Gamete donation (Egg donor, sperm donor, embryo donor)

In Gamete donation either egg or sperm is donated from a donor which helps couples conceive and have a baby who otherwise are unable to have a child of their own. These couples are called as indented parents who will raise the child/children legally as their own legally. Gamete donation is required when the indented couple cannot produce their own gametes either because they don’t have gametes or the gametes are not healthy. With Gamete donation such couples can have a biological link with the child through pregnancy.

Who requires gamete donation?
  • Advanced maternal ag
  • Poor ovarian reserve, premature ovarian failure
  • Recurrent implantation failure
  • Genetic conditions
  • HIV discordant couple
  • Absent sperms or severely affected sperms
  • Single mother
Where do the eggs or sperms come from for donation?

Intended couple can visit a reproductive centre, where they will be introduced to a registered donor agency/bank after completing the formalities. These donors remain anonymous.

Women from registered donor banks are screened to suit the intendted couple. Some of the criteria that are checked before selecting a donor are:

  • Selected donors are between the age 23 and 35 years
  • They are married with one healthy living child
  • They are healthy with no known medical disorders in them or in their immediate family.
  • Donors are matched with the recipient for physical characteristics and blood group
  • Investigations are done to see her fitness for IVF stimulation and oocyte donation

Once the donor is selected, donor undergoes IVF stimulation and donates her oocytes which are fertilized by recipient’s sperms and the resulting embryos are frozen. These embryos are later transferred into recipient after preparing her for embryo transfer using hormone replacement therapy.

Donor sperm sample are obtained from registered ART banks. Similar to egg donor, sperm donors are also screened for medical diseases and sexually transmitted diseases. Samples can be obtained as per requirements of couple to match them. These samples can be used either for Intra uterine insemination (IUI) or Invitro fertilization (IVF).