Victorian sperm and egg donors to lose anonymity

PEOPLE who donated sperm and eggs before 1998, expecting anonymity, will now be revealed to donor offspring even if they don’t consent to it.

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PEOPLE who donated sperm and eggs before 1998, expecting anonymity, will now be revealed to donor offspring even if they don’t consent to it.

Under legal changes taking effect on Wednesday, all those born from sperm or eggs donated in Victoria before I January 1998 will have the right to identifying data about their donor.

This includes the name of the donor, ethnic origins, physical characteristics, and any genetic conditions.

Although donors no longer have the right to remain anonymous, they can dictate that they not be contacted, or how they wish to be contacted.

Louise Johnson, of the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, said donor-conceived persons “would be required to give an undertaking to respect any no-contact preference”.

“If donors are fearful as a result of these changes, we encourage them to make contact,” she said.

Sperm and egg donors no longer have the right to remain anonymous. Picture: Thinkstock

Ms Johnson said the donor code would also be provided, allowing people to “find out if someone else they know shares the same donor”.

Other legal changes in recent years have been designed to make it easier for donor-conceived people to get information about their donor.

It has led to an increase in the number of applications to the central donor registry: in the last financial year 102 people applied, most of whom were parents seeking information on behalf of their younger children.

The current central donor registry held by the VARTA records details of around 1600 sperm donors and 1600 egg donors, including those who donated before 1998, and more than 8000 people conceived from donors.

Ms Johnson said that where records were incomplete VARTA, which will be operating as a “one door” service for all people affected, can search for missing information.

Felicity Marlowe, convener of Rainbow Families, said the law change was “really exciting as it will mean so many children and their families will have the information they need”.

Adnan Katakovic, manager of City Fertility, which operates Sperm Donors Australia, said the “days of anonymity of sperm donation is over”.

He said the law changes had not led to a drop in donors, and his Victorian database had more than 100 donors on it.

Sperm donors are not paid, but receive about $150 for their time, he said.

Health Minister Jill Hennessy said donor-conceived people had the right to information about their genetic makeup.

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