National Gamete Registry: Closing the Gaps

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Bioethics
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Donor gametes (sperm, oocytes, embryos) are increasingly available for individuals and couples experiencing infertility.
• Existing national policies for gamete donation are comprehensive but have implementation gaps.
• Current policies alone cannot fully address all challenges in gamete donation processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the limitations of current gamete donation policies.
• To explore the potential of digital tools in improving gamete donation implementation.
• To enhance the safety, security, and ethical conduct of gamete donation and usage.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of existing national policies on gamete donation.
• Proposal and conceptualization of digital tools for gamete donation management.
• Description of functionalities for a centralized donor information database.

Main Results:

• Digital tools can establish centralized donor databases.
• Systems can be implemented to track donation frequency and gamete availability.
• Digital solutions enable monitoring of embryos created and children born per donor.

Conclusions:

• Written policies alone are insufficient to resolve implementation gaps in gamete donation.
• Digital tools are crucial for effective implementation, safety, and ethical oversight.
• Implementing digital solutions can significantly improve gamete donation program management and outcomes.