EMBRYO DONATION
After completing fertility treatment, deciding what to do with extra embryos can be challenging. Many choose to help others by donating unused embryos.
Embryo donation
If you’ve been able to start your own family with Care Fertility, you know how it feels to go through fertility treatment – and how it feels when it goes well. Not everyone is so lucky, but by becoming an embryo donor, you could give another couple a better chance of a family of their own.
Could embryo donation be right for me?
If after you’ve completed your treatment, you have frozen embryos you aren’t going to use, you might be able to donate them to another couple.
To donate your embryos, you would need to meet the following criteria:
- The egg provider must have been under 36 years and the sperm provider under 46 years at the time the embryos were created.
- If donor eggs or sperm were used to create your embryos, we’d need to check if your donor has any family slots available.
- You and your partner will need to be aware of your family history, and you shouldn’t have any known genetic problems.
- You should have at least two blastocysts or four day three embryos.
If you fit these criteria, you may be able to donate your embryos.
Embryo donation offers a unique opportunity to help others experience the joy of parenthood. It’s a selfless and deeply meaningful decision that brings hope and happiness to families who need it most. We’re honoured to support those who choose to make this incredible gift.
The process of donating your embryos
If you fit the initial criteria for donation, you and your partner will be assessed as donors by one of our specialist consultants. You will both need to fill out a detailed medical questionnaire which our consultant will review in order to accept you for donation.
Following initial assessment, the Embryo Donation Team will contact you with the outcome of the consultant’s review
If we are able to proceed, we will make appointments for you to speak with a Specialist Donation Practitioner, and with our Implications Counsellor.
During these appointments you will be able to ask any questions you may have, and discuss the implications of your donation.
These specialists will also discuss relevant donor consent forms in further detail.
You will also be given a Donor Information form to complete at your own discretion. This form will allow you to write a little about yourself and leave a message for any potential children born from your donation.
A member of the team will book you both an appointment for a blood test at your nearest clinic. You will both need to be screened for a variety of different conditions and diseases, to ensure that there is minimal risk of passing anything on to either a child born through your donation, or another patient having treatment with your embryos.
If you have used an egg or sperm donor for your embryos, they will already have had the required donor screening.
Once all forms, consents and screening are complete we'll continue to store your donated embryos and they will be made available to be matched with others wishing for a family.
Who can it help?
Embryo donation can help women and men who are to produce or use their own eggs and/or semen, for reasons such as:
- Premature menopause
- Risk of genetic abnormality if the woman is a carrier of a genetic disorder
- Poor ovarian response to hormonal stimulation
- Absence of the ovaries
- Ovarian failure due to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment
- Low sperm count
- No sperm
- Abnormal sperm
- Single women with the above issues would also require embryo donation, but due to legal parenthood regulation may only use donor embryos created with donor sperm.
Things to consider
It is important that you take your time and think carefully about all the different aspects of donating your embryos. Here are some of the key questions you may want to consider:
- How might I feel about the embryo we donated becoming another family’s child?
- Should we tell our child/children, and how might they feel about having a genetic sibling growing up with other parents and they may never know them?
- Will we want to tell our wider family and friends that we donated our embryos to help another family?
- How will any children born as a result of our donation feel?
- When can I ask for information about my donation and what details will I receive?
Following your donation, you have a right to find out:
- The number of children born as a result of your donation.
- The gender and year of birth of any children born following your donation.
How are donors and recipients matched?
Physical characteristics such as hair and eye colour, height, build, complexion and race are used for matching. The recipients of your embryos are also able to read a redacted version of the personal description and goodwill message if you have written one on the HFEA donor information form.
Is embryo donation anonymous?
All egg, sperm and embryo donors in the UK must agree to be identifiable to anyone conceived from their donation.
When the child reaches the age of 16, they can ask the HFEA for non-identifying information about you (such as a physical description, your year of birth and your medical history). When the child reaches 18, they are entitled to identifying information, including your name and last known address.
Using your embryos for research
Our embryology teams at Care Fertility undertake research programmes licensed by the HFEA and work with scientists around the world striving towards treatment solutions for the future. One of the biggest challenges for researchers in this field is the availability of embryos.
If you feel that you would like to help by donating your embryos, we’d be happy to answer any questions you have and guide you through the process.
You will be required to complete consent forms as part of the process. If you would like any additional information regarding our current research projects, please speak to a member of the team at your Care Fertility clinic.
Donors are truly an inspiration and I see the wonderful impact they have on creating life. I share the joy their gift brings to recipients – it is an amazing gift.
