Australian woman giving away excess donor embryos to create extended family for daughter

An Australian woman who travelled to the United States to design her own baby is giving away her excess embryos only if recipients agree to an annual reunion and stay in touch via social media.

Natalie Lovett, 48, who bought donor eggs and sperm in the United States after failing to get pregnant for over seven years in Australia, is trying to create an extended family for her 18- month-old daughter, Australia's national broadcaster reported on Monday.

Lovett has another 25 embryos -- from anonymous donors -- in the U.S. which she has decided to give to other childless families on the condition the siblings meet up once per year because they would not know their donor parents.

"Having the knowledge that (her daughter) is not the only one, that she is not this rare and unique individual, that she is from a family in essence, these siblings are out there, to know them, to interact with them (is good)," Lovett said.

"So the contract stipulates that the siblings and families get together once a year, and I hope they honour that. I mean it is yet to be tested."

Kate Bourne from the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority said it would not be possible for any of the new recipients to have the treatment in Australia as they would be in breach of best practice as the donors have been paid.

"Also because the people born wouldn't have the opportunity to find out information about their donors,"Bourne said.

"Baby lust is very strong and very powerful, and so people desperately want to become parents. Some people will go to great lengths to travel anywhere to meet that need." Endi