Medically reviewed by Dr. Shweta Agarwal, MBBS, DGO, Reproductive Medicine (IVF). Last updated: June 2026.
This page is educational information for intended parents and does not replace a medical or legal consultation. Donor conception involves medical, legal, emotional and ethical considerations; counselling is part of the process. Individual clinical factors affect all outcomes.
Aansh Hospital & IVF Center serves Vidarbha and northern Telangana, with its headquarters and in-house embryology lab in Chandrapur. Treatment is led by Dr. Shweta Agarwal (MBBS, DGO, Reproductive Medicine); the embryology lab is led by Senior Clinical Embryologist Aayush Agarwal, Ph.D.
डोनर आयव्हीएफ (donor IVF) is one of the more sensitive fertility paths, and this page explains it factually — what it is, when it is considered, how it works for recipients, and the legal safeguards that protect intended parents and donors alike.
When is donor IVF recommended?
Donor IVF is considered when a person's own eggs or sperm cannot achieve a pregnancy, even with standard IVF or ICSI. A specialist recommends it only after appropriate evaluation. Common situations include:
Reasons a donor egg may be considered:
- Premature ovarian failure / early menopause — the ovaries no longer produce viable eggs.
- Very low ovarian reserve — low AMH with repeatedly poor egg yield or quality.
- Repeated poor egg quality — multiple IVF cycles where embryos consistently fail to develop because of egg-quality factors.
- Risk of transmitting a serious genetic condition carried by the female partner.
Reasons a donor sperm may be considered:
- Severe non-obstructive azoospermia where no sperm can be obtained even by surgical retrieval.
- Risk of transmitting a serious genetic condition carried by the male partner.
Reasons a donor embryo may be considered:
- When both egg and sperm factors apply, a donated embryo (from another couple's consented, registered donation) may be an option.
Donor IVF may be available to an eligible commissioning couple or woman only within the age limits set by the ART Act 2021: the woman must be above the legal age of marriage and below 50 years, and the man, where applicable, must be above the legal age of marriage and below 55 years (per ART Act 2021, Section 21(g)).
Donor treatment is never the automatic first step. A full fertility evaluation and a frank discussion of all alternatives come first.
Donor egg vs donor sperm vs donor embryo — what is the difference?
| Path | What the donor provides | Whose genetics the child carries | Typical reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donor egg IVF | Eggs from a registered, screened egg donor | Egg donor + intended father (his sperm) | Egg-factor: ovarian failure, very low reserve, poor egg quality, genetic risk on the female side |
| Donor sperm IVF | Sperm from a registered, screened sperm donor | Intended mother (her eggs) + sperm donor | Sperm-factor: non-obstructive azoospermia with no retrievable sperm, genetic risk on the male side |
| Donor embryo | A donated, already-created embryo | Both gamete donors | Both egg- and sperm-factor apply |
In every case the intended mother carries the pregnancy. In donor-egg treatment the child is not genetically related to the intended mother, but she provides the entire biological environment of the pregnancy — and the womb environment plays a meaningful role in the baby's development. These are exactly the considerations that pre-treatment counselling helps intended parents think through.
How does the donor IVF process work for recipients?
For intended parents, the donor IVF pathway is structured and supported at every step:
- Consultation and evaluation. Dr. Shweta Agarwal reviews your history and prior treatment to confirm whether donor IVF is the appropriate path, and which type (egg, sperm or embryo).
- Mandatory counselling. Before proceeding, intended parents receive counselling on the medical, legal, emotional and ethical aspects of donor conception — a required part of the process, not an optional add-on.
- Donor matching through a registered ART bank. Donor gametes are sourced only from government-registered ART banks. The bank handles all donor screening and supplies non-identifying medical information (such as blood group and basic medical history) needed for a safe, compatible match. Donors are anonymous; you do not select a donor by appearance from a catalogue, and donors and recipients never learn each other's identities.
- Recipient cycle preparation. The intended mother's uterine lining is prepared with hormonal medication so it is receptive for embryo transfer — similar to a frozen embryo transfer cycle.
- Fertilisation in the lab. Donor (or partner) eggs are fertilised with partner (or donor) sperm, usually by ICSI, and embryos are cultured in our in-house lab.
- Embryo transfer. A healthy embryo is transferred to the intended mother's uterus in a brief outpatient procedure; a pregnancy blood test follows 10–14 days later. Suitable surplus embryos may be frozen for a future attempt.
What is the legal and ethical framework? (ART Act 2021)
Donor conception in India is governed by the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021, which exists to protect intended parents, donors, and the child. The core principles that apply at Aansh:
- Registered banks only. Donors are sourced exclusively through government-registered ART banks. Aansh operates under its own ART registrations — Clinic Reg. No. MH/AC/2024/15441/L2/Chandrapur/132 and ART Bank Reg. No. MH/AB/2024/11445/Chandrapur/91 — and you can verify these on the National ART & Surrogacy Registry.
- Anonymity. Donor and recipient identities are kept confidential from each other, as required by law.
- Screening. Donors are medically, genetically and psychologically screened by the registered bank, including testing for infectious diseases, before any gametes are released.
- Donation is altruistic, not commercial. Indian law prohibits selling, purchasing or trading human gametes, embryos and related services; donor-related costs are for lawful medical screening, processing through the registered bank, and required insurance cover for an oocyte donor, not payment for gametes (per ART Act 2021, Section 33, and ART Rules 2022).
- Consent. All parties provide written, informed consent, and legal parenthood rests with the intended parents.
- Limits. The legal framework restricts donor use: an oocyte donor may donate oocytes only once, no more than seven oocytes may be retrieved from her, and donor gametes from one donor are supplied for one commissioning couple or woman (per ART Act 2021 and ART Rules 2022).
Emotional and counselling support
Choosing donor conception is a significant emotional decision, and you are not expected to navigate it alone. Counselling — a mandatory part of the ART Act process — helps intended parents work through questions about genetic connection, what and when to tell the child in future, and any cultural or family considerations. Dr. Shweta Agarwal and the team provide this support in a confidential, non-judgemental setting, in Marathi, Hindi or English.
What does donor IVF cost?
Donor IVF cost depends on the type of donor treatment (egg, sperm or embryo), the recipient cycle protocol, medications, and the registered-bank charges for screening, processing and statutory donor insurance. Because these vary considerably, you receive a transparent, written cost estimate before anything begins.
As a guide, the standard IVF cycle cost is ₹1,20,000 – ₹2,40,000, with a donor-egg add-on of ₹80,000 – ₹1,20,000 covering registered-bank screening, processing and statutory donor insurance charges (never a payment to the donor). Final cost depends on individual clinical evaluation — see Costs & EMI for current pricing.
0% EMI options are available. See IVF cost & 0% EMI for a breakdown of what is included.