The changing face of Australian IVF families

New data released this week by Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) has revealed that the days of married couples being the largest group accessing donor sperm programs are well and truly over.

And interestingly, heterosexual couples made up only 15 per cent of families formed from donor conception in Victoria last year.

Shot of a beautiful pregnant woman with the sun drawn onto her belly against the background of the ocean

Shot of a beautiful pregnant woman with the sun drawn onto her belly against the background of the ocean

Of the women who received donor treatment in Victoria during the reporting period, only 15 per cent of women were in heterosexual relationships. Fifty per cent were single women and 35 per cent of women were in same-sex relationships.

“Since the implementation of changes to donor legislation in 2010, which allowed fertile single women and those in same-sex relationships to have access to donor treatment, there has been a considerable rise in demand for donor sperm,” said VARTA CEO Louise Johnson.

“This, in turn, has resulted in a growing number of families being created in Victoria through donor treatment.”

Worryingly, despite the number of sperm donors increasing over the year, clinics have reported that demand for donor sperm continue to outstretch supply.

‘Despite clinics successfully recruiting many new sperm donors in the past year, the considerable increase in demand for donor treatment by single women and those in relationships means that supply is still to catch up with demand,’ Ms Johnson said.

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