If you're thinking about donating your eggs, one of the first questions you probably have is a simple one: how much will I receive?
The answer is £985 per donation cycle. This is the standard compensation for egg donors in the UK, set and regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). It applies to all licensed fertility clinics across the country — including Care Fertility — and cannot legally be exceeded. In addition to this flat payment, you may also be able to claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses on top.
That's the headline figure. But there's a lot more to understand about what donation involves, what you actually receive, and whether you might be eligible. Read on for the full picture.
Quick jump:
Egg donation in the UK is built on the principle of altruism. The HFEA — the regulatory body that governs all fertility treatment and donation in this country — sets a fixed compensation limit to ensure that financial incentive alone is never the primary driver for donation.
The £985 cap exists to protect donors. It's designed to prevent a situation where people feel financially pressured into a procedure that carries a degree of medical involvement. At the same time, the HFEA recognises that donors deserve to be fairly compensated for their time, commitment, and the inconvenience involved in the process.
This is a deliberately different model to some other countries, where egg donation can attract significantly higher payments. The UK approach prioritises the wellbeing of donors and the integrity of the process above all else.
You can read more about the HFEA's position on donor compensation at hfea.gov.uk.
The £985 is a flat compensatory payment made per completed donation cycle. It is not means-tested, does not vary by clinic, and is paid regardless of how many eggs are retrieved or whether a successful pregnancy results.
Here's a clear breakdown of how compensation works:
The £985 flat payment
This is paid for each donation cycle you complete. If you go on to donate in a second or subsequent cycle (subject to HFEA guidelines on the number of families created from one donor), you would receive £985 for each completed cycle.
Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
Separate from the flat payment, donors can also claim back genuine expenses incurred during the process. These can include:
Travel costs to and from the clinic
Childcare costs during appointments
Loss of earnings for time taken off work
These are claimed on top of the £985 and reimbursed against receipts or evidence of cost.
Medical costs
All medical costs — scans, blood tests, medication, and the egg collection procedure itself — are covered entirely by the clinic. You will not be asked to pay for any aspect of your treatment or monitoring.
Compensation is just one part of the picture. Many donors tell us that the non-financial aspects of donation matter just as much, sometimes more, than the payment itself.
Free fertility screening and health checks
Before you donate, you'll undergo a comprehensive medical assessment at no cost to you. This includes:
AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) testing, which gives an indication of your ovarian reserve
Chromosome screening (karyotyping)
Infectious disease screening
A full health MOT including blood pressure, BMI, and medical history review
Privately, tests like these can cost several hundred pounds. As a donor, you receive them as part of the process — and you'll have access to your results.
The knowledge that you've helped create a family
This is something that donors consistently describe as the most meaningful part of the experience. For many recipients, donated eggs are their only route to parenthood. The impact of your donation can be profound and lasting — and that's something no financial figure can capture.
Ongoing support from the Care Fertility team
Throughout your donation journey, you'll have access to dedicated support from our donor team — from your first enquiry through to the completion of your cycle. Our counselling team is also available to you, and access to support doesn't end once your donation is complete.
This is one of the most common questions we hear from women considering donation — and it's a fair one to ask.
The short answer: donating your eggs does not reduce your long-term fertility when the process is managed correctly.
That's because each month, your body naturally recruits a cohort of eggs, of which only one typically reaches maturity and is released at ovulation. The rest are reabsorbed. The medication used in egg donation stimulates more of those already-recruited eggs to mature — it does not draw on your future egg supply.
That said, it's entirely natural to want to understand the process in more detail before committing. For a fuller explanation of what's involved and any associated considerations, read our dedicated article: Will donating affect my own fertility?
How many times can you donate eggs in the UK?There is no fixed limit on the number of times you can donate eggs in the UK — but there is an important rule on how many families can benefit from your donations.
Under HFEA regulations, a single egg donor can help create a maximum of 10 families through licensed clinics in the UK. This limit does not include your own children or family, and it does not restrict the number of children born within each of those families — only the number of separate families.
In practice, it is relatively rare for an egg donor to reach the 10-family limit. Each donation cycle typically produces a finite number of eggs, and not every cycle will result in a successful pregnancy for every recipient. Your clinic will monitor how many families have been created from your donations and will let you know when you are approaching the limit.
There is no legal cap on the number of cycles themselves, but your clinic will always assess your suitability to donate again on a case-by-case basis. Factors such as your response to stimulation medication, the number of eggs retrieved in previous cycles, and your overall health will all be taken into account. Your wellbeing as a donor comes first.
If you have already donated elsewhere — at another UK clinic or abroad — it is important to disclose this. Your clinic is required to check with the HFEA register to ensure the 10-family limit is not exceeded.
To donate eggs in the UK, you'll generally need to meet the following criteria:
Age: between 18 and 35 years old
BMI: within the healthy range (your clinic will advise on specifics)
General health: no significant hereditary medical conditions that could be passed on
Non-smoker or willing to stop smoking prior to donation
Able to commit to the appointments involved across a donation cycle
You'll also need to be emotionally ready for donation and comfortable with the implications — including that any children born from your donation may have the right to contact you once they turn 18.
For a full overview of the eligibility criteria, including our age requirements, visit: What are the age requirements for egg donors?
You can also find detailed information on health considerations here: Are there any health risks involved in donating?
Egg donation is a significant decision, and it's one that deserves careful thought. But for many women who go on to donate, it's also one of the most rewarding things they've ever done.
At Care Fertility, we work to make the process as straightforward and supported as possible — from your very first question to the completion of your cycle and beyond.
Find out more about donating your eggs at Care Fertility
Or, if you're ready to take the first step, you can submit an initial enquiry here and one of our donor team will be in touch to talk you through the process with no obligation.
Last reviewed: June 2026 | Care Fertility is licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).