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Japan's first private egg bank established for assisted reproduction

13 Comments

A private-sector ovum donation bank has been established in Japan for the first time. The company began accepting egg donations on Tuesday with the intention of creating an "ovum bank."

The Oocyte Donation Network requires egg donors for assisted reproduction purposes and has 20 women who cannot conceive children registered as prospective recipients, TBS reported. The endeavor, started by families and medical professionals, is the first such endeavor by a private-sector group in Japan.

The network consists of doctors specializing in fertility treatment and patients' representatives. Network representatives told a news conference that recipient registration lists are closed for the time being, TBS reported.

Although donors' identities will not be made public, the company has stated that a precondition to donation is agreeing to give the child access to the donor mother's real name and address. Donors are currently unpaid; however, the network says it may consider compensating donors if none are found within a year.

Recipients are also asked to agree to cover any potential medical costs resulting from adverse health effects in donors resulting from the donation procedure

TBS reported that so far, five private institutions specializing in fertility treatment have been named as associates of the network and will carry out egg harvesting from donors as well as in vitro fertilization using the donated eggs and sperm from the husband of the recipient family.

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13 Comments
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People do whatever they want. There are enough kids in orphenages. Not able to have kids sucks and I can't myself but I'm doing nothing about it. I won't be able to transmit my genetic code and that's all it is.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

agree with you tumbledry....

For a man to donate sperm and a woman to donate eggs, are VERY different. It involves a woman injecting herself every day for months, and then harvesting - a painful process.

I doubt there will be many volunteers, but I also disagree with egg-sploitation - ie paying donors, meaning the poorest women will do it to get money.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Not to mention that probably all these women are unable to conceive because they left it too late in life to get married or start wanting a child...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I think it is a good idea. Whether you agree with the philosophy or not, I think if people want the option of trying this they should be allowed to do so. I understand that there are children in orphanages that need to be adopted, and there are those who may adopt them. But some people may not want to choose that option. In regards to women being paid todonate, why not? Men get paid to donate to sperm banks. I know it is a more intrusive process, but if someone wants to donate let them. Sure there may be poorer women who may do it to make money, and some people may want to take advantage of them, but if a poor woman wants to have a child, and can't by natural means she will not be able to afford the treatment, nor will a poor woman be able to adopt either. So I don't think we should think of women being "exploited" if they want to donate eggs.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

As long as the child is able to trace back their donor parent, i dont see a great problem. That child didnt ask to be born, and he or she will have every right to know where they came from biologically speaking should they want to. I dont agree to annonymous donation for men or women. Whether you can take the truth or not you are creating a life, not making a deposit and moving on.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

But how legal is it?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I think it probably won't become such a chosen method for Japanese candidates. The reason orphanages are full here is because Japanese aren't comfortable taking someone else's child into their homes as their own. They want their own children. Getting a egg from an anonymous donor is not much different then going to adopt someone else's child except for the fact the woman conceived that other persons child.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Well - - an Egg Bank is all fine and good . . .but Japanese workers need more humane work situation - - the Gov't needs to pass legislations defining more human work hours , so that people can enjoy their families - -

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This is good. It seems that quite a few women nowadays need to use donate eggs due to illness or circumstances which they have not chosen to be in. Great that such women will have a choice/chance to carry a child and know the happiness of giving birth.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

CrazedinJapan - incorrect.

The reason orphanages are full here are not because of a lack of prospective adoptive parents, but of a lack of kids available for adoption.

The problem is that people don't want / can't look after their children, then put them in orphanages, however refuse to give up "shinken" (guardianship) so that these kids could be adopted by another family.

Its a Japanese "pride" thing - I don't want my child, but they are my "bloodline" so therefore, no-one else can have them either.

I wish Japan would change the law with regards to these poor children sitting around in orphanages waiting for someone to come and get them, and instead give the kids a chance at a better life.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

No bank necessary. Girl just needs to reach high ecstasy; otherwise it won't happen.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A private-sector ovum donation bank has been established in Japan for the first time.

In the future, donors might not be required at all. People who want ovum will be able to obtain them from their own somatic cells. In 2012, Mitinori Saitou, a stem cell biologist from Kyoto University was able to create oocytes from iPS cells. It's only a matter of time.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Anyone know about sperm banks in Japan? Was thinking about storing some just in case, you never know what life throws at you.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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