IVI Institute, the global leader in reproductive medicine, has announced that The World Egg and Sperm Bank (TWESB), a trusted provider of donor egg and donor sperm services, has joined its global group. The acquisition expands access to reproductive solutions for patients and fertility clinics across the United States and Australia, supported by decades of scientific expertise and experience on both sides of the partnership.

The announcement follows closely on the launch of IVI Institute earlier this week, during which the organization also unveiled the inaugural IVI Institute Fertility Barometer, a study of more than 24,000 women across nine countries examining their hopes for building families, the barriers they face, and their experiences navigating fertility care.

The Context: Why Donor Egg and Sperm Demand Is Rising

The rationale behind the acquisition is grounded in a demographic shift that the new Fertility Barometer data makes concrete. According to the study, 34% of US women had their first child later than they had originally intended, with the average delay standing at six years. That pattern of later parenthood is one of the primary drivers behind growing global demand for donor eggs and donor sperm, as natural fertility declines with age and an increasing number of patients require reproductive medicine treatments, including egg donation, to build their families.

“There is now a growing global demand for donor eggs and donor sperm due to women delaying their first pregnancy. According to our new IVI Institute Fertility Barometer, 34% of U.S. women had their first child later than expected and there is an increasing number of cases where fertility treatment is necessary. By bringing The World Egg and Sperm Bank expertise together with the strength of our global network, we can offer patients and clinics greater choice, broader access and more confidence at every step of the journey to building a family,” said Javier Sanchez-Prieto, Chief Executive Officer of IVI Institute.

The clinical case for egg donation as a treatment pathway is also well-established within IVI Institute’s own data. IVF with donor eggs produces pregnancy rates that remain relatively stable across patient age groups, in contrast to IVF using a patient’s own eggs, where success rates decline sharply with age. For patients over 40 in particular, pregnancy rates per cycle started are substantially higher with donor eggs. Based on the global results reported and published by IVI Institute, pregnancy rates per embryo transfer in egg donation treatments are around 60%, a figure that gives more couples and single women a realistic opportunity to become parents.

About The World Egg and Sperm Bank

The World Egg and Sperm Bank was founded in 2004 by Diana Thomas as the first independent egg bank, operating from its Scottsdale, Arizona facilities. Over more than two decades, it has established itself as a trusted partner for fertility clinics and families worldwide seeking flexible, reliable reproductive solutions. The bank manages every aspect of donor recruitment, qualification, cycling, processing, and storage in-house, a fully integrated model designed to ensure superior donor care, egg and sperm quality, and complete transparency from the first step to the last.

TWESB currently provides access to a network of more than 500 rigorously screened donors, backed by scientific data accumulated across its history of connecting aspiring parents to the care they need. While the bank will maintain its existing clinic relationships following the acquisition, it will also join IVI Institute’s broader network of clinics.

Diana Thomas, Founder of The World Egg and Sperm Bank, spoke to the values alignment that made the partnership possible:

“It’s an honor for The World Egg and Sperm Bank to join the IVI Institute family. I made a deliberate choice years ago that IVI Institute would be my only partner, drawn by their unwavering commitment to clinical excellence and the ethical standards that define their work. While we will maintain our existing clinic relationships, we are also proud to join IVI Institute’s network of clinics, which have earned patient confidence through rigorous research and proven expertise. Now, as part of the IVI family, we’re united in our mission: delivering exceptional patient care and driving real, measurable results.”

What the Integration Means for Patients and Clinics

For patients who rely on donor eggs or donor sperm, finding the right donor is one of the most important and deeply personal steps in the fertility journey. The partnership is designed to give patients more high-quality choices, more coordinated support, and greater confidence throughout that process, combining TWESB’s donor expertise with the clinical infrastructure and scientific depth of a global fertility leader.

Isabel Gonzalez, Global Lab Director for IVI Institute, described the clinical significance of the integration:

“This integration strengthens our ability to serve patients across our global network with the highest standards of laboratory excellence and donor care. The World Egg and Sperm Bank’s commitment to rigorous screening protocols and transparent practices aligns perfectly with our mission. By combining their specialized expertise with our clinical infrastructure, we’re elevating the quality and reliability patients can expect at every stage of their fertility journey. This partnership reinforces what patients trust us to deliver: world-class results backed by science and compassion.”