Donor Gametes: Becoming an Approved Donor

All gamete donors are healthy adult volunteers who are motivated by a desire to help others and are prepared to commit to the donation process. Some donors already have children of their own. For others, starting a family is not yet relevant, while some may have decided that they do not wish to have children themselves.

All potential donors attend a medical consultation, where their health and suitability for donation are carefully assessed. There must be no serious hereditary diseases among the donor’s close relatives. Donors must also have normal chromosome and infection screening results and lead a healthy lifestyle. Before beginning the donation process, each donor also meets with a therapist.

Gametes from the same donor may be used to help create families in a maximum of five different families.

Egg donors: 20–35 years old

• Fertility is assessed as good based on an ultrasound examination and blood tests

• Egg retrieval must not pose a significant health risk to the donor

Sperm donors: 20–45 years old

• Semen quality must meet the required criteria, and the sperm must remain suitable for use after a test freeze and thaw