Egg donation at TFP Fertility UK

Egg donation is when a woman has healthy eggs collected from her ovaries which are then used to support someone else’s fertility treatment. 
 
There are many reasons why women choose to donate eggs, including: 

• The pleasure of helping someone you don’t know have a much-longed-for baby 

  
  

• Helping a family member or friend who is unable to use their own eggs 

 
Another woman may need eggs for a range of reasons, including: 

• Fertility problems 

• Poor egg quality due to age 

• Early menopause 

• Cancer treatment has affected fertility 

• Not wanting to pass on genetic conditions to their children 

At TFP Fertility, we help create families, many of which would not be possible without egg donors.  

We see first-hand what an incredible difference egg donation makes.  

 
Donating your eggs is a big undertaking and we’re extremely grateful to those who choose to do this. Our priority is you and your wellbeing. 

By donating your eggs, you’re helping the many people out there who can’t start a family without your help.  

You can make the difference today and become an egg donor by following these steps: 

1. Fill out our application form  
   This will ask for your contact details and some basic questions about you. 

2. We’ll contact you 

   Our dedicated donor team will contact you to discuss egg donation and answer your questions.

3. Screening questionnaires 

   We’ll ask you to complete both a medical and genetic questionnaire that will be checked by our clinician team. 

4. Testing  
   We’ll need to do a few tests and investigations, such as blood tests and an ovarian reserve test. This is to ensure you’re able to donate your eggs. 

5. Consultation  
   Once all your results are in, you’ll meet with one of our specialists who’ll discuss a donation plan with you and walk you through the steps of the egg donation process. 

6. Suppressing your natural menstrual cycle  

   You’ll take medication at home by injection to stop your natural hormone production and control when your eggs are released.

7. Stimulating the ovaries 

   You’ll take another medication including daily injections for about two weeks to boost your egg production.  

   This increases the chance of more eggs being collected. 

8. Monitoring progress 

   You’ll have a scan to check how your eggs are doing and decide when they’ll be ready for collection.  

   You may also have some blood tests taken. 

9. Egg retrieval  

   A different medication is used to trigger your eggs into maturing so they can be collected from your ovaries.  

   When your eggs are ready to be retrieved, you’ll be sedated to ensure you feel no pain or discomfort.  

   A needle is then gently guided through the vaginal wall to capture your eggs, one by one.  

   The whole process takes about 15 minutes.

Before you can donate eggs, it’s important that you fit into the criteria of women eligible to donate in the UK. 

You should: 

• Be between 18 and 32 years of age 

• Test negative for infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis  

• Have no genetic illness or infection that may be transmissible to either the recipient of the eggs or a baby which may result from the treatment 

 
It’s also important to know that if you wish to be an egg donor, you’ll need to: 

• Inject yourself with fertility drugs to stimulate your ovaries. 
   

• Attend appointments at your local TFP Fertility UK clinic – something which is likely to affect your daily routine for a short period.  

Once you’ve started stimulatory medication, you’ll need to attend every other morning for an internal scan and bloods test to determine when you’re ready for egg collection.  
Between three and five appointments will be needed for this.  

• Attend fertility counselling to help you fully understand what it means to donate your eggs, and the impact it may have on you and your family in the future. 

If you have any questions about these criteria or would like to learn more about becoming an egg donor, contact us today. 

Donating your eggs is a minimally invasive procedure and it’s not common to experience any side effects.  

You may experience slight cramping and bloating after the retrieval procedure. 

There’s a small risk that you might have a reaction to the fertility medication and develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).  

This happens when your ovaries develop too many follicles in reaction to the medication, causing them to swell and become painful. 

During the egg retrieval process, there’s a small risk of bleeding and developing pelvic infections. 

Your fertility specialist will let you know what to look out for and who to contact if you have any problems. 

We’re here for you every step of the way. 

The reward of helping others is the greatest thing of all, but we know donating your eggs will take some time out of your busy daily life and will be compensated.  

In the UK, it’s not possible for us to buy your eggs, but you’ll be compensated reasonably for your time and expenses. 

You’ll be paid up to £750 for each cycle completed.  

You can’t donate eggs anonymously in the UK. When the child born using a donated egg turns 18 years old, they’re legally allowed to know who their biological mother is. 

You have no rights over how the child will be raised, and no financial obligations. 

If you have any questions or concerns about donating your eggs, get in touch today so our experts we can help you.  

If you’re thinking of donating eggs, it’s recommended by our fertility specialists that you take two days off work – the day your eggs are retrieved and the following day.  

Every woman is different, you may feel fine and not need to take the next day off.  

No, donating your eggs won’t hurt you. It’s a minimally invasive procedure and takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes. 

You may be given medication so you won’t feel any pain or discomfort during the process.