Egg donation is probably the one of the most precious gifts that one woman can give to another. If you are considering donating your eggs, we want you to know that you are a very special lady for considering something like this. There is a shortage of egg donors in the UK and we therefore have a large number of recipients on our waiting list; some have been waiting for many years to find an egg donor. There are many reasons for these women needing egg donation. Perhaps she has poor quality eggs, survived cancer, or her biological clock has simply run out of time. Becoming an egg donor is something that could help an infertile person/couple achieve their lifelong dream of having a family of her/their own.
There is a shortage of egg donors in the UK so it is one of the most precious gifts a woman can give
Am I able to donate my eggs?
To be able to become an egg donor you must be under 36 years old and weigh less than 85 kg / 190 lbs / 13 stone. UK guidelines, in accordance with the HFEA, require all prospective donors to be screened for the following:
- full blood count
- blood group
- HIV 1 and 2
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis B core
- hepatitis C
- syphilis
- HTLV 1 and 2
- chlamydia
- gonorrhoea
- cytomegalovirus (CMV)
We will also perform chromosomal analysis and cystic fibrosis screening. The results of these tests will determine whether we will be able to match you with a particular recipient.
You will then have a hormone blood test on day two or three of your menstrual cycle. This will give us an indication of your ovarian reserve and the ability of your ovaries to respond to stimulatory drugs. This test can be carried out at the centre or we can arrange for you to receive this locally.
If you are unsure about whether you would be able to donate, please call us and we will discuss this with you, but first we suggest you take some time to read through the information here and familiarise yourself with all the details about egg donation.
What else is involved in becomming an egg donor?
If you wish to go ahead as a donor please complete the application form and return it. You will then receive free implications and assessment counselling to make sure that you understand and accept the implications of becoming an egg donor and to make sure that you are a suitable candidate. You will also receive a consultation with one of our doctors, who will outline the treatment and procedures involved and discuss the associated risks with you.
Since August 1991 a regulatory body called the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regulates all UK centres undertaking fertility treatment and research. New rules from the HFEA now allow egg donors to recieve a fixed payment of £750 for a cycle of eggs.
When we use donated gametes we must register you with the HFEA, providing your name, date of birth and physical characteristics. This information remains on the HFEA’s register.
All donors registering with UK clinics will be identifiable to people conceived using their gametes when these people reach the age of 18. These donor-conceived people may apply to the HFEA to receive identifying information about their donors. The information will only be given out by the HFEA to a child born as a result of the donation after the child’s 18th birthday and only upon request made by the child. The recipients will receive only non-identifying information about the donor at the time of treatment.
Once again, we would like to sincerely thank you for considering becoming an egg donor. If you do proceed, your involvement may result in your knowing that you could not have done more to influence the lives of others.