Australia opens its first public egg and sperm bank

Australia has opened its first free public egg and sperm bank in Victoria in a bid to reduce barriers to starting a family.

The bank at the Royal Women’s Hospital, located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville, has begun accepting egg and sperm donations from eligible Victorians.

The programme is part of a $120m initiative which also includes public fertility services such as IVF treatments, diagnostic tests and procedures, and counselling.

The initiative will also support Victorians currently undergoing treatment for medical conditions that could compromise fertility, such as cancer, to freeze their eggs or sperm.

“Public IVF is already helping hundreds of Victorians make their dream of having a baby a reality,” said Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, at the launch of the public egg and sperm bank.

“Helping someone start their family is one of the most generous gifts you could give someone, and our new public egg and sperm bank will help even more Victorians, do just that.”

The Royal Women’s Hospital CEO, Professor Sue Matthews, said donated eggs and sperm can help people who, for many reasons, are unable to become parents.

“Sperm and egg donation can help a range of people, from women experiencing early menopause after cancer, to those who have experienced repeated miscarriages, same-sex couples and people who have serious genetic issues.

“With the help of generous people who will come forward to donate their eggs or sperm, we’ll be making it easier and fairer for people to realise their dream of starting a family.”

Potential egg donors need to be Australian citizens aged between 23 and 38 years. Potential sperm donors need to be Australian citizens aged between 23 and 45 years at the time of commencing their donation.

Hopeful parents looking to access donated eggs or sperm will need to be referred by their GP or specialist.

All donors will need to attend counselling and undertake medical health questionnaires, screening tests and other medical and psychological enquiries.

Under Victorian law, potential sperm donors can’t donate if they have a baby less than 12 months of age, are currently undertaking fertility treatment or if they have a partner who is currently pregnant.

In Victoria, egg and sperm donors can’t be paid for their donations and all donors must be prepared to have their identifying details registered and released to any person born as a result of their donation. Anonymous donation is not allowed in Australia.

Establishing the egg and sperm bank at the the Royal Women’s Hospital is the second important step in the Victorian Government’s landmark $70m initiative to establish a public fertility service.

Last October, the hospital and Monash Health began providing the public fertility service, which offers a range of services including IVF treatments, fertility consultations, diagnostic tests and procedures, ultrasounds, counselling, information and support.