Australia’s first public egg and sperm bank has opened in Victoria this week.
The bank will be run out of the Royal Women’s Hospital.
How will the egg and sperm bank work?
The bank is now taking ‘altruistic’ egg and sperm donations. This means donors won’t be paid for their donations.
The Victorian Government said the bank is accepting donations from “Victorians who meet certain criteria and want to give someone the chance at starting a family.”
Eligible Victorians will have to get a referral from their GP or specialist to access the public fertility care service.
Why was it set up?
Setting up a public egg and sperm bank was one of many recommendations made by a 2019 review of assisted reproductive treatment in the state.
At the time, the report found the creation of public fertility services would make the system fairer.
