Study question: What are the expectations and experiences of anonymous gamete donors about contact with their donor offspring?

Summary answer: Rather than consistently wanting to remain distant from their donor offspring, donors' expectations and experiences of contact with donor offspring ranged from none to a close personal relationship.

If you have been trying for a baby for a while without success you are no doubt starting to feel a bit stressed. When month after month goes by without any sign of pregnancy it’s easy to start to worry about whether it will ever happen and to feel a bit down about it all. Add to that the stress of having IVF treatment, especially when it fails. In the midst of this someone might tell you ‘Just relax and you’ll get pregnant’. This might make you think that the reason why you don’t get pregnant is because you’re too worried and stressed. If this is you, here is some good news.

The Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 (Vic) (Act) prohibits taking donated gametes, or embryos produced from donated gametes, into or outside of Victoria without the written approval of the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Authority (VARTA). Accordingly, approval must be obtained from VARTA before:

•   the import of donor gametes, or embryos produced from donor gametes, into Victoria from interstate or overseas;