What could you do with your frozen embryos?

We completely understand that it’s difficult to make such a potentially life-changing decision. Your choices are that you can use your embryos again, keep them in storage, donate them for research or possibly discard them. You can also give your embryos another chance of life by donating them to other people who are also dreaming of building a family. You gave so much to create those embryos. Would you consider helping others who are going through the same painful infertility journey?

Because of increased waiting lists, a shortage of egg and sperm donors, personal choice or in some cases medical circumstances, more and more patients would prefer to use existing embryos. There is however a shortage of embryos available for donation. To some extent that is due to people, maybe like you, not realising their embryos can be given to other couples.

Who can donate embryos?

• Female partner (or donor) must have been aged between 18 and 35 when the embryos were created
• Male partner (or donor) must have been aged between 18 and 45 when the embryos were created
• No history of transmissible disease
• No personal or family history of inheritable disorders
• No known increased risk of transferring inherited diseases
• 2 or more embryos in storage

What does the donation process involve?

The clinic counsellor will contact you arrange an initial appointment to discuss the implications of embryo donation. Following this there is a consent procedure and a blood test. You can find further information on what the blood is tested for. If your embryos were created with the help of a donor, and if the donor has already agreed to allow frozen embryos made with their sperm/eggs to be donated on, the donor does not have to be seen again as they already have had these tests.

What will the recipients know about us?

The recipients can only be given non-identifying information. Your physical characteristics (such as height, hair colour and eye colour as well as blood group) will be shared to try and obtain as close a match as possible, or one that is acceptable to the recipient.

They may also be given other non-identifying information about you, such as hobbies or interests.

What will the child know about us?

Both of you will be asked to write a little bit about yourself. This is done on a form which you can take home with you.

This is the only, freely accessible, personal information about you that can be shown to any resulting child. It can be very beneficial to that child as it helps them understand their own personality and preferences. When your embryos involve a sperm or egg donor this information will already be available.

Any child born as a result of your donation can apply for your personal details such as your name, date of birth and last known address donation from their 18th birthday. These details will be held on a register at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

Important considerations

• Children born from your donated embryos are full genetic siblings of your own children if you have any.
• You will not be legally or financially responsible for any child born as a result of your donation. You will have no legal claim on them and they will have no legal claim on you.
• You can remove your consent to donate your embryos at any time prior to them being used for treatment.

For further information or to speak to someone in confidence please contact Pip Morris at the National Gamete Donation Trust on 0845 226 9193.