EGG DONATION
At Care Fertility, we support egg donors with clear information, specialist guidance, counselling, and care at every step. We’ll talk you through what’s involved, check whether donation is right and safe for you, and make sure you feel informed before you make any decisions.
If you’re here because you’re thinking about using donor eggs in your own treatment, we have a dedicated guide for you. You can read more about IVF with donor eggs, including your treatment options, the process, and what happens next.
Thinking about donating your eggs?
Donating your eggs means giving some of your eggs to help another person or couple try to have a baby. For many people who need donor eggs, this may be their best chance of becoming parents.
It’s a kind thing to consider, but it’s also a medical process and a serious commitment. You’ll need to attend appointments, have fertility tests and screening, take medication, and have an egg collection procedure. We’ll make sure you understand everything before you decide whether to go ahead.
In the UK, egg donation is regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Egg donors can receive up to £985 compensation per donation cycle to cover time, travel, and expenses. It is illegal to pay for egg donation in the UK.
When I read about egg donation, I just instantly knew I was meant to do this. My only thought was, there are families out there who want a child, and this may be their only way. I need to give someone that chance. Care Fertility were absolutely amazing from start to finish, I felt incredibly supported and informed throughout.
Who can donate eggs?
You may be able to donate your eggs if you:
The HFEA says women up to the age of 36 can donate or share their eggs, and that all donors need strict health tests before donation can go ahead.
Meeting the basic criteria doesn’t always mean donation will be suitable. That’s why we complete medical, fertility, genetic, and infection screening before treatment. It helps us protect you, the recipient, and any child born from your donation.
Why donate your eggs?
People choose egg donation for different reasons. Some know someone who has needed fertility treatment. Some have seen friends or family struggle to conceive. Others simply feel that, if they can help, they’d like to.
Whatever has brought you here, we’ll give you space to ask questions and make a decision that feels right for you. There’s no pressure to continue if you decide donation isn’t for you.
How much do you get for donating eggs in the UK?
Egg donors in the UK can receive up to £985 compensation per donation cycle. This is set by the HFEA and is designed to recognise the time, travel, and commitment involved in donating your eggs.
As part of the egg donation process, you’ll also have fertility checks at no cost to you. These include an AMH blood test, which gives us an idea of your ovarian reserve, and a pelvic ultrasound scan, which lets us look at your ovaries, uterus, and antral follicle count. Together, these checks can help you learn more about your fertility and what your future options may look like.
Egg donation is still a personal and medical decision, not just a way to access fertility testing. But many donors do tell us that understanding more about their reproductive health is a helpful part of the process. We’ll explain your results clearly and give you space to ask questions before you decide whether to continue.
What is the egg donation process?
You’ll speak with our specialist donation team about your health, family history, and reasons for donating. This helps us understand whether egg donation may be suitable for you.
You’ll visit your Care Fertility clinic for fertility tests, infection screening, and genetic checks. These help us protect you, the recipient, and any child born from your donation.
You’ll have counselling to talk through the emotional and legal implications of donation. It gives you time to reflect, ask questions, and make an informed decision.
Before treatment begins, you’ll complete consent forms. These confirm how your eggs can be used, what information may be shared, and your rights as a donor.
You’ll take hormone injections for around 10 to 14 days. Our nurses will show you how, and you’ll have monitoring appointments to check how your ovaries are responding.
Egg collection is a short procedure carried out at the clinic. We’ll explain how to prepare, look after you throughout, and give you clear aftercare advice.
After donation, we’ll check in and answer any questions. In the future, you can ask whether any children were born from your donation, including limited non-identifying details.
Will donating eggs affect my own fertility?
Egg donation does not use up eggs that would otherwise be available to you in future months. During a usual menstrual cycle, several follicles begin to develop, but normally only one releases an egg. Fertility medication encourages more of those developing follicles to mature in the same cycle.
As with any medical procedure, egg donation has risks and side effects, and it isn’t right for everyone. The HFEA describes egg donation as generally very safe, but also makes clear that it is invasive, time-consuming, and carries some risk. We’ll talk you through the risks before you decide whether to continue.
Is egg donation anonymous in the UK?
No, egg donation is not fully anonymous in the UK.
If a child is born from your donation, they can ask for non-identifying information about you when they are 16. When they turn 18, they can ask for identifying information, including your full name, date and country of birth, and last known address.
This doesn’t mean you have legal rights or responsibilities for any child born from your donation. You won’t be their legal parent, you won’t have a say in their upbringing, and you won’t be financially responsible for them.
How many families can be created from my donation?
In the UK, eggs from one donor can be used to create children for up to 10 families. This limit is set by the HFEA.
You can also place conditions on your consent, and we’ll explain your options before donation goes ahead.
Looking for IVF with donor eggs?
This page is mainly for people thinking about becoming egg donors.
If you’re a patient considering treatment with donor eggs, we have a separate section that explains your options in more detail, including fresh egg donation, frozen egg donation, donor matching, and the IVF process.
Read our guide to IVF with donor eggs
Why donate with Care Fertility?
When you donate with Care Fertility, you’ll be supported by people who do this every day. Our donation team, nurses, counsellors, doctors, and embryologists work together to make sure your care feels clear, safe, and personal.
We’ll help you understand:
- Whether you meet the criteria to donate
- What tests and screening you’ll need
- What compensation you can receive
- What the treatment process involves
- What information donor-conceived people may be able to access in the future
- How we’ll support you before, during, and after donation
You won’t be rushed. You’ll have time to ask questions, talk things through, and decide whether donating your eggs is right for you.
Helpful guides and next steps
Egg donation comes with a lot to think about, and it’s normal to have questions before you decide what feels right for you. These guides give you more detail on the areas people ask us about most, from eligibility and the donation process to real donor experiences and treatment costs for patients using donor eggs.
IVF with donor eggs: a complete guide
How much do you get for donating eggs in the UK?
IVF with donor eggs: step by step
Why I wanted to donate my eggs
What happens after your egg collection?
Things to Consider Before Egg Donation
Watch our on-demand event
Egg donation involves undergoing a cycle of IVF to provide eggs to someone who is unable to conceive using their own. In this on-demand event video, Emily Murfin, our donation midwife, explains each step of the process – from initial screening and hormone treatment to egg collection and aftercare. Donating your eggs is a personal decision, but for many, it offers a unique opportunity to help someone else experience parenthood.
Frequently asked questions
It’s completely normal to have questions before deciding whether egg donation is right for you. Here are the things people ask us most often, with clear answers to help you feel informed, reassured, and ready to take your next step.At Care Fertility, you need to be aged 18 to 35, and you cannot donate after your 36th birthday. This is because egg quality generally declines with age, and donor safety is our priority.
The full process can vary depending on your screening, appointments, and cycle timing. The stimulation stage usually takes around 10 to 14 days, with monitoring appointments during that time.
Egg donation is not expected to reduce your future fertility, but it is a medical process with risks and side effects. We’ll assess your health carefully and explain the risks before you decide whether to continue.
Medically reviewed by: Dr Alison Richardson, Consultant Gynaecologist & Group Medical Director, Care Fertility
Written by: Selina Wilkinson, Care Fertility donation Lead
Last reviewed: June, 2026
Ready to take the next step?
Whether you’re feeling ready to donate or you’re still weighing things up, our donation team is here to talk it through with you. We’ll answer your questions, explain what happens next, and help you understand whether egg donation is right for you, with no pressure to decide today.
Become an egg donor
Start your egg donation enquiry and we’ll guide you from there.
Speak to our team
Call us on 0808 178 2860 if you’d rather chat things through first.