Donor assisted conception is a way of having a family using donated sperm, eggs or embryos. Donors may be known or unknown to the recipients.
Only altruistic (unpaid) donation is permitted in Western Australia. It is legal to advertise for an altruistic donor and reasonable expenses can be reimbursed.
Counselling is a required part of the donation process to inform effective consent from donors and recipients. Known donors must have counselling separately and with the participants prior to consent. There is a three-month cooling off period prior to use of the gametes/ embryos and in exceptional circumstances, this can be waivered by applying to the Reproductive Technology Council (Council).
In Western Australia, donors are limited to a maximum of five families through donation (excluding their own). There are no limits to the number of children conceived with the same donor within these five families. Council may consider a request to waive the five-family limit in exceptional circumstances.
Non-identifying and identifying information about donors and recipient cycles are sent to the Department of Health Reproductive Technology Treatment Registers.