Queensland Health has updated guidance for fertility clinics after an earlier interpretation treated same-sex couples who each carried a pregnancy using the same donor as separate families.
The revised approach defines a same-sex couple using the same donor as one family. Queensland Health says the change applies going forward and retrospectively from March 1, 2026.
Queensland law limits donated sperm or eggs to the creation of no more than 10 Australian families, a safeguard intended to reduce the risk of genetic siblings unknowingly forming relationships later in life.
The previous guidance disrupted treatment for several couples and prompted concerns from patients, clinicians and fertility advocates. The health department said its review was intended to maintain protections for donor-conceived people while better reflecting social family structures.
Fertility providers have welcomed the clarification, although advocates say further questions remain for separated families who wish to continue using the same donor.
Source: ABC News reporting and Queensland Health guidance described in the report.
Illustration disclosure: The featured image is an AI-generated healthcare editorial illustration. It does not depict real patients, clinicians or a specific fertility clinic.
