Finding your perfect match: egg and embryo donation in Victoria
There are many opportunities in Victoria for people to find local egg or embryo donors. There are also people in the state who have eggs or embryos in storage who would like to find a person or couple to whom they would feel comfortable donating.
The avenues for egg and embryo donors and recipients in Victoria to find one another are varied and numerous. For those people who don’t know someone in their immediate circle who may be able to help them, reaching out to the broader community via advertising can be the best option available. However, it is important to understand that advertising of this kind is subject to its own unique set of legal requirements.
The laws governing advertising for a donor or recipient
If you want to advertise for an egg, sperm or embryo donor, you need to apply for approval from the Victorian Health Minister before it is published.
This legal requirement applies to all advertisements about egg, embryo or sperm donation appearing in public forums. This includes advertisements in newspapers, periodicals, books, broadcast media, websites, social media, and cinemas. The law also applies to ads placed in public view in a house, shop or other public space.
You can apply for approval by emailing a draft of your advertisement and the details of where you plan to advertise it to: art.enquiries@dhhs.vic.gov.au. Or you can post the details to:
Minister for Health
Department of Health and Human Services
GPO BOX 4541
Melbourne VIC 3000
The Minister will respond to your application in writing. If your ad is approved, you can then advertise. Keep in mind that your advertising must be in accordance with any undertaking you made to the Minister when seeking approval for your ad.
If you want to inquire about the progress of your application email: art.enquiries@dhhs.vic.gov.au.
You can find examples of advertisements here.
VARTA does not have any role in assessing or approving applications to advertise for a donor.
It is often difficult to find the right words for your advertisement or identify the best place to advertise. You might find it helpful to look at examples of other advertisements to give you some idea.
Knowing where to advertise
Many people find their egg donor or recipients via online forums. You can find egg donation forums at:
www.eggdonationaustralia.com.au
When accessing an internet forum, it is advisable to use a pseudonym and to follow usual social media practices to protect your privacy.