kazntrace
02-04-2007, 15:55
Firstly, let me say that I had briefly heard of egg donation but didn't realise it was even a possibility in Australia until today when I come across information on the Melbourne IVF website. I was, incorrectly, under the assumption that surrogacy and egg donation were not really a viable option in Aust. This lead me to other websites and I found this site via a Yahoo search.
Next, I am one half (the younger half) of a committed, family orientated lesbian couple and we are going through the process of trying to get pregnant. We would both love to carry a child and my better half (who is 38) is up first being the older of us two by 7yrs. During the pre-pregnancy testing we've come across some possible problems so are waiting to see one of the leading fertility specialists in Melbourne (it's a long wait). It seems a likely possibility that my partner may need to use IVF.
Our dilemma is that we would love our children (those carried by both of us) to have the same father and with the possibility of my partner needing to use IVF and me probably having to go interstate for artificial insemination (AI) it will make it virtually impossible to use the same donor.
I (the younger half) have always had a very strong urge to be able to help (either via surrogacy or egg donation if it was ever available) others that are having trouble conceiving as I think children are the most beautiful, precious gift . This would be, of course, dependent on me not having any fertility issues of my own.
Now onto what I am wanting to know - does a woman have to already have completed her family/had children to be eligible to donate her eggs? Would it be legal for a heterosexual couple needing a egg donor and a lesbian couple needing a sperm donor to come to an agreement? This seems to me to be a situation that may not have been contemplated to many times (if at all) in Australia but it's an option that I would like to consider if it was allowed. If anyone could offer any advise I would very much appreciate it.
Many thanks.
Next, I am one half (the younger half) of a committed, family orientated lesbian couple and we are going through the process of trying to get pregnant. We would both love to carry a child and my better half (who is 38) is up first being the older of us two by 7yrs. During the pre-pregnancy testing we've come across some possible problems so are waiting to see one of the leading fertility specialists in Melbourne (it's a long wait). It seems a likely possibility that my partner may need to use IVF.
Our dilemma is that we would love our children (those carried by both of us) to have the same father and with the possibility of my partner needing to use IVF and me probably having to go interstate for artificial insemination (AI) it will make it virtually impossible to use the same donor.
I (the younger half) have always had a very strong urge to be able to help (either via surrogacy or egg donation if it was ever available) others that are having trouble conceiving as I think children are the most beautiful, precious gift . This would be, of course, dependent on me not having any fertility issues of my own.
Now onto what I am wanting to know - does a woman have to already have completed her family/had children to be eligible to donate her eggs? Would it be legal for a heterosexual couple needing a egg donor and a lesbian couple needing a sperm donor to come to an agreement? This seems to me to be a situation that may not have been contemplated to many times (if at all) in Australia but it's an option that I would like to consider if it was allowed. If anyone could offer any advise I would very much appreciate it.
Many thanks.