Educated and vegetarian egg donors are in the top wishlist of couples

22.07.2015

Fair, tall and, most importantly, vegetarian. These are not specifications from a matrimonial ad, but attributes are looking for in egg donors.

According to gynaecologists who run in vitro fertilization centers in the city of Bengaluru, they are increasingly seeing couples keen on knowing the caste and religion and, if they can help it, a hint of the donor's IQ. True to type, Indians are turning the focus on food habits too.

Interestingly, graduates top the preference list, giving the nature-versus-nurture debate a new twist.

"Every third couple I come across wants a vegetarian donor. Their logic: 'When I'm not able to have a child with my own egg, I must get the best from others.' They're unwilling to reveal whether they eat meat, but prefer eggs of vegetarian donors,” said Dr Kamini A Rao, medical director, Milann, The Fertility Centre. Also they are making enquiries about height, complexion and education, she added.

There was a time when a couple with O+ blood group opted for a healthy donor from the same stream so the child's blood group matched theirs. Now, the egg donor's lifestyle tops the wishlist.

"Earlier, couples were choosy about religion and complexion. Now, a large number prefers vegetarian donors and wants all details about the donor's food choices," said Dr Aviva Pinto Rodrigues, fertility consultant, Nova IVI Fertility.

But now many IVF clinics refuse to entertain such demands. "I find them silly and ask the couple to approach a donor bank, instead," says Dr Devaki Gunasheela, who heads Gunasheela IVF Centre. Here, only married women with one or two kids make for eligible donors. "We must make sure the egg is healthy and fertile, and not bother about what the woman eats," she said.

It's quite the same with sperm donors too, but with a bigger ask: the job profile. For couples from rural backgrounds, the donor's job matters the most, Dr Kamini said. "They ask us to look for sperm donors who work in the government sector and have high-paying jobs. They want intelligent and good-looking donors," she added.

The trend of couples seeking the 'perfect' donor once again brings to the fore Indians' age-old obsession with caste, race, religion and fair skin. The fuss over the donor's food habits and lifestyle shows they don't want just a child, but a custom-made one. Given that they're unable to conceive and the success rate of IVF is not 100%, wannabe parents should be happy with a healthy baby. Clinics and doctors who shut the door on these narrow-minded individuals and refuse to give in to their demands are doing the ethical thing, and setting an example for others. These couples need to be reminded that good genes cannot guarantee a good upbringing.

Based on: indiatimes.com