Not all women who would like to donate eggs, either anonymously or for a particular person, are suitable to be donors. The HFEA lays down guidelines which are used by the licensed clinics to ensure that the chance of success for the recipient is balanced against the risk to the donor.

The criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • All egg donors in the United Kingdom are altruistic volunteers (there is no financial or other incentive to donate).
  • Egg donors may or may not be a known to the recipient couples.
  • Egg donors should be healthy women, between the age of 18 and 35 years
  • Ideally, they should have had healthy children of their own and be aware that donating eggs may affect future fertility.
  • No history of mental disorders.
  • There should be no family history of genetic or inheritable diseases.
  • Some clinics may require the potential egg donor to undergo counselling to assess their suitability to become a donor and to ensure as far as possible that the donor is comfortable about donating her eggs.

image6.jpgAll prospective egg donors both known and anonymous should be screened according to the standards recommended by the HFEA in order to avoid the risk of transmission of infection to recipient and offspring and to avoid passing on genetic or inherited disease to the offspring.

Donors should be screened for infectious diseases (HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia), genetic diseases (eg cystic fibrosis carrier status and karyotype (chromosome mapping)) and blood group and Rhesus status. In addition, in appropriate ethnic groups, women are screen for sickle cell and thalassemia.

There is always the possibility that one or more of these tests may reveal a previously unsuspected condition or infection. All prospective donors should consider this very carefully before giving their permission to the tests.

See also the following HFEA leaflets, which are essential reading:

Clinics