Donor conception changing- by the numbers

The smallest proportion of women in Victoria seeking donor assistance are married women, according to the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority. In its 2014-2015 annual report,  VARTA says that 684  or 50% of the women  seeking donor help were single, and 476 or 35% were in same sex relationships. Only 202 of the 1362 total (or 15%) were married.

Although the numbers of new sperm donors is up 79% on the previous year, to 109, there is still a shortage of sperm. 53 women froze their own eggs (resulting in 12 live births), 212 women used fresh donor eggs and 52 used cryopreserved frozen eggs.

CEO Louise Johnson was quoted by the Fertility Society of Australia as saying:

“The fact that more than 200 women used local egg donors last year debunks the idea that people have to travel overseas for treatment if they need donor eggs.

Using a local egg donor and having treatment locally can have tremendous benefits- legally, financially, and emotionally- and these figures are very good news for people considering donor egg treatment.”