Counselling
This is an important stage of donation. Counselling provides an opportunity for the donors to discuss any concerns about donation and for the counsellors to ensure that they fully understand the implications of donating their eggs or sperm.
Several points are worth considering and may be discussed in counselling sessions.
- All prospective donors should be offered adequate counselling, but they are not obliged to accept it.
- Donors should only donate if they feel comfortable with their decision.
- The donor should feel free to withdraw from the programme at any time without the threat of financial penalty or fear of recrimination.
- The donor should be informed that a birth may not occur.
- The woman who gives birth to a child is the mother of the child.
- Any child born from sperm or eggs donated after 1st April 2005 has the right to obtain identifying information about the donor when they reach the age of 18.
- At the time of donation, donors should know that their identity and that of the recipients will not be disclosed.
- The donor must accept that s/he may have genetic offspring whose identity will not be known to him or her.
- In the United Kingdom, The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is required by law to keep on its own register information about individuals who donate eggs or sperm and patients who receive donated eggs or sperm.
- Donors can help to make up to ten families, but a donor may say if s/he wants fewer.
For more information and to speak with someone in confidence about how to become a donor, contact our confidential helpline: 0845 226 9193
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