Oocyte and embryo donation.

Abstract

Oocyte and embryo donation, first reported in humans in 1983 has helped patients who do not possess functional ovarian tissues or whose oocyte cannot be used for fertilisation, to conceive. Though it is the female counterpart as the donor insemination in the male, it imposes quite different bioethical issues. The article is a review of the oocyte and embryo donation programme in general, with special discussion on regimes of Cyclic Steroid Replacement Therapy, the recruitment of oocyte donors, bioethical issues, and future applications of oocyte donation in medicine.