors available to us we are tentatively looking into not only unknown local egg donors but also researching our international options.
Has anyone else ventured down this path? Could you share your findings with me? I am well aware there are many ethical debates raging about this topic, but I also believe these are personal decisions. If anyone with experience or knowledge could share with me it would be much appreciated.:)

  • Registered: 9th-Oct-2009
  • Posts: 64

Re: International Egg donor clinics

Hello sonya05,

Why seek overseas when what you may need is in Perth? Both Concept Fertility Centre (08) 9382 2388 and PIVET Medical Centre (08) 9422 5400 have  an anonymous egg donor programme and there are certainly many positive factors (emotional, financial and best interest of the child) about keeping treatment in  Australia. If that fails, Hollywood Fertility Centre (08) 9389 4200 have contacts with an established overseas programme.

Best wishes,
Iolanda

  • Registered: 19th-Jul-2010
  • Posts: 2

Re: International Egg donor clinics

Hi iolanda,
We would love to use an anonymous egg donor from W.A but my understanding was that there are far more women "waiting in line" than available eggs. Our Fertility Specialists has an egg donor list but the feedback was long waiting list with no guarantees as few women donate eggs.
I will definitely be contacting the other centres you mentioned and making further enquiries before we take the overseas leap. Do you know if you can be on more than one list though?

sonya

  • Registered: 9th-Oct-2009
  • Posts: 64

Re: International Egg donor clinics

Hello sonya05,

There is no legal rule that precludes you being on multiple lists (although it does artifically inflate waiting lists so please remember to remove yourself off a list when you no longer need to be on it). From a practical perspective if you move to a new clinic that provides the eggs, I understand you would need to be seen by thst fertility clinics doctor, nurse co-ordinator and most certainly have had to have completed a mandatory session with an approved infertility counsellor  prior to undergoing treatment. The session with the approved counsellor only needs to be completed once and is transferrable between clinics around Perth and often (but not always) by clinics in the Eastern States.

Iolanda

  • Registered: 18th-Nov-2010
  • Posts: 22

Re: International Egg donor clinics

I was told by one Perth clinic that I required egg donation but they couldn't give me any reason why.  They based it purely on failed ICSI and my age.  I moved to another clinic.  Doctors there, said the same thing.  Eventually, I began looking into overseas egg donation because of the huge waiting lists in Perth.  However the embryologist at the current clinic advises my eggs are perfectly healthy A grade eggs and wonders why I would need egg donation!  So the embryologist and the doctors in the same clinics, don't necessarily agree with each other. 

Long story short, it turns out embryo implantation is the real issue so now, with the right treatment, we can continue to try to conceive with the help of ICSI, immunotherapy and still with our own eggs.  The only thing that may stop me from here would be a lack of eggs altogether.  Sometimes it's worth doing further research and asking lots of questions.  Needless to say, for the moment, I have given up the need for egg donation.