Importing embryo into Australia

[Mia75]

Hello

Has anyone out there imported embryos from overseas. I have 4 embryos still created by partners sperm and donated egg. I successfully gave birth to a little girl but want to try for another one next year but the embryos are in Spain. With COVID and a ban on overseas travel I am likely not able to travel there and don’t want to take any risks. So has anyone had any experience in importing there embryos. I am keen to hear from someone in WA as the legislation is slightly different and would be more beneficial for me to import into WA. Although I would prefer Queensland. Thanks 🙏

[Kalina]

Hello

Has anyone out there imported embryos from overseas. I have 4 embryos still created by partners sperm and donated egg. I successfully gave birth to a little girl but want to try for another one next year but the embryos are in Spain. With COVID and a ban on overseas travel I am likely not able to travel there and don’t want to take any risks. So has anyone had any experience in importing there embryos. I am keen to hear from someone in WA as the legislation is slightly different and would be more beneficial for me to import into WA. Although I would prefer Queensland. Thanks 🙏

Don't know about now or WA, but I looked into this about three years ago. Donation can't be anonymous in Australia, or at least most jurisdictions I'm aware of. So if the egg donor is anonymous, I'm guessing you might struggle. I didn't dig any deeper into it though, so perhaps there are ways around it.

[Mia75]

Don't know about now or WA, but I looked into this about three years ago. Donation can't be anonymous in Australia, or at least most jurisdictions I'm aware of. So if the egg donor is anonymous, I'm guessing you might struggle. I didn't dig any deeper into it though, so perhaps there are ways around it.

Do you have your embryos in an overseas clinic if so which one? Do you mind telling me which state you are in? I am doing bit more research and I have noticed that Victoria and WA have a committee where you need to seek approval if there it’s anonymous. Looking into more and will post here

[Kalina]

Do you have your embryos in an overseas clinic if so which one? Do you mind telling me which state you are in? I am doing bit more research and I have noticed that Victoria and WA have a committee where you need to seek approval if there it’s anonymous. Looking into more and will post here

I do, in the Czech Republic, but I'm not looking to transfer them - my last transfer was successful and I've got my little dd2. I looked into it briefly a couple of years ago because I'd been overseas for multiple failed transfers (different country and clinic) and it was getting expensive. I fortunately found a great clinic and was all done before this pandemic hit.

From what I did see at the time transporting would have been much more expensive than travelling multiple times. Of course now travelling costs a lot more even when possible, so good on you for exploring the possibilities.

[Mia75]

I do, in the Czech Republic, but I'm not looking to transfer them - my last transfer was successful and I've got my little dd2. I looked into it briefly a couple of years ago because I'd been overseas for multiple failed transfers (different country and clinic) and it was getting expensive. I fortunately found a great clinic and was all done before this pandemic hit.

From what I did see at the time transporting would have been much more expensive than travelling multiple times. Of course now travelling costs a lot more even when possible, so good on you for exploring the possibilities.

Glad to hear you had your dd2. I did look into importing many years ago out of curiosity and saw it was really expensive and not much information on it. Now that I am looking into it more deeply there is a bit more information on the laws in different states and the cost seems to be less Then previously but once you add it all up it does still cost more if I was to travel overseas in normal circumstances but unfortunately we are no longer in “normal” times.

[Hopeful137]

Also interested and in WA so following!

From my limited research you can’t but would be great to hear otherwise!

[Mia75]

Also interested and in WA so following!

From my limited research you can’t but would be great to hear otherwise!

Do you have embryos overseas? Which country? Will post my research here

[Hopeful137]

Do you have embryos overseas? Which country? Will post my research here

Yes, in Greece! I’d be interested to know if what @Goldie25 says is true. My clinic here know I went over...but I could go to a different clinic here

[1greenfrog]

Oh, this is getting intersting.
Thinking out loud, I could get embryos created and bring them over here to transfer.

But I dont think its a cheap option, I remember that the Sydney clinic that does bring known donor eggs for transfer in Sydney, has to have someone travel with the eggs on the plane. I think they said someone is paid to actually carry the eggs in a special bag on the plane. If I remember corectly, they carry four clients eggs (or embyos). This makes it cheaper to do. I think when I asked about going to the Sydney clinic a few years ago, I was quoted about 25K in US$ to buy and bring either 6 or 8 (I can't remember) eggs or embryos to Sydney. Then there was also transfer, flights and accomodation costs from Melbourne.

It would be nice if the fastracked consent to tother clinics to do the same, but I don't know that will happen in Melb anyway.

[Mia75]

Oh, this is getting intersting.
Thinking out loud, I could get embryos created and bring them over here to transfer.

But I dont think its a cheap option, I remember that the Sydney clinic that does bring known donor eggs for transfer in Sydney, has to have someone travel with the eggs on the plane. I think they said someone is paid to actually carry the eggs in a special bag on the plane. If I remember corectly, they carry four clients eggs (or embyos). This makes it cheaper to do. I think when I asked about going to the Sydney clinic a few years ago, I was quoted about 25K in US$ to buy and bring either 6 or 8 (I can't remember) eggs or embryos to Sydney. Then there was also transfer, flights and accomodation costs from Melbourne.

It would be nice if the fastracked consent to tother clinics to do the same, but I don't know that will happen in Melb anyway.

Wow that is expensive! Is that including the cost of the egg or just the transfer costs. I was told by my Spain clinic that they have to get permission from Spanish Govt to export to Australia and there are a few hoops I have to jump before they would consider it which would take 4-6 months. But before I start that process I have to check with Australia as to whether a clinic could receive it. So it’s likely this will take a year which i am fine with as not wanting to transfer for another year but I also don’t think that COVID situation internationally will improve by then either, so I am in a rock and a hard place but thought I would use this time to investigate 🤞