Donor conception and surrogacy are vital fertility treatment options for individuals and couples on non-traditional pathways to parenthood.
Donor conception involves the altruistic contribution of another person who provides eggs, sperm, or an embryo to an individual or couple who would be otherwise unable to have a baby.
You may consider treatment with donor eggs if you:
Fertility treatment with donor sperm can be an option if you:
The donor can be personally known to you or chosen through a fertility clinic. In partnership with Genea Fertility, Dr Parmar can provide access to egg and sperm donors through Genea’s donor program or reputable international donor programs.
Depending on your background and fertility journey so far, conceiving with donor sperm or eggs may be an obvious pathway. Conversely, donor conception may only be considered after having tried fertility treatment with your own eggs and sperm.
Once Dr Parmar has confirmed that donor conception is the most suitable option for you, you will be referred to the experienced donor team at Genea. The process of becoming a donor recipient may be rigorous, but is designed to protect you and give you the best chance of having a healthy baby.
Accessing donor sperm or donor eggs involves:
If you are selecting your donor from one of Genea’s egg or sperm donor programs, you will be given access to donor profiles. These profiles include details such as physical characteristics, personality traits, occupation, and education level. All donors are thoroughly screened before being admitted into a donor program.
Once cleared, you can proceed with your fertility treatment. This may involve in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), or donor insemination (also known as intrauterine insemination or IUI).
Surrogacy is when another woman carries your embryo through pregnancy. This can be an option for those who cannot go through a pregnancy because of medical reasons or for single men or same-sex male couples where neither partner can carry a pregnancy. The sperm and egg used to develop the embryo can be provided by yourself and your partner, or with the use of donor eggs or sperm. The surrogate’s own egg cannot be used.
There are various legal regulations associated with surrogacy arrangements to protect everyone involved – you as the recipient, your surrogate, and your child. Before entering into a surrogacy agreement, it is a legal requirement that both you and your intended surrogate seek independent legal counsel. Surrogates cannot receive financial incentive but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses related to the surrogacy arrangement.
In Australia, surrogacy can only be undertaken if the intended parent(s):
Dr Parmar will review your eligibility with you in detail during your initial consultation.
Surrogacy in Australia is governed by laws and regulations that may differ slightly between states and territories. One of these is the prohibition of commercial surrogacy, meaning your surrogate’s involvement must be completely altruistic and voluntary. It also means that you cannot advertise publicly for a surrogate, so most people will find a surrogate from their own social circles, whether a family member or friend.
Some people may consider finding a surrogate overseas. Though it may feel easier to connect with a surrogate in a country that does permit commercial surrogacy, the legal implications of this can be particularly complex as surrogacy arrangements in certain nations are not as strictly regulated as they are in Australia. Before making a decision, it is important to ensure you are fully aware of the relevant laws in your surrogate’s country, including the rights and obligations of both parties.
