A new deal that will allow Australians undergoing IVF treatment to import eggs from America is a serious game-changer for couples who are struggling to conceive.
This is tremendous news for women who are reaching the end of their reproductive years, or suffering from ovarian failure. The decision to undergo IVF treatment is an often-complicated decision for many women and the current shortage of egg donors in Australia only serves to makes the situation even more complicated.
This groundbreaking deal, announced today, will change that.
Monash IVF has become the first clinic in Australia to strike a deal with the US-based World Egg Bank, to import eggs from American women at the cost of $19,000.
The $19,000 cost suggested by Monash IVF is to cover the usual costs of the donation, and shipping. Interested parties can then expect to pay an additional $3500, after Medicare rebates, which cover costs associated with IVF cycles and implanting the eggs.
Currently 1 in every 33 babies born in Australia each year, is an IVF baby. That’s about 10,000 babies every year. There is an obvious need for more donor eggs – but they are harder to find than any egg in an Easter hunt.
The sale of donor eggs is banned in Australia. Previously, women who could not find volunteer egg donors among family and friends, would advertise – or even travel – overseas to find donors. ‘Donors’ being ‘someone who was willing to sell’.
Women have resorted to accepting anonymous egg donations, from sources that may not be carrying out the appropriate health checks. Some reports allege that women have paid up to $100,000 for eggs overseas.
The problem with these deals is that there is little-to-no legal protection.
Many fertility clinics already have arrangements with overseas sperm banks – but Monash IVF is the first to strike an international deal that will apply to eggs. They have carefully negotiated an agreement overseas that meets local laws about egg donations.
What are the local laws? Donors cannot be paid for their eggs, but they can be compensated between $3500 and $5000. This is estimated to cover their costs, and the 20 hours that it takes (over approximately 5 months) to donate.
Currently, American donors will also be required to supply identifying information in case any children from their eggs ever want to seek them out – but Australians should keep in mind the possibility of legal changes in the US in the future, which would prevent children contacting donors.
The anguish and aggravation that comes from wanting and trying – and failing – to have a baby is almost indescribable.
There is no doubt that this new development is expensive, and cost-prohibitive for some. An argument put forward in The Age is that, “What would benefit more women is government investment in campaigns to boost the egg donor rate here in Australia.”
But for the thousands of women desperately wanting a baby – and needing donor eggs now – this news can only be seen as an improvement.
Would you consider importing eggs from overseas for IVF? Do you think the government needs to be doing more to encourage the donor rate in Australia?
Top Comments
Totally agree with Melissa- people who use IVF for the purpose of surrogacy also need to be assisted!!.
Why don't we reimburse people who are willing to "donate" eggs?? - let's look at it like sperm donation / organ donation.
This is great, but what about the woman who can't even carry a child and need a surrogate. When is the government going to step in and assist us? The article says $19k is prohibitive to most. I've just spent $20k on one ivf cycle resulting in only 2 embryos. I received no Medicare rebates at all as the government dies not allow it when surrogacy is involved. But there quite happy for couples to import eggs from America and still provide Medicare rebates?
Don't get me wrong I support this. But where's the support for women like me. I can only afford the one ivf cycle. Another $20k is just not possible. First transfer was a fail, waiting for results of 2nd. But if its negative my dreams are over.
The government needs to get with the times.
Medicareless.wordpress.com
I wrote to Julia Gillard when she was health minister and removed the Medicare rebate from Fertility treatments to say how unfair it was. She never replied. I judge her today on her ignorance on the topic, and not the woeful job she has done over the past few years.
We spent $25k having 2 beautiful babies. I would do it again in a heartbeat. That doesn't mean it's fair.
Btw, I too find the picture offensive.