Subsidized in-vitro fertilization treatment and the effect on the number of egg sharers

Egg sharing remains a controversial practice, mainly because of the presumed element of payment. In order to find out to what extent financial considerations motivated the women to share their oocytes, the data on egg sharing in Belgium are analysed. Belgium began providing full reimbursement for six in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles on 1 July 2003. Since this date, the numbers of egg sharers dropped approximately 70%. Although these data show that a large number of the donors were mainly motivated by the reduced cost of IVF, it cannot be concluded that money was the only motive to share. Nevertheless, to increase voluntary consent by egg sharers, public funding for infertility treatment should be provided.