Short answer. Egg donor matching in India at Zoi Fertility’s ART Bank works without photos. After you register, you see a donor profile. It never shows her name, contact details or photo, in line with the confidentiality duty in Act s.21(e). You review profiles with your coordinator, your doctor and the ART Bank confirm the match, and each donor goes to one family only (Act s.27(3)). This is how an Indian egg donor reaches a family through our bank.
Egg donor matching in India: how it works
- You register first. Full profiles open after registration, not before. See a sample profile.
- The bank screens its donors. Only a registered ART Bank may screen and supply egg donors (Act s.27(1)). Learn what an ART Bank is.
- You review profiles with your coordinator. The profile is written so that you can judge the match without knowing who she is.
- The match is confirmed. Your doctor and the ART Bank confirm a donor who suits your treatment.
- One donor, one family. Once a donor is allocated, she is not supplied to another couple or woman (Act s.27(3)).
What the profile contains
The profile lists her age, blood group, height and build, education, and her medical and family history. It also has a short note on her personality and interests, and our body trait charts.
Why there is no photo, name or contact detail
Our ART Bank does not show a donor’s photo, name or contact details, in line with the confidentiality duty in the ART Act. Information about the couple, the woman and the donor is kept confidential. It may be disclosed only to the National Registry, in a medical emergency at the couple’s request, or by court order (Act s.21(e)).
If you have a question about the process, ask your doctor or our team.
Red flags when you look for a donor
- A source that sends donor photos or a catalogue is not following our process. Check that it is a registered ART Bank. See how to check an ART Bank is registered.
- An agent or middleman offers donors. Using an intermediary to obtain or purchase a donor is an offence (Act s.33(1)(g)).
- A price for the donor. Selling gametes is an offence (Act s.33(1)(b)). A registered ART Bank may charge for its services but cannot sell gametes (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Health Research, File No. I.11019/51/2022-HR dated 2 Dec 2022).
Questions
Will I see a photo of my egg donor?
No. Our profile has no photo, name or contact details. For the wider picture, read our guide to how donor eggs work lawfully in India.
Who confirms the match?
You review profiles with your coordinator. Your doctor and the ART Bank confirm the match.
Can two families get the same donor?
No. Each donor is supplied to one commissioning couple or woman only (Act s.27(3)).
Are the donor’s details kept confidential?
Yes. Details of the couple, the woman and the donor are kept confidential (Act s.21(e)).
References
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 (Act No. 42 of 2021): sections 21(e), 27(1), 27(3), 33(1)(b),(g).
- Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of Health Research): File No. I.11019/51/2022-HR dated 2 Dec 2022.
This page explains the law as published. It is not legal advice.
