Using donor sperm or eggs is a practical option if a man does not have any sperm or a woman is unable to produce egg cells. Donors are also considered if a woman produces her own eggs but the quality of those eggs appears poor. Donors can also be suggested when one or other of the partners runs the risk of passing on a hereditary condition to their offspring. Irrespective of success rates, the consideration of whether to use donors or not is probably one of the most difficult decisions that a couple will have to take.

Couples often wrestle with the idea that a child born through the intervention of a donor is not genetically related to both parents. This is a real concern. You and your partner must think very carefully about this. By reading as much as possible about egg or sperm donation you can perhaps reach a decision more easily. Reading personal accounts of people who have participated in the donation can be particularly valuable. This is a decision that changes your life and it demands the full support of both partners.

In Singapore, strict conditions have been placed on sperm/egg-cell donation.

• Wherever possible, a genetic link to one of the parent should be maintained. Where it is not possible to maintain a genetic link to at least one of the social parent, embryo adoption (implantation of an embryo conceived through donated sperms and donated embyo) is permissible. Signed consent of the couple donating the embryo must be obtained.
• No woman is allowed to have eggs transferred into her which have been donated by her husband’s sister.
• No woman is allowed to use sperm donated by her brothers for fertilisation of her eggs.
• Only eggs from women below 35 years can be donated.
• Recipients of donated eggs/sperms/embryos and his/her spouse must sign a disclaimer consent form to absolve the donor from any financial commitment to the offspring(s) produced.
• The buying and selling of embyros, eggs and sperm is prohibited.