Ovum donation. A review of and a suggestion to unified guidelines for treatment at public fertility clinics in Denmark

: The most common indication for oocyte donation is ovarian insufficiency due to premature menopause or resistant ovarian syndrome and ovarian dysgenesis with either normal or abnormal (e.g. Turner's syndrome) karyotype. In Denmark, oocyte donation must be anonymous, and the donors have to be other infertile patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF), treatment. It is suggested, that the National Health Service offers oocyte donation to hypergonadotropic women with ovarian insufficiency, as well as to a few other groups who fulfil the criteria for IVF treatment, but where this treatment cannot be completed. Oocyte donors must be less than 35 years old, physically and mentally healthy and without major genetic diseases in the family. The donor must be screened for HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea. We propose that those patients who have more than six oocytes aspirated, allowing "surplus" oocytes to be donated. It is also proposed that the departmental order from the Ministry of Health be changed, so that normally fertile women are allowed to donate oocytes. Oocyte donation should be reported to a central authority.