KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has introduced new guidelines to regulate in-vitro fertilization (IVF) services in Nepal, following reports of illegal extraction and trade of eggs from teenage girls at some IVF centers in Kathmandu Valley.
Health Minister Pradeep Paudel has approved the “Guidelines on Infertility Management Services, 2082”, which set limits and safeguards for donors. Under the new rules, donors must be between 20 and 35 years of age.
Women can donate eggs up to six times, with a mandatory gap of at least three months between donations, while men can donate sperm up to ten times, with at least a 15-day gap. Service providers are required to coordinate to prevent duplication across different centers.
The guidelines prohibit disclosure of donor identity to recipients, require medical examinations to ensure no infectious diseases, and mandate record-keeping with citizenship details at service providers and coded hospital records.
Donors must provide informed consent, and in the case of married donors, approval from both spouses is required. No individual may be coerced or lured into donation.
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