Stringent regulation of oocyte donation in China

Abstract

Currently in China, health regulations permit oocyte donation only from IVF/ICSI patients who have 20 or more mature oocytes retrieved from a single cycle, of which at least 15 must be kept for their own treatment. Oocyte donation from non-patients and commercial transaction of human gametes are strictly prohibited by law. Additionally, embryos derived from donated oocytes must be cryopreserved and cannot be transferred to prospective recipients, until donors have been screened to be free of communicable diseases after 6 months. Such overly stringent regulation has in turn led to a severe shortage of available donor oocytes in China. The situation is made worse by a cultural aversion to oocyte donation by the majority of patients, because biological kinship and blood relations are viewed as sacrosanct in traditional Chinese culture. The harsh social stigmatization of childlessness in Chinese society, increasing incidence of age-related female infertility in recent years and growing numbers of bereaved older women who have lost their only child to accidents, natural disasters and suicides would make it imperative to reconsider liberalizing the regulation of oocyte donation in China. In particular, the blanket ban on oocyte donation by non-patients should be lifted, as it is anticipated that there are many young healthy women in China who are generous and open-minded enough to consider altruistically donating their oocytes to childless couples.