Egg Donation

Thank you for asking for information about donation of your eggs. This is the first step in a meaningful journey, both for you and at least one other hopeful couple.You can change someone else’s life if you choose to go ahead with egg donation and if after reading this information you are still interested, please contact us on 0191 213 8213. Ask to speak to Egg Donation Co-ordinator, who will take some details from you and arrange for you to attend an informal meeting.

Why Do We Need Egg Donors?

Some women don’t have ovaries of their own due to disease or trauma and some women are born without ovaries. Clearly, without ovaries these women’s only chance of a pregnancy is through donated eggs. Other women reach an early menopause and therefore their ovaries fail to produce eggs. There is also a small group of women who could pass on a genetic disorder if they used their own eggs.

Who Can Donate Eggs?

Women who are between 21 – 35 years of age, preferably in a stable relationship and who have completed their own family. Ideally donors should not be known to the recipients. If you do not fit into this description please discuss this with one of the staff here.

Will I be paid a fee?

No. All of your expenses will be taken care of. We do not pay a fee for your donation as this is done on a voluntary basis only. We will however be able to cover your reasonable expenses.

Will The Donation Be Anonymous And How Is This Arranged?

All donors of gametes (sperm or eggs) or embryos are required to be registered with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Information both identifying and non-identifying is kept by the HFEA. Following a change in legislation, any donor registered after April 1st 2005 must consent for identifying information as well as general non-identifying information to be available to any child resulting from treatment using their donation. Children born as a result of treatment can obtain this information when they reach 16 years of age, if they intend to marry, or 18 years in other circumstances. Although in general the donor will be unknown to the recipient (identifying information is not available to the parents), we can carry out treatment using known donor’s eggs. Both donor and recipient need appropriate counselling prior to proceeding with treatment. Please ask for more details about this if this is something that you wish to consider. We also have to contact your GP for details of any medical reasons why you should not go ahead with egg donation. Donors who were registered as anonymous donors before April 2005 will continue to have their anonymity protected and only non-identifying information will be available as previously to children born as a result of their donation.

What Information Will The Recipient Be Given About Me?

You will not receive any information about the recipient herself however we are able to tell how many eggs we have collected, how many couples you were able to help and you whether or not a pregnancy has resulted from your donation.

What Information Will I Be Given About The Recipient?

None. We are not allowed to tell you if your donation has resulted in a pregnancy or not. We will let you know how many eggs have been collected and how many couples you have been able to help.

Will I have any legal responsibilities for any resulting Children?

No. The law is very clear (HFEA ACT 1991). You are not the legal parent of any resulting child. At the time of donation you relinquish all legal rights and claims over the resulting offspring. At your consultation you give written consent to confirm this.

Will I Be Held Responsible If A Child Born From My Donation Is Disabled?

No. However, if you know of any genetic or hereditary disease which is present in you or your family you are legally obliged to inform us. Failure to do so is an offence and any resulting affected child would be able to sue you for damages.

What Screening Tests Will Be Done?

You are asked to complete a medical questionnaire about yourself and your family. All donors must be tested for HIV antibody, hepatitis B and C, CMV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea. In addition we also check hormone concentrations and genetic analysis including tests for cystic fibrosis. Tests will also be done to check if you are anaemic and to test your blood group and thyroid function. These investigations require blood tests and vaginal swabs. We will give you all the results of these tests.

How Many Visits Will I Need To Attend?

You will have four visits (on average) before starting your planned programme. A further three visits for scans and blood tests will be arranged prior to your admission (for the day) for the egg collection.

What Happens At These Visits?

You will be asked to attend an open information meeting with other interested potential donors where we will explain the content of this information pack in more detail and answer any questions you will have. If you are keen to proceed we will give you an appointment and a medical questionnaire to complete (you will be asked to return this prior to your appointment). You will see our Doctor to discuss your medical history and you will have blood taken at this time. When the blood test results are available we will arrange for you to see the clinic nurse and she will talk a little more about the implications of being an egg donor. More blood will be taken at this visit. If all of these blood tests are satisfactory you will see the Doctor to sign your consent form and explain your drug programme with you.  The next visits are to monitor your treatment programme where scans and blood tests will need to be done. It takes approximately six months from first seeing you to reach the actual egg collection.

 

What Medication Is Needed?

We need to give you a nasal spray for about five weeks. This drug stops you from growing eggs in the normal way and allows us to control your menstrual cycle. When we have that control you will start a series of injections to stimulate your ovaries to grow eggs. Your nurse will show you how to do this at your appointment with her.

How Are Eggs Collected?

When your eggs are mature we will collect them using a fine needle guided by an ultrasound scan. This is done under sedation and takes about an hour to do.

 

What Happens To My Eggs After Donation?

We hope to have enough eggs to divide between two couples. The male partner of each couple will provide a sample of semen; this will be prepared and then added to the eggs you have donated. The eggs will be looked at the following day to see if they have fertilised. The next day the resulting embryos will be placed into the recipient’s womb. A maximum of three embryos can be replaced. Spare embryos (if suitable) may also be frozen, with your permission. This may increase the chance of pregnancy from each donation. Two weeks after treatment we will do a pregnancy test.

Will I Have Any Side Effects From The Drugs?

The nasal spray can leave a strange taste in your mouth for a short period after using it. When your own hormone levels drop you may experience hot flushes, headaches and even night sweats. Your own menstrual cycle may be different from normal. Some women experience low moods and irritability. These symptoms are all related to your low hormone levels and these disappear once you start your injections. The injections (follicle stimulation hormone) encourage your ovaries to grow eggs. You may or may not have soreness at the site of injection but this is normally mild and should not bother you too much. You may experience bloating of the abdomen, breast tenderness, increase in vaginal secretions and if you grow a large number of eggs your abdomen can feel quite tender. Most women feel only a slight change and these symptoms disappear completely once you have a period after your egg collection. Some women (about 1%) develop hyperstimulation syndrome. We are very careful and if we think this may develop we may even stop treatment. Hyperstimulation syndrome is characterised by large painful ovaries, nausea and vomiting and fluid retention. If the condition is severe enough you may need to be admitted to hospital in order to monitor the condition and give you some drugs to relieve symptoms. This is very rare but nonetheless you need to be aware that this can happen to you.

Can I Get Pregnant During The Treatment?

You will be very fertile during the later stages of treatment and you must use some form of non-hormonal contraception at this time if you intend to be sexually active.

How Many Times Can I Donate?

This is mostly up to you but will also depend on the quality and amount of eggs obtained at your previous collection(s).