A donor program is an assisted reproductive treatment option in which donated sperm or eggs may be used to help an individual or couple have a child when using their own gametes may not be suitable or possible.
Donor treatment may involve donor sperm, donor eggs, or, in appropriate circumstances, donor embryos. The type of treatment depends on your fertility needs, medical history, reproductive goals and applicable laws and regulations.
At Sehgal IVF Centre, donor treatment begins with a detailed fertility assessment and counselling. Your fertility specialist will explain why donor treatment may be considered, what alternatives may be available, how the treatment works, and the medical, emotional and legal considerations to understand before proceeding.
India's Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 provides a legal framework for regulating ART clinics and ART banks and for safe and ethical ART practice.
A donor program allows reproductive material from an eligible donor to be used in fertility treatment. Depending on the treatment plan, this may include:
Donor treatment can be considered when your own eggs or sperm cannot be used or are unlikely to provide a reasonable treatment option, or when there is a significant risk of passing on a serious inherited condition.
The decision to use donated gametes is personal and can involve medical, emotional, family and legal considerations. Appropriate counselling can help you understand these issues before treatment.
Your fertility specialist may discuss donor treatment when there is:
The decision is based on an individual medical assessment, not on a single test result.
May be used when sperm from the male partner is unavailable or when there is a significant sperm-related fertility problem. Depending on your circumstances, donor sperm may be used with:
Your fertility specialist will recommend the treatment method based on your reproductive health and treatment needs.
Uses eggs donated by an eligible donor. It may be considered when a woman:
The donated egg is fertilised in the laboratory to create an embryo, which may be transferred into the recipient's uterus. This allows the recipient to potentially experience pregnancy even though the egg was donated.
In some circumstances, donated embryos may be considered. An embryo may have been created using donor sperm, donor eggs or both, depending on how it was created and the applicable consent and regulatory requirements.
Availability and use depend on Indian regulations, consent requirements and the policies of the registered ART clinic or ART bank. Your specialist can explain whether this option is available and appropriate.
The exact process depends on whether donor sperm, donor eggs or donor embryos are used. A typical donor-treatment journey may include:
Donor matching and selection follow applicable requirements. Each patient's treatment plan is individualised.
The first step is a consultation with a fertility specialist. Your doctor may review:
The purpose is to understand why donor treatment may be considered and whether another option may be appropriate.
Before choosing donor treatment, your specialist explains the available options. Depending on your circumstances, these may include:
Not every patient needs donor treatment. The goal is to identify an appropriate treatment based on your medical situation and reproductive goals.
Donor screening is an important part of donor-assisted reproduction. It may involve assessment of:
International professional guidance recommends appropriate medical, infectious-disease, genetic and psychosocial assessment. In India, donor screening and handling of gametes are governed by the ART regulatory framework. The ART Rules, 2022 describe ART banks as responsible for functions including donor screening, registration and cryopreservation of sperm, and screening and registration of oocyte donors.
Donor selection is handled according to applicable medical, ethical and regulatory requirements. Depending on the permitted information and arrangement, you may receive relevant non-identifying donor information.
The information available depends on Indian law, regulations, donor consent and the policies of the registered ART clinic or ART bank. Donors cannot be assumed to be selectable solely on appearance, education, occupation or other personal characteristics. The fertility team will explain what information can legally and ethically be provided.
Donor sperm may be used as part of IUI or IVF depending on your circumstances.
The recipient's uterus is usually prepared for embryo transfer while the donor's eggs are collected and fertilised. A simplified process is:
The sperm may come from the recipient's partner or another legally permitted source. Your specialist will explain the exact process before treatment.
When donor eggs are used, they are fertilised in the IVF laboratory. ICSI may be used depending on sperm characteristics and the treatment plan. Embryos are then monitored as they develop.
Not every egg will fertilise, and not every fertilised egg will develop into an embryo suitable for transfer.
When an appropriate embryo is available, it may be transferred into the recipient's uterus using a thin catheter passed through the cervix. The number and timing of embryos transferred are determined by your individual medical circumstances and applicable clinical guidance.
After embryo transfer or IUI, your fertility team will tell you when to take a pregnancy test. If pregnancy occurs, further monitoring and ultrasound examinations may be arranged, and the team will guide you through the next stages of care.
Talk privately with our fertility specialist about your history, your options and whether donor treatment may be appropriate for you.
The safety of both the recipient and the future child is an important part of donor treatment.
Donor programs use screening procedures to reduce the risk of transmitting infectious diseases and serious inherited conditions.
No screening program can identify every possible genetic or medical condition.
Genetic screening can reduce certain risks, but it cannot guarantee that a child will have no genetic or medical condition. This is why you should receive counselling about the limits of screening. Professional guidance recommends medical history review, infectious-disease screening, genetic risk assessment and appropriate counselling.
Before treatment, the fertility team may review:
In some cases, additional genetic counselling or testing may be recommended. Genetic testing cannot detect every possible inherited condition. Your specialist or genetic counsellor can explain the available testing and its limitations.
Donor-assisted reproduction is an established fertility treatment, but no medical treatment is completely risk-free. Potential considerations include:
The embryo contains genetic material from the egg donor and the sperm source. The recipient carries the pregnancy and gives birth; her uterus provides the environment in which the pregnancy develops.
The sperm contributes genetic material to the embryo. If the recipient uses her own egg, it provides the other genetic contribution, and she may carry the pregnancy if transfer is successful.
Your specialist will explain the biological and medical aspects during counselling.
Choosing donor treatment can involve complex emotions. You may have questions about:
These can be discussed with a qualified fertility counsellor or mental-health professional experienced in donor conception. Professional guidance recommends psychosocial counselling as part of donor programs.
This is a personal decision, and families may have different views. Many donor-conception organisations and fertility professionals encourage parents to think about how and when to discuss donor conception with their child.
The decision should consider your child's age, family circumstances and the legal and regulatory environment. Because laws and expectations around donor information can change, discuss donor-information policies with the clinic before treatment.
Donor treatment involves sensitive medical and reproductive information. What is available depends on law, regulations, donor consent and the source of the gametes. Ask the clinic:
Donor-assisted reproduction in India operates within the legal framework governing assisted reproductive technology.
Regulates ART clinics and ART banks and establishes a framework intended to support safe and ethical ART practice.
Set requirements concerning ART clinics and ART banks, including donor screening, registration and handling of gametes.
The choice depends on your individual medical situation.
Donor treatment is often combined with IVF when donor eggs are used. A typical pathway:
The exact protocol can vary between patients.
Donor sperm may be used during IUI in appropriate circumstances. The basic process:
IUI may be considered when the recipient has suitable reproductive anatomy and other clinical factors support it. If IUI is unlikely to be appropriate, your doctor may discuss IVF instead.
No. Donor treatment does not guarantee pregnancy or a live birth. It may overcome certain egg- or sperm-related problems, but pregnancy still depends on several biological and medical factors. Be cautious about clinics or websites that promise a guaranteed pregnancy or baby.
A single success rate cannot predict an individual's outcome. When you see donor-treatment figures, check that they state:
Choosing a fertility centre for donor treatment is an important decision. Here is what we focus on:
Asking these questions can help you make an informed decision.
Still have questions? Call us on +91 7827219633.
A donor program is a fertility treatment program in which donated sperm, eggs or embryos may be used to help an individual or couple have a child.
Donor eggs may be considered when a woman cannot use her own eggs or when using her own eggs may not be medically appropriate, including certain situations involving reduced ovarian function or significant inherited-disease risk.
Donor sperm may be considered when usable sperm is unavailable, when there is severe male-factor infertility, or in other circumstances where donor sperm is medically appropriate.
Yes, donor sperm may be used with IUI when medically and legally appropriate.
Yes. Donor eggs are generally used as part of an IVF treatment process. The donated eggs are fertilised in the laboratory and an appropriate embryo may then be transferred to the recipient's uterus.
Donor programs include screening and eligibility procedures intended to reduce infectious and genetic risks. The exact screening requirements depend on the applicable regulations and program.
No. Donor treatment can help overcome certain fertility problems, but it cannot guarantee pregnancy or a live birth.
Donor selection and the information available to recipients are subject to applicable law, regulations, donor consent and the policies of the ART clinic or ART bank. Your fertility team can explain the options available to you.
Donor treatment involves sensitive personal and medical information. How donor information is stored, accessed and disclosed depends on the applicable legal and regulatory framework and consent arrangements.
Yes. Donor eggs or sperm can be used as part of IVF, and ICSI may be considered depending on the sperm characteristics and treatment plan.
Counselling can help patients understand the emotional, family and long-term considerations associated with donor conception. Professional donor-treatment guidance recommends appropriate psychosocial counselling.
Your fertility specialist can review the treatment cycle and discuss whether another treatment cycle, additional investigation or a different treatment approach may be appropriate.
Choosing donor treatment is an important personal decision. For some patients, donated eggs or sperm can provide an opportunity to pursue pregnancy when using their own gametes may not be suitable or possible. It also involves more than the medical procedure: you should understand the medical, genetic, emotional, consent and legal considerations before treatment.
At Sehgal IVF Centre, you can discuss your fertility history and treatment options with a qualified fertility specialist and understand whether donor treatment may be appropriate for you.
Medical disclaimer: This page is intended for general educational information. It does not replace an individual consultation, diagnosis or treatment plan from a qualified fertility specialist. Donor treatment should be undertaken only through an appropriately registered and regulated ART facility and in accordance with applicable Indian law and current clinical guidance.
Dr. Ruchi Malhotra, MBBS, MS (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)
Gynaecologist & fertility specialist at Sehgal IVF Centre · Reg. No. 6111 · Last reviewed October 2026