Being an egg donor

Egg donors are unique and remarkable women. Their kindness and generosity allows many childless couples to achieve their ultimate dream of having a family.

These women undergo ovarian stimulation and egg collection to produce eggs and donate to one or two women on our waiting list. Since 1988, more than 1000 women have altruistically donated at the Lister Fertility Clinic. Our dedicated IVF egg donation team has over a decade of experience in assisting donors through the process.

Things to consider before egg donation

Women considering egg donation should be aware that egg recipients will be provided with non-identifying information such as height and ethnicity. However, at no point will the egg donor's name be revealed to the recipient.

Since 2005, children born as a result of egg or sperm donation have the right to access identifiable information about their donor once they reach 18 years of age. An egg donor's details will be kept on the HFEA Register, where they are carefully protected and are not available to the general public. Only those with a right to this information by law, namely donor-conceived people aged 18 or over, will have access to it. If they contact the HFEA, they will be told:

• The donor's name.
• The donor's date of birth.
• The donor's place of birth.
• The donor's address at the time of treatment.

The Lister Fertility Clinic does not currently hold information about how often children seek out their donors as the first generation of children born under this law will not turn 18 years old until 2023.

Donors have no legal rights to children born as a result of their donated eggs.

If donors would like to know the outcome of their cycle they can contact the Lister Fertility Clinic at any time. The clinical team can tell a donor whether any children were born as a result of their egg donation as well as the sex of any such children and/or the year they were born.

We cannot provide donors with the names or other identifying information about donor conceived children.

More information from HFEA about donating your eggs

Who can be an egg donor?

Ideally, an egg donor should be between the ages of 21 and 35 without any history of inheritable conditions.
 

What tests will be done before I am accepted?

All donors will be tested for HIV antibody, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, haemoglobin, blood grouping, chromosome studies and cystic fibrosis.

Two HIV tests will be carried out; the first test will be on the day of the initial consultation and the second will be 12 weeks later. With your consent we will write to your GP to obtain your past and present medical history.

Will I have to pay for treatment?

No, all medical expenses will be covered by the Lister Fertility Clinic. Expenses such as public transport / petrol and reasonable childcare will be reimbursed.