Sperm / Egg Program 借精 / 借卵

Egg Donation 借卵是什麼？

☀ What is Egg Donation?

Egg donation refers to using healthy eggs legally matched by a fertility center, allowing a couple to achieve their fertility goals through IVF treatment.

The main causes of female infertility include gynecological diseases, low AMH, ovarian dysfunction, or chemotherapy. Thanks to advances in reproductive medicine, women can now complete their family plans using donor eggs from healthy individuals.

Explanation of Egg Donation

For women over the age of 40, egg quality and quantity decline with age, sometimes reaching the point of near-total depletion. Additionally, women with hereditary diseases may not be able to use their own eggs. Therefore, egg donation is recommended for these groups of patients.

Who is Eligible for Egg Donation?

Those with diminished ovarian function due to advanced age or unexplained reasons
Those whose ovaries cannot develop normally due to congenital diseases
Those who have lost ovulatory function or respond poorly to stimulation due to infections, surgery, autoimmune conditions, or chemotherapy
Those with genetic diseases who cannot use preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-M/PGD)
Those who repeatedly failed to retrieve good-quality eggs/embryos, or had very few eggs retrieved

Egg Donation Sources

Egg donors come from egg banks, where the average donor age is around 26, and all donors pass strict health and genetic screening, including chromosomal tests, to ensure high-quality eggs.

Egg Bank vs. Fresh Eggs

Egg banks offer both frozen and fresh eggs. Frozen eggs are stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C after retrieval and thawed for fertilization once matched, with matching typically taking only 1–2 weeks because of the existing database. Fresh eggs are retrieved on the day of donation and fertilized immediately with the husband's sperm. Although matching can take 3–4 months, insemination and further treatment can proceed on the same day.

Egg Bank (Frozen Eggs)

1. Matching Time 1–2 weeks
2. Number of Donated Eggs Depending on treatment plan
3. Success Rate Leading clinics report IVF success rates up to 80%

Fresh Eggs

1. Matching Time 3–4 months
2. Number of Donated Eggs Depending on treatment plan
3. Success Rate Leading clinics report IVF success rates up to 80%

How Much Does Egg Donation Cost?

The cost is generally around NT$300,000–400,000. For patients of advanced age or with extremely low egg reserves, who otherwise would need multiple egg retrievals, egg donation can actually be more affordable compared to repeated IVF with their own eggs, saving time and improving success rates. In other words, egg donation may help you realize the dream of parenthood more quickly.

Egg Donation Process

Regulations differ by country.

In Taiwan, once a couple agrees to undergo egg donation IVF, they must submit the husband's "fourth-degree kinship chart," the wife's "second-degree direct kinship data," and related documents to proceed with egg matching.

After successful matching, the couple will undergo health screenings (for women: hormone blood tests, ultrasound, hysteroscopy, etc.; for men: semen analysis). If any issues affecting pregnancy are found, the physician will address them surgically or with medication to maximize success. Once all preparations are complete, the wife will begin IVF treatment, which proceeds similarly to standard IVF.

Egg Matching and IVF Process (Example Flow)

(The actual process may vary based on each case)

Step 1: Egg Matching

Infertility clinic consultation
- Physician consultation
- Blood tests (HIV, syphilis, blood type for both partners)
- Semen analysis for husband
Obtain an artificial reproduction diagnosis certificate
Submit required documents:
- Two copies of both spouses' national ID (front & back)
- Husband's fourth-degree kinship chart (within one year)
- Wife's second-degree kinship data (within one year)
- If either spouse is a foreign national: family tree, declaration, notarized marriage certificate
- Passports and national ID
- If the foreign spouse holds a Taiwan ID, still must submit kinship documents at the Household Registration Office
- IVF consent form
- Egg donation consent form
- Blood type reports for both partners
Wait for match
- Coordinator will inform you of the match results
- The couple should maintain a healthy lifestyle while waiting
After a successful match
- Coordinator will inform you
- Payment made
- National Health Administration's fourth-degree kinship review
Return visit
- Health screenings for wife (hormone tests, hysterosalpingography, hysteroscopy, etc.)
- Complete egg donation notarization
- Husband freezes sperm for backup (if needed)

Step 2: IVF Using Donated Eggs

a. Using eggs from the egg bank

Submit notarized documents
Fertilize eggs to culture Day-5 blastocysts
Depending on the case, may perform PGT-A (preimplantation genetic screening); results take about 1 month
Report first day of menstrual cycle
From day 2–3 of period, begin medications
On day 11–12, check endometrial thickness
On day 18–20, embryo transfer
Return 14 days later for pregnancy test

b. Using fresh donor eggs

Donor begins egg stimulation on day 3 of period
Husband freezes sperm for backup
Submit notarized documents
On donor's egg retrieval day, husband provides fresh sperm to the IVF center
Fertilize eggs to culture Day-5 blastocysts
Depending on the case, may perform PGT-A; results take about 1 month
Report first day of menstrual cycle
From day 3 of period, begin medications
On day 11–12, check endometrial thickness
On day 18–20, embryo transfer
Return 14 days later for pregnancy test

Sperm Donation 借精

☀ What is Sperm Donation?

Sperm donation refers to selecting healthy sperm legally matched by a fertility center, allowing a legally married couple to achieve their fertility goals through IVF treatment.

According to the 2021 Assisted Reproductive Technology Report from Taiwan's National Health Administration, 9.6% of men are unable to conceive naturally due to severe infertility or genetic disorders and require IVF treatment to fulfill their dream of having children.

The report noted that among 49,652 IVF cycles, 322 cycles used donated sperm, making sperm donation an option for infertile couples.

Sperm Donation Considerations

Who is eligible for sperm donation in Taiwan?

Patients with azoospermia (no sperm)
Those with chromosomal abnormalities
Those with hereditary diseases who, even after genetic testing, cannot produce healthy offspring

Source of Donated Sperm

Mau Medical Center has established a sperm bank, storing sperm in liquid nitrogen at -196°C. The bank offers both sperm donation and sperm reception services to help infertile couples successfully achieve pregnancy.

Every sperm donor must pass a series of health checks beyond standard semen analysis to qualify, including:

Complete blood count, ABO blood type
Hepatitis B/C
Syphilis, HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia
Genetic disorders such as thalassemia
Advanced screening for spinal muscular atrophy
Fragile X syndrome
Full karyotype chromosomal testing

Strict Screening Standards: Every sperm donor at Mau Medical Center undergoes not only standard examinations but also advanced chromosomal testing and detailed semen analysis. Only those who fully pass these rigorous evaluations are accepted as donors.

Cryopreservation Guarantee: Donated sperm is preserved at -196°C in liquid nitrogen. With current technology, thawed sperm maintains nearly the same quality as fresh sperm.

High-Quality IVF Technology: Mau Medical Center has over 40 years of experience in reproductive medicine, with a strong medical research team continuously refining assisted reproduction techniques. It also holds the highest number of IVF cycles performed in Taiwan, according to the National Health Administration.

Sperm Donation: A Path to Parenthood

Some couples have tried to conceive for many years without success, despite multiple gynecological check-ups showing no issues. It was only after visiting an infertility clinic for joint evaluation that they discovered male-factor infertility.

In some cases of mild male infertility, patients can still try assisted reproductive techniques to achieve pregnancy. However, in other cases where no usable sperm can be collected despite various retrieval methods, couples typically have three options: giving up, adopting, or pursuing sperm donation.

Some patients initially worry that using donated sperm might affect their bond with the child. However, in practice, these couples often feel the same joy and excitement as any expectant parents, and they cherish their child even more because of the challenges they have overcome.

Taiwan Sperm Donation Costs and Required Documents

Couples undergoing sperm donation must submit the wife's fourth-degree kinship form, the husband's second-degree direct kinship data, and other related documents.

After entering the sperm-matching process and achieving a match, the hospital will arrange health examinations for the wife, including hormone testing, blood tests, hysterosalpingography, and hysteroscopy. If any conditions that may affect pregnancy are detected, the physician will address them surgically or with medication to improve the chances of success. Once preparations are complete, the wife will begin IVF treatment.

Sperm Donation Process

Step 1: Infertility Clinic Visit

Physician consultation
Blood tests (HIV, syphilis, blood type for both spouses)
Obtain consent forms

Step 2: Submit Documents

Photocopies (front and back) of both spouses' ID cards
Wife's fourth-degree kinship form
Husband's second-degree kinship form
Proof of marriage
IVF consent form
Blood type test reports for both spouses

Step 3: Wait for Matching

Wait for notification from the consultation office
Wife should maintain a healthy lifestyle while waiting

Step 4: Match Completed

Consultation office notifies about the sperm donation match
Await National Health Administration's fourth-degree kinship verification
Wife undergoes health checks (hormone tests, hysterosalpingography, hysteroscopy, etc.)
Finalize notarization of the sperm donation consent form

Step 5: IVF Treatment at Medical Center