Egg Donation in Singapore - Good News !!! Singapore allows import of frozen donor eggs from Egg Bank in Penang Malaysia

Angelica Cheng

Active Member
Good News for all Singaporean IVF patients requiring Egg Donation !!!

Singapore has permitted import of frozen donor eggs from Egg Bank Asia, based in Penang, Malaysia. This Egg Bank has a wide and excellent choice of Chinese race egg donors. Currently there are 3 clinics in Singapore, which have either imported frozen donor eggs for their IVF patients from Egg Bank Asia, or are in negotiations to do so. These are as follows: (i) Alpha IVF Singapore, (ii) Centre for Human Reproduction at NUH, and (iii) Mt. Elizabeth Fertility Centre.

Website:

Phone number: +60-12-579-2006

WeChat ID: EggBankAsia

Email: [email protected]

However, before importing donor eggs into Singapore, patients should note the following:


(1) Transportation of frozen donor eggs into Singapore is very expensive. Due to COVID-19 pandemic situation, the only method of import is by air-travel, land transport through the Causeway is prohibited. Current quoted cost of import through courier service: USD$1,800. The current cost of frozen donor eggs are as follows:

Known Egg Donor - USD$1,300 per frozen egg (Minimum order of 8 frozen eggs)

Anonymous Egg Donor - USD$1,000 per frozen egg (Minimum order of 8 frozen eggs)

(2) It is much cheaper to do the egg donation process in Penang (Malaysia), rather than import frozen donor eggs into an IVF clinic in Singapore.
Egg Bank Asia is closely affiliated with Island Fertility Centre based in Georgetown Penang. They offer the following packages:

Entire IVF package with 8 frozen donor eggs, including medical fees - USD$ 11,500

Entire IVF package with fresh egg donation, including medical fees - USD$ 16,500

(More expensive because more than 8 eggs usually obtained from young healthy donor, typically 15 to 20 eggs per cycle)

(3) An older women can afford to wait for egg donation, unlike IVF with her own eggs. The womb (uterus) does not age as fast as her ovaries. Why not wait out the pandemic, to enjoy cheaper costs of IVF treatment at Island Fertility Centre in Penang (Malaysia), which is closely affiliated with Egg Bank Asia?

(4) For best results, it is better to do Egg Donor IVF at Island Fertility Centre in Penang (which is closely-affiliated with Egg Bank Asia), rather than importing frozen donor eggs into Singapore. Avoid using frozen donor eggs that are transferred from an egg bank. If possible, use the IVF lab that is affiliated with that egg bank. This is because the thawing protocol must be matching and compatible with the freezing (vitrification) protocol, and only the same IVF lab that performs both the freezing and thawing processes, can ensure this. Also beware that IVF success rates with frozen donor eggs are significantly lower than with fresh donor eggs (see attached bar chart below).

Please refer to the following video podcast by Dr. John Jain, an American fertility specialist:

 

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Egg Bank Asia says no need for embryo genetic testing (PGS or PGT-A), unless Husband has sperm problem:

All donors have been rigorously screened (blood samples) for genetic diseases:

"Our egg donors are Chinese with an average age of 23 to 28, the optimal age for achieving pregnancy and together we have over 200 donors. All of our donors are pre-screened using advanced genetic carrier screening, the most advanced in Asia as we follow the recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Medical geneticists and Genomics. Our screening is designed to detect genetic mutations associated with a large number of hereditary disorders with greater than 99.9% accuracy and is performed at our partner lab in the USA."



 
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Hi! So now we can get EggBank Asia to import frozen egg to Singapore which we really need donor Egg so that we can have high chance of success rate when doing IVF?
 
Hi! So now we can get EggBank Asia to import frozen egg to Singapore which we really need donor Egg so that we can have high chance of success rate when doing IVF?
Dear Aries 12345,

Wondering whether you think it is worthwhile importing frozen donor eggs?

For me personally, rather than going through hassle and costs of importing frozen donor eggs, I rather wait out the Pandemic travel restrictions and travel to Malaysia directly for fresh egg donation.

According to the video podcast by Dr. John Jain, we should avoid using frozen donor eggs that are transferred from an egg bank. If possible, use the IVF lab that is affiliated with that egg bank. This is because the thawing protocol must be matching and compatible with the freezing (vitrification) protocol, and only the same IVF lab that performs both the freezing and thawing processes, can ensure this. Also we must note that IVF success rates with frozen donor eggs are significantly lower than with fresh donor eggs (see attached bar chart below).

 

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To circumvent COVID travel restrictions, Singapore now allows patients to freeze and transport the husband's sperm to foreign fertility clinics or egg banks, where these can be used to fertilize fresh donor eggs to produce frozen embryos, which can then be imported into Singapore.

This has 3 major advantages over the import of frozen unfertilized donor eggs:

(i) Fresh donor eggs typically produce better quality embryos and higher IVF success rates than frozen donor eggs.

(ii) As you all know, sperm and embryos, particularly Day 5 Blastocysts are much more hardy and survive the freezing process much better than unfertilized eggs. Therefore, it is always better to transport frozen embryos rather than frozen unfertilized eggs into Singapore.


(iii) Best results are obtained by using the IVF lab affiliated with the egg bank, which recruited the egg donor and froze her eggs. IVF patients should avoid using frozen donor eggs that are transferred to their clinic from an external egg bank. This is because the thawing protocol must be matching and compatible with the freezing (vitrification) protocol (somewhat analogous to a lock and key). Only the same IVF lab that performs both the freezing and thawing processes can ensure this, to attain best IVF success rates.


Hence, it may be advantageous to freeze and transport the husband's sperm overseas for fertilization of fresh donor eggs, and transport the embryos obtained, rather than unfertilized eggs into Singapore. Indeed, one patient in Singapore has already sought and obtained approval for such a collaborative procedure to be done between a Singaporean IVF clinic and a fertility clinic based in the USA (Santa Monica Fertility Center).

Therefore contact your local IVF clinic, ask them to confirm with the MOH (Ministry of Health) whether a similar arrangement can be done with Egg Bank Asia or Island Fertility Centre in Penang.

Of course, no genetic testing (PGS/PGT-A) can be done on the embryos, if these are to be imported into Singapore.

In any case, genetic testing (PGS/PGT-A) is completely unnecessary, because Egg Bank Asia has already carried out rigorous genetic testing of the Egg Donor's blood samples:

All donors have been rigorously screened (blood samples) for genetic diseases:


"Our egg donors are Chinese with an average age of 23 to 28, the optimal age for achieving pregnancy and together we have over 200 donors. All of our donors are pre-screened using advanced genetic carrier screening, the most advanced in Asia as we follow the recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Medical geneticists and Genomics. Our screening is designed to detect genetic mutations associated with a large number of hereditary disorders with greater than 99.9% accuracy and is performed at our partner lab in the USA."


Expert opinion by American fertility specialists that highly-expensive PGS (PGT-A) is not necessary for egg donation:



 
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The Malaysian company Ulink (Sdn Bhd) can now handle export of Husband's frozen sperm sample to any fertility clinic in Malaysia, together with subsequent import of frozen embryos into a local IVF clinic in Singapore.

Their charges are RM4,500 for one-way, or RM9,000 for to-and-fro transportation, including all administrative fees for custom paperwork, as well as custom duties.

Ulink (Sdn Bhd) company website: ulinkassist.com
Contact person: Ms. Charmaine Khoo
Email address: [email protected]
Tel: +6016 625 2923 +603 7866 0640
Address: 8 Jalan 55 1/9A, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, Malaysia
 

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The advent of international 'mail-order' egg donation

Abstract

The rising demand and increasing scarcity of donor oocytes in developed countries have led to some fertility clinics sourcing oocyte donors from abroad, particularly from poorer countries, in what is referred to as 'transnational' or 'international' oocyte donation. In a further new 'twist' to this scheme, frozen sperm of the recipient's male partner is exported abroad through courier mail and is used to fertilise donor oocytes in a foreign clinic to produce embryos, which are then cryopreserved and imported back by mail for transfer to the woman. There are numerous ethical concerns with regards to such means of procuring donor oocytes. First, there is an issue of exploiting economically underprivileged women in poorer countries and disproportionate gains on the part of medical doctors and fertility clinics. Second, there is a question of abdication of responsibility for the donor's welfare on the part of the fertility doctor who takes charge of the recipient's treatment abroad if oocyte donors were to develop severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Third, the issue of responsibility and accountability becomes even more contentious if congenital defects were to appear in offsprings born from transnational oocyte donation or in the case of transmission of communicable diseases such as hepatitis B, syphilis and AIDS to the recipient. Last, cost savings from the lower prescription price of fertility drugs in economically less-developed countries may not be passed down to the oocyte recipient but instead be exploited to boost the already substantial profit margin of fertility clinics and doctors.
 

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The advent of international ‘mail‐order’ oocyte donation
N Mukhopadhaya I Manyonda


Sir,

We read with great interest the commentary1 on the disturbing developments in the commercialisation of procreation. Boon Heng has rightly highlighted the very pertinent ethical and legal issues related to ‘mail‐order’ oocyte donation. However, there are at least two other issues of significance that merit attention.

First, patients often express concerns about the possibility of ‘gamete mix‐up’ and measures in place to reduce the risk of such human errors. In the UK, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)’s expanded sixth edition of the Code of Practice published in 2003 contains sections dedicated to giving guidance on witnessing clinical laboratory procedures,** 1991–1993, the Committee on Social and Ethical Issues; from 1991 to 1999, social and ethical issues were considered by the Authority as a whole and ad hoc working groups which reported on individual areas of work; in 1999, a standing Ethics Committee was established, which became the Ethics and Law Committee in 2003, and these measures can reduce the occurrence of such events. Unfortunately, most European countries do not have a regulatory body. ‘Mail‐order’ oocyte donation poses the real danger of ‘gamete mix‐up’, a topical issue in the UK, which has attracted extensive media attention in recent months. Such a mix‐up has occurred in the UK, despite the stringent regulations put in place by the HFEA.

Second, the option or possibility for children born following gamete donation to access information about their genetic parents, and therefore be able to trace them, has been recognised as a ‘human right’. This has led to the abolition of statutory guarantees of anonymity of donors as of April 2005 in the UK. In the absence of a dedicated register of donors and recipients in most other European countries, it would be near impossible for the offsprings to trace their genetic parents in years to come. There is therefore an urgent need for the creation and maintenance of enforceable centralised registers, such as that maintained by HFEA, to record licensed treatment services and details of the gamete donors.

Whatever one’s views on the matter, international ‘mail‐order’ oocyte donation is now a reality and is probably to expand. Where this is possible, such as in the European Union, the challenge is for governments to step in and develop enforceable regulations that may minimise the unacceptable exploitation of egg donors in developing countries and provide safety and legal redress where required to the recipients in the developed world.

Without these measures and the others proposed by Boon Heng, it will not be long before we witness the ‘amazonisation’ of gamete sale on amazon.co.uk or on Ebay.
 

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Sunfert International Fertility Centre (KL, Malaysia), now accepts frozen sperm samples from Singapore for fertilization of donor eggs to produce embryos, which are then frozen down and transported back to Singapore. Please note that import of IVF embryos into Singapore is only permitted if these have not been genetically tested by PGS / PGT-A.

Sunfert @ Bangsar South
Sunfert International Fertility Centre Sdn. Bhd.
Unit 2-2, Level 2, Nexus, Bangsar South
7, Jalan Kerinchi, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

T +60 (3) 7622 8688
F +60 (3) 2242 3168
E [email protected]
W www.sunfert.com
S www.facebook.com/sunfert



Details of egg donor program at the Singapore side:

Sunfert International Fertility Centre is currently working with the following fertility specialists in Singapore, for the freezing and export of the Husband's sperm sample into Malaysia, and subsequent import of the produced frozen embryos into Singapore for transfer to patients.

• Dr. Suresh Nair - Seed of Life:

Dr. Christine Yap - Mt. Elizabeth Fertility Centre:

For the exact costs of freezing Husband's sperm sample and subsequent frozen embryo transfer, please contact the above doctors and their affiliated fertility centres.


Details and costs of egg donor program at the Malaysia side -Sunfert International Fertility Centre:

The IVF-Egg Donation Programme Package costs MYR 32,000 + MYR 16,000 (donor's reimbursement via CASH / BANKTRANSFER ONLY).

The egg donation program has many Chinese donors. These donors are selected based on good ovarian reserve (good AMH levels) therefore between 8 - 12 eggs are expected to be harvested. However, there is no guarantee that eggs will be recovered or that fertilization will occur, embryo development / transfer / pregnancy from any fertility treatment.

The egg donation package includes the following:


  • Donor's clinical & blood investigations related to infectious disease screening.
  • Medication for the donor & recipient (up to pregnancy test).
  • Doctor's professional fee & Laboratory charges (IVF/ICSI)
  • Blastocyst culture, Laser Assisted Hatching (if necessary) & Time-Lapse Imaging up to 12 eggs by using one of the best platforms called the EmbryoScope®)
  • Cryofreezing of excess embryos & cryopreservation maintenance charges for the first 6 months
  • Psychological Assessment & Counselling (PAC) session (compulsory 1.5 hour session for all recipient)
  • 1st Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

However, the egg donation package price does not include the following:
  • Initial consultation and scan with our specialist, initial blood screening & semen analysis
  • Embryo cryopreservation maintenance charges (MYR 1200 / year)
  • Other adjunct treatment/services such as sperm separation, Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis/Screening (PGD/PGS), IMSI & Colorado Protocol
  • Further medications once pregnancy is confirmed by blood test

Costs of export and import of frozen sperm and embryos respectively, by Ulink Sdn Bhd:

The Malaysian company Ulink (Sdn Bhd) can now handle export of Husband's frozen sperm sample to any fertility clinic in Malaysia, together with subsequent import of frozen embryos into a local IVF clinic in Singapore.

Their charges are RM4,500 for one-way, or RM9,000 for to-and-fro transportation, including all administrative fees for custom paperwork, as well as custom duties.

Ulink (Sdn Bhd) company website: ulinkassist.com
Contact person: Ms. Charmaine Khoo
Email address: [email protected]
Tel: +6016 625 2923 +603 7866 0640
Address: 8 Jalan 55 1/9A, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, Malaysia
 
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Alternatively, Thomson Fertility Centre in Singapore, also collaborate with Heart2ART egg donor agency in Malaysia, for export of Husband's frozen sperm sample into Malaysia for in vitro fertilization of donor eggs to produce embryos, which are then frozen down and imported back into Singapore for transfer to the wife.

Information on procedures and costs at the Heart2ART agency side:

Altogether, the entire package cost of donor eggs, including IVF, embryo culture and freezing is RM 50,000.


Heart2ART egg donor agency
Website address:es

Email address: [email protected]
Address:
6-1, Jalan Setia Dagang AK U13,
Setia Alam, Seksyen U13,
40170 Shah Alam
Selangor, Malaysia.
TEL: +603-3362 3729
FAX: +603-3362 5729
Mobile: +6012 389 3840 (Christine)



Information on procedures and costs at the Thomson Fertility Centre Side:

Collection and freezing of Husband's sperm sample: SGD$175 (before GST)

Frozen Embryo Transfer procedure: SGD$3,500 to SGD$4,500 (before GST).
Variability is due to medications and consumables used by individual patients,
as well as whether there is need for Assisted Hatching procedure.


Costs of export and import of frozen sperm and embryos respectively, by Ulink Sdn Bhd:

The Malaysian company Ulink (Sdn Bhd) can now handle export of Husband's frozen sperm sample to any fertility clinic in Malaysia, together with subsequent import of frozen embryos into a local IVF clinic in Singapore.

Their charges are RM4,500 for one-way, or RM9,000 for to-and-fro transportation, including all administrative fees for custom paperwork, as well as custom duties.


Ulink (Sdn Bhd) company website: ulinkassist.com
Contact person: Ms. Charmaine Khoo
Email address: [email protected]
Tel: +6016 625 2923 +603 7866 0640
Address: 8 Jalan 55 1/9A, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, Malaysia
 
Hi,

I was in touch with Egg Bank Asia and advised me this:

"Yes, you can send sperm to our hospital in Penang but we cannot ship embryos to Singapore. Singapore clinics will not accept embryos from other countries. We have tried several times. They will only accept eggs.

If you can source a clinic willing to accept embryos then we can ship but I doubt you will find one. We were told it has to do with security issues re child trafficking. That is also why sperm cannot be accepted unless the father attends the clinic."

Are there clinics in Singapore that will accept embryos?
To be frank, local IVF labs in Singapore are not making much money if the entire IVF procedure of producing embryos is carried out overseas. Of course they are reluctant, if their profit margin is very small, as they are only making a little money from the frozen embryo transfer procedure.

Certainly they prefer frozen eggs, because if they can carrying out the IVF procedure locally within their own lab, they can make much more money from the patient.

The last time I checked, Thomson Fertility Centre was doing this. Check with them whether they are continuing to do so. They may have stopped because the profit margin is low, and it may not be lucrative for them to continue.

Additionally, you can check with the courier company (Ms. Charmaine Khoo), which IVF lab in Singapore accept frozen embryos:

Ulink (Sdn Bhd) company website: ulinkassist.com
Contact person: Ms. Charmaine Khoo
Email address: [email protected]
Tel: +6016 625 2923 +603 7866 0640
Address: 8 Jalan 55 1/9A, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, Malaysia
 
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Thank you. I will get in touch with Ms. Khoo and Thomson Fertility Centre.
Hi Sansa! I need egg donor urgently due to I have Low overian reserved . So you search is there any Singapore IVF local clinic do exports frozen sperm out then import Embroye do for us! Thanks !
 
I contacted Thomson Fertility Centre and they accept frozen embryos from abroad. We must first do an online consultation (or face to face if you're in Singapore).
Hi Sansa! Sorry what you means face to face see who? Bec this is new to me . So we go Thomson Fertility Centre is it at Paragon? Is it Thomson Fertility Centre help us coordination transport our hubby sperm to m’sai to Heart2art to fertilise with the donor fresh egg snd then import the embroyo back to Singapore Thomson Fertility Centre Thomson ?
 
HI, Yes. You can go to Thomson Fertility Centre in Paragon. I said online or face to face because I am currently in Manila so it is impossible for me to consult face to face. You consult with an IVF specialist there first and they will advise you on the transport/shipment of the sperm to Malaysia then transport of the embryo back to Singapore and/or transport of the donor eggs from Malaysia.
Hi Sansa. Do you know total cost Thomson Fertility do for us all this and then the final stage help to implant the embroyo to us ? The donor agency is it use fresh egg mix with our husband frozen sperm?
 
I don't know. I haven't consulted with them yet. Since you're based in Singapore and very easy for you to go there and consult, will you kindly let me know the answers to your questions? I'm also interested to know.
Hi Sansa! I am still thinking I should go Thomson or Alpha? Thomson is using export frozen sperm while Alpha is using frozen egg? Don’t know which is good ?
 
Hi Sansa! I am still thinking I should go Thomson or Alpha? Thomson is using export frozen sperm while Alpha is using frozen egg? Don’t know which is good ?

Please see excerpt from following article that compare fresh versus frozen eggs:

The major advantages of utilising frozen versus fresh donor eggs include:


  1. Greater convenience, as there is no need to synchronise the timing and hormonal stimulation cycles of egg donors and recipient patients.
  2. Cheaper costs due to negating the travel and hotel costs associated with fresh egg donation.
  3. Little or no waiting time as frozen eggs are readily available.
  4. More certainty, because the exact number of frozen donor eggs is known and guaranteed. By contrast, for fresh egg donation, the number of eggs that will be retrieved from the donor after hormonal stimulation is unknown and non-guaranteed.
However, there are also several disadvantages of using frozen donor eggs:

  1. The costs of transporting frozen eggs into Singapore from abroad is very expensive, as it requires a special cryogenic container.
  2. The IVF success rates with frozen eggs are still significantly lower than fresh eggs, despite technological advances such as ice-free vitrification protocols.
  3. Because frozen donor eggs are highly delicate and fragile, the thawing protocol must be matching and compatible with the freezing (vitrification) protocol, similar to a lock and key. Only the same IVF lab that performs both the freezing and thawing processes, can ensure this. Hence for best results, patients should use the same fertility clinic or IVF lab that recruited the egg donor and freeze her eggs, rather than transferring frozen donor eggs from one medical facility to another.
  4. Asian/Chinese donors eggs may be more expensive to procure from Western egg banks, as compared to Caucasian ones, due to the scarcity of Asian/Chinese donors in Western countries. This problem may be overcome by sourcing from egg banks within Asia.
 
Please see excerpt from following article that compare fresh versus frozen eggs:

The major advantages of utilising frozen versus fresh donor eggs include:


  1. Greater convenience, as there is no need to synchronise the timing and hormonal stimulation cycles of egg donors and recipient patients.
  2. Cheaper costs due to negating the travel and hotel costs associated with fresh egg donation.
  3. Little or no waiting time as frozen eggs are readily available.
  4. More certainty, because the exact number of frozen donor eggs is known and guaranteed. By contrast, for fresh egg donation, the number of eggs that will be retrieved from the donor after hormonal stimulation is unknown and non-guaranteed.
However, there are also several disadvantages of using frozen donor eggs:

  1. The costs of transporting frozen eggs into Singapore from abroad is very expensive, as it requires a special cryogenic container.
  2. The IVF success rates with frozen eggs are still significantly lower than fresh eggs, despite technological advances such as ice-free vitrification protocols.
  3. Because frozen donor eggs are highly delicate and fragile, the thawing protocol must be matching and compatible with the freezing (vitrification) protocol, similar to a lock and key. Only the same IVF lab that performs both the freezing and thawing processes, can ensure this. Hence for best results, patients should use the same fertility clinic or IVF lab that recruited the egg donor and freeze her eggs, rather than transferring frozen donor eggs from one medical facility to another.
  4. Asian/Chinese donors eggs may be more expensive to procure from Western egg banks, as compared to Caucasian ones, due to the scarcity of Asian/Chinese donors in Western countries. This problem may be overcome by sourcing from egg banks within Asia.
Hi Angelica ! Feel confusing that know which is the best ? Seek your option Thomson Fertility Centre help to export frozen sperm , then the donor agency is Heart2art or Sunfert ? Choose donor egg already then which fertility centre is doing fertilise the fresh egg mix with our husband frozen sperm then becomes embroyo . What happen there is no embroyo then wasted our money we paid them .
 
If you will choose export frozen sperm or import frozen egg better ? Like us we need urgently for donor egg so that we got chance to be a mother .The donor agency will guarantee that the egg will fertilise to becomes embroyo and will blastocyst in order to implant into our body ?
 
If you will choose export frozen sperm or import frozen egg better ? Like us we need urgently for donor egg so that we got chance to be a mother .The donor agency will guarantee that the egg will fertilise to becomes embroyo and will blastocyst in order to implant into our body ?
I believe, Thomson fertility work mostly with Egg Bank Asia.
You have to ring up Egg Bank Asia to find out if they have any guarantee? What I understand is that if your Husband's sperm is good and meet World Health Organization standards, then they have some form of guarantee for you. The exact details I am not sure. You have to contact them to find out.
 
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If you will choose export frozen sperm or import frozen egg better ? Like us we need urgently for donor egg so that we got chance to be a mother .The donor agency will guarantee that the egg will fertilise to becomes embroyo and will blastocyst in order to implant into our body ?
If I were in your shoes, I rather wait for pandemic to be over, then travel to Malaysia for egg donation. A woman's womb does not age as fast as her ovaries. I believe egg donation 1 year later is not going to significantly reduce your chances.
 
If you will choose export frozen sperm or import frozen egg better ? Like us we need urgently for donor egg so that we got chance to be a mother .The donor agency will guarantee that the egg will fertilise to becomes embroyo and will blastocyst in order to implant into our body ?

They only guarantee thawed and mature eggs only. I bought 8 eggs from egg bank asia.
 
They only guarantee thawed and mature eggs only. I bought 8 eggs from egg bank asia.
Hi Shandy! So how much Egg Bank Asia charge you? So you went Thomson Fertility Centre and they help you to coordinate Egg Bank Asia to get fresh donor egg in Egg Bank Asia and Thomson Fertility Centre also help you to export your husband frozen egg ? Then when your embroyo who help you to import to Singapore ? Sorry ask your so many question Bec I really need help . I feel helpless and lost ! I need your sisters help Bec I need donor egg urgently in order to have a chance to be a mother ! My IVF didn’t succeed I cried terribly and this is the only alternative which can help me to have a baby ! Tks for everything !
 
They only guarantee thawed and mature eggs only. I bought 8 eggs from egg bank asia.
Hi shandy! So you means the fresh donor egg they will guarantee fertilise ? If didn’t fertilised they will replace the egg to us ? Then will they guarantee sure will form embroyo ? If no embroyo will replace us?
 
Hi Aries,

They guarantee 8 thawed and mature eggs only , they will not guarantee the fertilised eggs and number of blastocyst. But they expect 70% fertilization and 50% fertilised eggs will reach blastocyst. So 8 thawed eggs only can give 1 or 2 blastocyst only and not all blastocyst is gd quality embroys. Once you freeze the embroys and shipped back to sg, you need to thaw the embroys again. Please take note that not all embroys will be thawed successfully . So u need to make tough decisions whether to use frozen eggs. I have spent 36ksgd for donor egg ivf but zero results.
 
Hi Aries,

They guarantee 8 thawed and mature eggs only , they will not guarantee the fertilised eggs and number of blastocyst. But they expect 70% fertilization and 50% fertilised eggs will reach blastocyst. So 8 thawed eggs only can give 1 or 2 blastocyst only and not all blastocyst is gd quality embroys. Once you freeze the embroys and shipped back to sg, you need to thaw the embroys again. Please take note that not all embroys will be thawed successfully . So u need to make tough decisions whether to use frozen eggs. I have spent 36ksgd for donor egg ivf but zero results.
Hi Shandy! Sorry to hear that! Take care! Wow it so expensive ! Too expensive we also can’t afford ! Feel sad that it so hard to get help to find donor eggs in Singapore, unless we met a kind hearted person willing to lend me a hand to let me have a chance to be a mother but it seem difficult ! Feelling sad in this life time I want to be a mother seem so difficult! The frozen eggs we also don’t know is it good , can help us ? Hope someone can share with us , Bec I really need donor eggs urgently so that I can quickly have a chance to be a mother !
 
Hi Shandy! Sorry to hear that! Take care! Wow it so expensive ! Too expensive we also can’t afford ! Feel sad that it so hard to get help to find donor eggs in Singapore, unless we met a kind hearted person willing to lend me a hand to let me have a chance to be a mother but it seem difficult ! Feelling sad in this life time I want to be a mother seem so difficult! The frozen eggs we also don’t know is it good , can help us ? Hope someone can share with us , Bec I really need donor eggs urgently so that I can quickly have a chance to be a mother !
Dear Aries, check out the reviews of KL fertility center affiliated with Heart2Art on the facebook group - Singapore IVF support group. I believe they have quite decent reviews. I believe that their price is around RM50,000 all inclusive. Another alternative, is to go to Europe, Czech republic that can provide Asian Vietnamese donors, because they have a large emigre community in Prague. In that facebook group, you can read the reviews of one Singaporean lady who went to the Czech republic for egg donation. The price was quite competitive and the service very good. However she chose a Caucasian donor, and consequently gave birth to a mixed race child.

Only thing about KL fertility center is that they will attempt to hard-sell IVF genetic testing (PGS / PGT-A) to you. However, if you refuse, costs can be kept down low. Note that PGS / PGT-A is really not necessary for egg donation unless your husband has a severe sperm problem (which may be caused by genetic defects in his sperm):

Is PGS / PGT-A really necessary for an egg donation cycle? Why not do Genetic Testing on the egg donor's blood sample? | SingaporeMotherhood Forum
 
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Dear Aries, check out the reviews of KL fertility center affiliated with Heart2Art on the facebook group - Singapore IVF support group. I believe they have quite decent reviews. I believe that their price is around RM50,000 all inclusive. Another alternative, is to go to Europe, Czech republic that can provide Asian Vietnamese donors, because they have a large emigre community in Prague. In that facebook group, you can read the reviews of one Singaporean lady who went to the Czech republic for egg donation. The price was quite competitive and the service very good. However she chose a Caucasian donor, and consequently gave birth to a mixed race child.

Only thing about KL fertility center is that they will attempt to hard-sell IVF genetic testing (PGS / PGT-A) to you. However, if you refuse, costs can be kept down low. Note that PGS / PGT-A is really not necessary for egg donation unless your husband has a severe sperm problem (which may be caused by genetic defects in his sperm):

Is PGS / PGT-A really necessary for an egg donation cycle? Why not do Genetic Testing on the egg donor's blood sample? | SingaporeMotherhood Forum
Hi Angelica! Can’t find any review in the KL fertility Center facebook ? I click inside KL fertility center facebook no review , there is nothing at all .
 
Hi Angelica! Can’t find any review in the KL fertility Center facebook ? I click inside KL fertility center facebook no review , there is nothing at all .
I am referring to the facebook group called "Singapore IVF support group". Currently this has about 3000 members. You should join and ask questions there.

 
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Hi Sansa! I am still thinking I should go Thomson or Alpha? Thomson is using export frozen sperm while Alpha is using frozen egg? Don’t know which is good ?

For your information, Alpha IVF Centre (Singapore) claim a 79.2% pregnancy success rate with frozen blastocyst transfer. Please see their advertisement:

images.jpg


Moreover, they are also using artificial intelligence for embryo selection and grading:

172729541_578754290193475_7347132493548510098_n.jpg
 
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I am terribly sorry about the failed cycle. May I ask, did they tell you what went wrong? They all failed to fertilize and reach blastocyst? I thought since the donors will be young (in their 20s), success should be high. I only have one shot at this so I want assurance that this will work. Any idea what went wrong there?
What could possibly go wrong?

I personally think that for best results, it is better to do Egg Donor IVF at Island Fertility Centre in Penang (which is closely-affiliated with Egg Bank Asia), rather than importing frozen donor eggs into Singapore. Avoid using frozen donor eggs that are transferred from an egg bank. If possible, use the IVF lab that is affiliated with that egg bank. This is because the thawing protocol must be matching and compatible with the freezing (vitrification) protocol, and only the same IVF lab that performs both the freezing and thawing processes, can ensure this. Also beware that IVF success rates with frozen donor eggs are significantly lower than with fresh donor eggs (see attached bar chart below).

Please refer to the following video podcast by Dr. John Jain, an American fertility specialist:

 
I am terribly sorry about the failed cycle. May I ask, did they tell you what went wrong? They all failed to fertilize and reach blastocyst? I thought since the donors will be young (in their 20s), success should be high. I only have one shot at this so I want assurance that this will work. Any idea what went wrong there?

Frozen donor eggs always yield worse results compared to fresh donor eggs:

donor-egg-ivf-success-rate-comparison-768x512.png
 
https://www.moh.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider5/licensing-terms-and-conditions/moh-cir-no-67_2021_1jun21_guidelines-on-the-import-and-export-of-embryos_and_annex-a_registry-version.pdf

Use of Donor Gametes or Embryos

Where donor gametes/embryos are used in any way, all the following additional declarations are required:

(i) The couple must provide a written declaration that they have paid no more than reasonable expenses for such use. As commercial trading of human gametes/embryos is prohibited in Singapore, the couple will be required to produce evidence (e.g. an itemised invoice) to support their declaration.

(ii) Written declaration by the overseas PGS lab and, where applicable, overseas AR clinic that the collection / retrieval of the gametes / embryos meet AR LTC 2020 paragraph 5.29.

(iii) Documentation that the donor was screened for the following transmissible diseases: (a) Hepatitis B; (b) Hepatitis C; (c) Syphilis; (d) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (and whether a second test was repeated no earlier than 6 months from the time of donation); and, (e) Cytomegalovirus.

(iv) Documentation on whether the donor’s eggs have been used before, and if so, the number of live-births that the donor’s eggs have resulted in.

Notes:

1) Under the Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Act (HCOPPA), only reasonable expenses may be provided for the supply of gametes and embryos. As per HCOPPA section 13, and MOH’s Licensing Terms and Conditions for Assisted Reproduction Services paragraph 5.31, “reasonable expenses” can include expenses relating to the preparation, preservation and quality control of the gametes/embryos.

2) In particular, if donor gamete / embryo is being used, please ensure that the following is observed: 5.29 AR Centres shall ensure that only: (a) oocytes donated by women between the ages of 21 and 35 at the point of oocyte removal;
 

Advice and tips for Singaporean patients seeking egg donation in Malaysia

With the increasing trend of late marriages and delayed motherhood in Singapore, coupled with the lifting of age limits in IVF treatment since 2020, there is anticipated to be increasing demand for egg donation by older female IVF patients nearing or past menopause. Such women with diminished ovarian reserves often consider the egg donor option, after having failed IVF due to the reduced number and low quality of their retrieved eggs. In recently years, neighbouring Malaysia has emerged as a popular destination for Singaporean IVF patients seeking egg donation, due to close proximity and cost-competitive medical fees. Nevertheless, there are various pitfalls that patients have to navigate through, as highlighted by the Q & A below. Cumbersome travel and quarantine restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic are economically unsustainable in the long-term, and it is only a matter of time before borders reopen, and Singaporeans are once again free to travel to Malaysia for IVF treatment.

Is it difficult to find a local egg donor in Singapore?

Yes, because Singapore health regulations require egg donation to be altruistic, and payment can only be made to reimburse direct expenses such as traveling costs. The egg donation process is lengthy, tedious and painful, involving a few weeks of regular hormone injections, frequent blood tests and ultrasound scans, finally culminating in day surgery for egg retrieval. Additionally, there is also the hassle and inconvenience of commuting to and fro for numerous medical appointments. Understandably, without any financial incentives, very few local young women are willing to donate their eggs.

Why go for egg donation in Malaysia?

A large pool of egg donors of varying ethnicity and educational backgrounds are readily available in Malaysia because of generous financial inducements. Additionally, Malaysia has numerous IVF clinics and donor agencies that offer cost-competitive egg donation programs, which are much cheaper than other foreign countries such as USA, Australia and Taiwan. It is also much easier to source Asian egg donors in Malaysia, compared to Western countries such as USA and Australia. Moreover, Singaporean patients prefer to undergo IVF treatment at a destination close to home like Malaysia.

Are there any legal restrictions on egg donation in Malaysia?

Yes, only non-Muslim patients are allowed to receive egg donation. Shariah laws in Malaysia forbid Muslim patients from receiving egg or sperm donation.

What are the typical costs of egg donation in Malaysia (excluding medical fees)?

At the beginning of 2020, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, egg donor agencies in Malaysia typically charge between 20k to 25K Malaysian ringgits, if you approach them directly. Egg donors are typically compensated between 5K to 8K Malaysian ringgits. Hence the gross profit margin of these agencies are typically between 12K to 20K Malaysian ringgits.

Which cities in Malaysia are good for egg donation?

Greater Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Most of the egg donor agencies are located here, and virtually all IVF clinics in Malaysia, even those from other cities and states, depend on these agencies to source egg donors for their patients.

What about egg donation in Johor that is much closer to Singapore?

Singaporean patients must beware that most egg donors in Johor come from out-of-town or out-of-state. As mentioned earlier, the overwhelming majority of egg donor agencies and agents in Malaysia are based in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and IVF clinics in Johor rely on such agencies and agents to source egg donors for their patients. It is much more difficult to control and monitor the ovarian stimulation cycle of traveling egg donors from out-of-town or out-of-state, who reside far away from the IVF clinic. Such traveling egg donors may commute to the clinic for medical appointments, receive the hormone medications and then return to their hometowns where they are expected to self-inject for several days. Because supervision from the IVF clinic is not near at hand, the egg donor may not be bothered to strictly comply with such a painful and tedious routine of self-injections. If they are extra careless, the expensive hormone medications may not be kept properly refrigerated leading to spoilage and reduced potency. Without strict adherence to the injection protocol and proper refrigeration of hormone medications, the number and quality of eggs obtained from the donor will be severely compromised. Additionally, Singaporean patients must also take note that there are usually additional traveling and hotel costs associated with getting an out-of-town egg donor and her accompanying agency coordinator to travel to Johor.

Is it better to contact egg donor agencies directly, or get your selected IVF clinic to source egg donors from such agencies?

It is cheaper for you to contact egg donor agencies directly, and for them to arrange IVF treatment for you at their affiliated clinics, rather than getting an unaffliated IVF clinic to source egg donors for you from these agencies. Many egg donors agencies in Kuala Lumpur and Penang partner with their affiliated IVF clinic to offer special package deals that include egg donor costs plus medical fees. If you get an unaffiliated IVF clinic in Malaysia (particularly in Johor) to source egg donors for you, the clinic usually takes an extra cut of profit. For example, if the egg donor agency charges RM 25,000, the IVF clinic will charge you RM 30,0000, thereby taking a cut of RM 5,000 as additional profit.

Is embryo genetic testing necessary for egg donation?

Because it is unknown whether the egg donor is carrying any genetic defect, most Malaysian IVF clinics often recommend patients to do highly-expensive genetic testing of IVF embryos (PGS / PGT-A). This is completely unnecessary and a waste of money, if the egg donor is young and healthy, because chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome usually appear only in the eggs of older women. To evaluate whether the egg donor is carrying any unknown genetic defect, it is much cheaper to do genetic testing of the egg donor’s blood sample before starting IVF treatment. Moreover, you can also use NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) to screen for genetic defects in your unborn child after getting pregnant, which is also much cheaper than PGS (PGT-A). Although many fertility clinics claim that embryo genetic screening can improve the IVF success rates of older women, this usually refers to older women using their own eggs, which have a high incidence of chromosome abnormalities. PGS (PGT-A) will not improve the success rates of older women using a young egg donor. Patients must also beware of the risks of damaging the embryo during the ‘highly-delicate’ PGS (PGT-A) procedure, which involves extracting cells from the embryo after drilling a hole through the embryo shell (Zona pellucida).The smooth performance of this technique is often highly dependent on the skill and training of the laboratory staff (Embryologist). Even with high levels of training and accreditation, there is still a possibility of human error, particularly in a very busy laboratory that handles several such cases a day. Lastly, one must also beware that Malaysian IVF clinics often manipulate and play on the patient’s biased preference for either a boy or girl child, to persuade them to undertake embryo genetic testing for sex selection.

Should I choose fresh or frozen egg donation?

Some IVF clinics and egg donor agencies in Malaysia offer frozen egg donation as an alternative to fresh egg donation. The advantages of frozen versus fresh egg donation are greater convenience due to simpler logistics, as there is no need to coordinate and synchronize the treatment cycle of both donor and recipient; as well as lower costs due to negating the travel and hotel stay required for fresh egg donation. Another advantage is the greater certainty of the number and quality of frozen eggs available, which are unknown and non-guaranteed for fresh egg donation. Nevertheless, patients should use the same fertility clinic or IVF lab that recruited the egg donor and freeze her eggs. Avoid transferring frozen donor eggs from one medical facility to another. For best results, the thawing protocol must be matching and compatible with the freezing (vitrification) protocol, and only the same IVF lab that performs both the freezing and thawing processes, can ensure this. Patients should also beware that IVF success rates with frozen donor eggs are significantly lower than with fresh donor eggs.

What else should Singaporean patients be wary of when doing egg donation in Malaysia?

A critical piece of information that is often downplayed by Malaysian IVF clinics is the risk of accidental incest between half-siblings conceived by the same egg donor. Although such risks may be minimized in Singapore through safeguards that limit the number of children conceived per egg donor to three, it must be noted that there is no mandatory limit to the number of recipients that a single egg donor can donate to in Malaysia. Additionally, Singaporean patients should also be aware of the lack of appropriate counseling for egg donation in Malaysia. Rigorous counseling will ensure that both husband and wife are agreeable to egg donation, without any misgivings or emotional blackmail from either spouse, and without undue pressure from parents and in-laws. Additionally, they would also miss valuable advice on whether or not to tell their child the truth about his/her conception in the future.
 
Singaporean patients undergoing egg donation should beware of Malaysian IVF clinics trying to hard-sell highly expensive embryo genetic testing (PGS / PGT-A) to them. Some of these hard-selling tactics include:

(i) Playing on their fears of unknown genetic defects being carried by the egg donor. Singaporean patient should note that there are much cheaper alternative methods of genetic screening such as testing of the egg donor's blood sample before starting IVF, or NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing), which can be done after getting pregnant. A blood sample contains thousands of white blood cells, from which an abundant amount of DNA genetic material can be extracted. By contrast, only a few cells and tiny amount of DNA are extracted from the embryo during PGS (biopsy procedure). This makes it technically simpler and much cheaper to do genetic testing of the Egg Donor's blood sample, as compared to genetic screening of embryos with PGS / PGT-A.

(ii) Playing on their fears of Down syndrome. In reality, the chances of Down Syndrome with young donor eggs is extremely low. As seen in the attached tables and charts, the chances of Down Syndrome for a 20 year-old donor is 0.05% (1 in 2,000), while that for a 25 year-old donor is 0.083% (1 in 1,200). If patients are really worried about the possibility of Down syndrome, they can always do NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) after getting pregnant, which is very much cheaper than PGS (PGT-A).

(iii) Claiming that PGS (PGT-A) can improve the IVF success rates with donor eggs. This maybe true only for older women undergoing IVF with their own eggs, because of spontaneous genetic abnormalities that occur more frequently in the eggs of older women. Egg donors are typically very young, aged between 20 to 25 years of age, with very healthy eggs. Hence, PGS (PGT-A) will not further improve the already high IVF success rates of older women using donor eggs.

(iv) Playing on their biased preference for either a son or daughter. It is true that PGS (PGT-A) is the most effective method of sex-selection. But the question is whether it is moral and ethical for Malaysian IVF clinics to hard-sell such an expensive technique to Singaporean patients?

(v) Downplaying the risks of damaging the embryo during genetic testing with PGS (PGT-A). This is a highly delicate procedure that involves drilling a hole through the embryo shell (Zona Pellucidae), and extracting a few cells for genetic testing. No matter how well-trained is the lab staff (embryologist) doing the procedure, there is still a risk of human error. The more busy the IVF lab is, the greater the risk of human error, as lab staff are under pressure to complete procedures as fast as possible.

Interesting videos which inform patients that PGS (Preimplantation Genetic Screening), also known as PGT-A (Preimplantation Genetic Testing - Aneuploidy) is absolutely unnecessary for egg donation cycles:


 
Good News for all Singaporean IVF patients requiring Egg Donation !!!

Singapore has permitted import of frozen donor eggs from Egg Bank Asia, based in Penang, Malaysia. This Egg Bank has a wide and excellent choice of Chinese race egg donors. Currently there are 3 clinics in Singapore, which have either imported frozen donor eggs for their IVF patients from Egg Bank Asia, or are in negotiations to do so. These are as follows: (i) Alpha IVF Singapore, (ii) Centre for Human Reproduction at NUH, and (iii) Mt. Elizabeth Fertility Centre.

Website:

Phone number: +60-12-579-2006

WeChat ID: EggBankAsia

Email: [email protected]



Hi Angelica Cheng, I came across your post but realised its been a few years old, so hopefully you are still active on here. I’m looking into Egg Bank Asia. More specifically Malaysia. The Alpha fertility advised they dont use EBA there, but you mentioned the Singapore branch uses EBA? Do you have other info on the quality of their service, success rate or the quality of their eggs. we most on the websites, every Egg donation service is the best. But I just wanna do a cross reference check on EBA in general. would appreciate if you have an insight. thanks
 
Hi Angelica Cheng, I came across your post but realised its been a few years old, so hopefully you are still active on here. I’m looking into Egg Bank Asia. More specifically Malaysia. The Alpha fertility advised they dont use EBA there, but you mentioned the Singapore branch uses EBA? Do you have other info on the quality of their service, success rate or the quality of their eggs. we most on the websites, every Egg donation service is the best. But I just wanna do a cross reference check on EBA in general. would appreciate if you have an insight. thanks

I believe that new MOH regulations may have banned the import of frozen donor eggs into Singapore. Please refer to the new regulations:

https://www.moh.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider5/licensing-terms-and-conditions/moh-cir-no-67_2021_1jun21_guidelines-on-the-import-and-export-of-embryos_and_annex-a_registry-version.pdf

Use of Donor Gametes or Embryos

Where donor gametes/embryos are used in any way, all the following additional declarations are required:

(i) The couple must provide a written declaration that they have paid no more than reasonable expenses for such use. As commercial trading of human gametes/embryos is prohibited in Singapore, the couple will be required to produce evidence (e.g. an itemised invoice) to support their declaration.

(ii) Written declaration by the overseas PGS lab and, where applicable, overseas AR clinic that the collection / retrieval of the gametes / embryos meet AR LTC 2020 paragraph 5.29.

(iii) Documentation that the donor was screened for the following transmissible diseases: (a) Hepatitis B; (b) Hepatitis C; (c) Syphilis; (d) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (and whether a second test was repeated no earlier than 6 months from the time of donation); and, (e) Cytomegalovirus.

(iv) Documentation on whether the donor’s eggs have been used before, and if so, the number of live-births that the donor’s eggs have resulted in.

Notes:

1) Under the Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Act (HCOPPA), only reasonable expenses may be provided for the supply of gametes and embryos. As per HCOPPA section 13, and MOH’s Licensing Terms and Conditions for Assisted Reproduction Services paragraph 5.31, “reasonable expenses” can include expenses relating to the preparation, preservation and quality control of the gametes/embryos.

2) In particular, if donor gamete / embryo is being used, please ensure that the following is observed: 5.29 AR Centres shall ensure that only: (a) oocytes donated by women between the ages of 21 and 35 at the point of oocyte removal;
 

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Hi, thanks for the reply. I just want to know if EBA as a business has a good reputation in terms of egg quality or service. Looking for reviews on them. I know some couples are heading to Malaysia to have embryo transfer. are you familiar with their services and heard good feedback?
 
Hi, thanks for the reply. I just want to know if EBA as a business has a good reputation in terms of egg quality or service. Looking for reviews on them. I know some couples are heading to Malaysia to have embryo transfer. are you familiar with their services and heard good feedback?

The Problem with EBA business model is the transfer of frozen eggs to another IVF lab or clinic that is not affiliated with EBA.
Best results are obtained by using the IVF lab affiliated with the egg bank, which recruited the egg donor and froze her eggs. IVF patients should avoid using frozen donor eggs that are transferred to their clinic from an external egg bank. This is because the thawing protocol must be matching and compatible with the freezing (vitrification) protocol (somewhat analogous to a lock and key). Only the same IVF lab that performs both the freezing and thawing processes can ensure this, to attain best IVF success rates.

Please see advice given by Dr. John Jain, an American fertility specialist:


 

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