A new deal that will allow Australians undergoing IVF treatment to import eggs from America is a serious game-changer for couples who are struggling to conceive.
This is tremendous news for women who are reaching the end of their reproductive years, or suffering from ovarian failure. The decision to undergo IVF treatment is an often-complicated decision for many women and the current shortage of egg donors in Australia only serves to makes the situation even more complicated.
This groundbreaking deal, announced today, will change that.
Monash IVF has become the first clinic in Australia to strike a deal with the US-based World Egg Bank, to import eggs from American women at the cost of $19,000.
The $19,000 cost suggested by Monash IVF is to cover the usual costs of the donation, and shipping. Interested parties can then expect to pay an additional $3500, after Medicare rebates, which cover costs associated with IVF cycles and implanting the eggs.
Currently 1 in every 33 babies born in Australia each year, is an IVF baby. That’s about 10,000 babies every year. There is an obvious need for more donor eggs – but they are harder to find than any egg in an Easter hunt.
The sale of donor eggs is banned in Australia. Previously, women who could not find volunteer egg donors among family and friends, would advertise – or even travel – overseas to find donors. ‘Donors’ being ‘someone who was willing to sell’.
Women have resorted to accepting anonymous egg donations, from sources that may not be carrying out the appropriate health checks. Some reports allege that women have paid up to $100,000 for eggs overseas.
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Top Comments
Totally agree with Melissa- people who use IVF for the purpose of surrogacy also need to be assisted!!.
Why don't we reimburse people who are willing to "donate" eggs?? - let's look at it like sperm donation / organ donation.
This is great, but what about the woman who can't even carry a child and need a surrogate. When is the government going to step in and assist us? The article says $19k is prohibitive to most. I've just spent $20k on one ivf cycle resulting in only 2 embryos. I received no Medicare rebates at all as the government dies not allow it when surrogacy is involved. But there quite happy for couples to import eggs from America and still provide Medicare rebates?
Don't get me wrong I support this. But where's the support for women like me. I can only afford the one ivf cycle. Another $20k is just not possible. First transfer was a fail, waiting for results of 2nd. But if its negative my dreams are over.
The government needs to get with the times.
Medicareless.wordpress.com
I wrote to Julia Gillard when she was health minister and removed the Medicare rebate from Fertility treatments to say how unfair it was. She never replied. I judge her today on her ignorance on the topic, and not the woeful job she has done over the past few years.
We spent $25k having 2 beautiful babies. I would do it again in a heartbeat. That doesn't mean it's fair.
Btw, I too find the picture offensive.