A step-by-step guide to how egg donation works
If you are thinking about being amazing and donating your eggs to help create a family, you may be unsure about how the process works. In this step-by-step guide, we provide all the information you should need before becoming a donor. But if you have any questions that we haven’t covered here please do get in touch with our expert team - they will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Have a read of the information below to find out the timescales involved, as well as some details about the different appointments you will need to attend, our initial appointments are virtual or over the phone, so we only ask you to come into the clinic three or four times in total.
Step One: Apply to donate
Fill in a
short application form to check that you meet our criteria. We will then be in touch within a couple of days to confirm you are eligible and to have a call to run through the next stage. You must be aged between 18 and 35 to become a donor and also be in good health with no serious genetic or hereditary medical conditions. You’ll also need to know, or be able to find out your family’s medical history.
Step Two: Initial telephone appointment and blood test
If you meet all of the criteria, we then set up your initial telephone appointment with one of our donation team. We will discuss with you the process in more detail, what’s involved and answer any questions you may have at this time.
We will then book you in for your blood and urine test to analyse your Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) level and test for nicotine as egg donors must be non-smokers.
Once we have been in contact with you with your results, if there are no problems identified, you will be invited to virtually meet with a consultant, a counsellor and for further screening tests.
Step Three: Virtual Consultation and counselling
We will then set up your next appointment, where you will meet virtually with one of our consultants to discuss your and your family medical history. One of our counsellors will talk to you about all of the implications This is also when you will meet virtually with one of our counsellors to discuss the legal aspects and other implications involved in becoming an egg donor.
Step Four: Ultrasound scan and screening blood tests
For this appointment you will be asked to come into the clinic to have an ultrasound scan and blood tests. We will get back in touch with you once your results have been obtained, which will be around four weeks later. If your screening results meet the criteria, you will be registered as a donor with the HFEA.
Step Five: Virtual Preparation appointment
At this stage we ask you to write a pen picture and a goodwill message to help us find a suitable recipient for your donation. Once you are matched, we will carefully plan the donation cycle. We will also invite you to a virtual preparation appointment where you will learn to self-administer the required medication.
Step Six: Monitoring
Once your cycle has begun, we will monitor you very closely. In the final two weeks of this period we will ask you to come to the clinic for a scan and a blood test, so that we can ensure your ovaries are responding well and also anticipate when your eggs will be ready for collection.
Step Seven: Egg Collection
You will be invited to the clinic for egg collection. This procedure will take place in the morning, under local anaesthetic and oral sedation. It does not require an overnight stay, and you will be able to go home after a short period of rest and a check-up.
Step Eight: Compensation
After your donation and your final screening tests, you will receive £750 of compensation; this covers your time and any expenses for attending each appointment visit.
