Egg Donation

Egg donation is offered to couples if the female produces no/very low numbers of eggs. This treatment may also be offered if, in the hormone profile an elevated FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) has occurred. If this has occurred it can indicate that there is premature ovarian failure which means that the numbers of eggs present in the ovaries are reduced. In some cases the FSH is within normal parameters but the response in a treatment cycle results in low numbers or poor quality eggs.

An Egg Donation cycle involves a woman donating her eggs following an IVF/ICSI cycle to a recipient (the woman who needs the eggs). The eggs are fertilised on the day of egg collection with the male partners’ sperm. The resulting embryos are placed into the recipients’ uterus 2-3 days following egg retrieval

Known/ Anonymous donation

Known Donation involves someone known to the couple such as a female friend or family member. The recipient will receive the entire number of eggs. Counselling should be offered to all parties so that the ethical implications of donation can be explored and how this could affect the individual and extended families.

Anonymous donation involves a woman donating directly to a couple or into a pool. This may involve more then one couple receiving eggs from one donation. The recipient couple are not provided with identifying information about the donor. The donor is not provided with information pertaining to the recipient couple. Again, implication counselling should be offered to all parties so that the implications of donation can be explored and how this could affect the individual and extended families.