Donor eggs are a very precious and important gift. Providing donor eggs may enable a couple to have a child that would otherwise have been impossible. If you are interested in donating eggs or require an egg donor, we hope that the following information will be useful. Our staff will be happy to answer any queries you may have and you can be assured of absolute confidentiality at all times.

WHY DO PEOPLE NEED DONATED EGGS?

Some couples are unable to have a child because the female partner is unable to produce eggs and no amount of drugs can stimulate her to do so. There are several possible reasons for this:

• Born without normally functioning ovaries e.g. Turner’s syndrome
• The ovaries have been removed because of tumour, cyst formation or endometriosis
• The ovaries have stopped functioning prematurely (premature ovarian failure)
• Chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for another condition e.g. cancer

There are other reasons why a woman may require donated eggs.

• She may be carrying an abnormal gene
• The ovaries may be functioning but are not suitable to have eggs recovered from them in IVF treatment
• The eggs which are retrieved may not fertilise or develop into normal embryos.

These women may be able to carry and give birth to a child if another woman donates eggs to her. To donate eggs and enable a woman to have a child she would otherwise not have, is a wonderful gift and a very generous and courageous thing to do.

WHAT IS INVOLVED FOR THE DONOR?

• Preliminary discussion to ascertain suitability
• Screening tests
• Independent counselling
• Stimulation of the ovaries to produce a number of eggs
• Monitoring the response to stimulation
• Admission to hospital for a few hours to remove the eggs
• Follow-up to ensure that there have been no problems with the procedure

CAN ANYONE DONATE EGGS?

There are certain criteria we apply before we consider a woman for egg donation. The woman donating eggs should normally be

• less than 32 years of age
• Ideally had a child and completed their family
• have no significant health issues which would increase the risks to her
• have no genetic illness or infection that may be transmissible to either the recipient of the eggs or a baby which may result from the treatment

CAN ANYONE RECEIVE DONATED EGGS?

There are certain criteria we apply before we will consider a woman for treatment with donor eggs. These apply to those receiving eggs from an anonymous donor recruited by the clinic:

• Women’s age less than 48 years when placed on waiting list or less than 50 at the time of treatment
• Have no medical contraindications to having a pregnancy
• Have a uterus capable of carrying a pregnancy
• Have undergone appropriate counselling and screening tests