There's More Than One Way to Build a Family

Exploring egg donation, sperm donation and surrogacy at No.1 Fertility

For many people, starting a family is something they’ve dreamed about for years, but the journey doesn’t always turn out quite the way they imagined. Sometimes it involves fertility treatment, sometimes the help of an egg or sperm donor, and for others, surrogacy may be an option. What I’ve come to appreciate working at No.1 Fertility is just how different everyone’s circumstances can be, and how important it is for people to know there may be other pathways to parenthood worth exploring.

We meet individuals and couples at all stages of their fertility journey. Some have already experienced years of treatment or disappointment, others have always known they would need donor assistance to have a child, while some are only beginning to explore their options. One thing I’ve noticed is that many people have plenty of questions but aren’t quite sure where to begin, what might be possible or who they should speak to.

Understanding Your Options

Egg donation, sperm donation and surrogacy can offer important pathways to parenthood for people who may need additional help to have a family. This might include a woman considering donor sperm to have a child on her own, a couple exploring egg donation after unsuccessful fertility treatment, same-sex couples planning their family or someone who is unable to safely carry a pregnancy.

For others, the possibility of using donated embryos may also be worth exploring. Every situation is different, and the options available depend on individual medical circumstances, eligibility and the requirements involved.

These decisions can be emotional and sometimes difficult. There are practical considerations, counselling requirements and legal responsibilities that need to be understood, particularly when donors or surrogates are involved. It’s not simply about choosing a treatment; it’s about making informed decisions that can have lifelong implications for parents, donors and donor-conceived children.

That’s why we believe people should have access to clear information and experienced guidance from the very beginning, without feeling they need to understand every aspect of the process before asking for help.

Meet Our Donor and Surrogacy Team

One of the things we’re particularly fortunate to have at No.1 Fertility is a dedicated Donor and Surrogacy team led by Mahalia Hodgson, who joined the organisation in 2020.

Mahalia has a background in science and healthcare and works alongside a team of coordinators who help people navigate the many steps involved in donor conception and surrogacy arrangements. Their role includes explaining the available pathways, discussing the processes and requirements, coordinating appointments and helping patients understand what may be involved before making decisions about treatment.

What I particularly like about having a dedicated team is that people have someone they can turn to with questions that may not always be easy to ask. Whether it’s understanding how to use a known donor, exploring the availability of donated eggs or sperm, or finding out what needs to happen before proceeding with a surrogacy arrangement, having someone who deals with these questions every day can make the process feel much less daunting.

There’s also something reassuring about knowing you can have an initial conversation without making a commitment to treatment. Sometimes that first discussion is simply about understanding the possibilities and deciding whether you want to explore them further.

Surrogacy: Knowing Where to Begin

Surrogacy is something many people have heard about but may not fully understand, particularly when it comes to the requirements in Australia.

For people who are unable to carry a pregnancy, or where pregnancy would present significant medical risks, surrogacy may be an option worth discussing with a fertility specialist. In Victoria, there are specific legal and medical requirements, including approval processes, and only altruistic surrogacy is permitted.

While No.1 Fertility cannot find a surrogate for intended parents, our team can explain the process and help those considering an eligible arrangement understand the steps involved.

It’s a subject that often raises more questions than answers when people first begin researching it, which is exactly why having an experienced team available to talk through the process is so valuable.

Helping Someone Else Build a Family

Of course, donor conception isn’t only about the people hoping to become parents. There are also those who consider becoming egg, sperm or embryo donors and helping another individual or couple have a family.

It’s an incredibly personal decision, and one that deserves careful consideration. Becoming a donor involves medical assessments, counselling and an understanding of the long-term responsibilities and implications of donation.

At No.1 Fertility, our donor team can explain what’s involved, the eligibility requirements and the different stages of the process. For anyone who has thought about becoming a donor but isn’t quite sure where to start, an initial enquiry is a good opportunity to learn more before deciding whether it’s something they’d like to pursue.

You Don’t Need to Have All the Answers

We’ve developed a dedicated Donor & Surrogacy section on our website to make it easier for people to explore these options and find the information they’re looking for.

Whether you’re considering donor eggs or sperm, looking into surrogacy, thinking about becoming a donor yourself or simply trying to understand what may be possible, the website is a useful starting point.

But information on a website can only go so far, and sometimes what people really need is the opportunity to have a conversation about their own circumstances.

That’s why we offer a free and confidential initial chat with our Donor and Surrogacy team. You can ask questions, learn more about the processes involved and understand what the next steps might look like, without feeling that you need to have made any decisions beforehand.

If this is something you’ve been thinking about, I’d really encourage you to take a look at our website or pick up the phone and speak with the team. Exploring your options doesn’t mean committing to treatment, but it may help you feel better informed about the choices available to you.

Visit our Donor & Surrogacy website to explore your options or book a free, confidential chat with our team.

You can also call us directly and ask to speak with our Donor and Surrogacy team.

Melbourne: (03) 9132 9600
Sydney: (02) 8604 3499