Could you give the gift of life?

What is Egg Donation and why do we need donors ?

Women around the world, experience a range of problems or limitations which mean that having a baby themselves is not possible, or perhaps not the best route for them to follow.

Egg donation gives hope to these women, many of whom may have gone through early menopause, had chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer, or those who want to avoid passing on a genetic disorder to a child.

Your egg donation is highly valued by these women and families who are given the chance of becoming a parent by using donor eggs

To enable us to help, we need to keep our egg bank stocked with healthy eggs. You can help make a difference. 

Who can donate their eggs? 

Women must meet the following minimum requirements in order to donate their eggs:

  • Donors should be aged 21-35 years
  • Be fit and healthy and have no family history of hereditary illnesses  
  • Be a non-smoker
  • Have a BMI below 30
  • Be happy to share their full medical history 
  • Willing to attend a fertility assessment and genetic screening 

Some birth defects (e.g. spina bifida, cleft palate, cleft lip) and some serious diseases (e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, asthma and haemophilia) can be genetically linked, so it is not possible to accept donations from women where there is a family history of these conditions.

If you would like to donate your eggs, or simply want more information,  please complete our online 'apply to be a donor' form at the bottom of this page or call our Ovum Donation Co-ordinator on 0151 702 4212.

What do our egg donors tell us...

'It was such a rewarding experience to be such an important part of a couple’s wish for their own family. Thanks to the wonderful care by the staff at The Hewitt Fertility Centre the preparation and procedure went smoothly and without any complications. I am glad that I took the opportunity to give something so personal to people who are dedicated to create and nurture new life'
'I felt such a sense of pride when i donated my eggs and it gave me a powerful feeling of kindness to know i was helping another women achieve a dream of becoming a parent' 
'When I was 21 I decided to donate my eggs and I want to share my story to help encourage others to come forward. I had read a magazine article about how egg donation was needed and it really made me question if I could help.  I will be honest , the financial incentive they advertised also helped sway me as I was saving to go travelling -  but as I started my donation journey, I discovered that the experience brought me so much more' . Read Beth's inspiring Egg Donation story in full here 

It is important to know that at the time of donation, the donation is anonymous. However, since April 2005, identifying information about donors is held on the HFEA Register and may be given to any child born from donation once they are 18 years old.

The egg donation process - what to expect

  • Step one: Meeting the criteria

    Before you continue to become an egg donor, it is important that you meet the criteria.

    Generally, women aged 21-35 with no serious medical conditions and who are not overweight meet the criteria. 

    Once you fill in and submit the online enquiry form, one of our donation team will get in touch with you to answer any questions and explain more about the process. 

     

  • Step two: Joining us in the centre

    We will need some key information about you and therefore will ask you to fill out some forms and return them to us.

    Once we receive these, we can arrange your first consultation with our trained specialists.

    We may also ask your permission to contact your GP to allow us to see your medical records. 

    At your Hewitt Centre appointment, our trained specialists will be able to tell you everything you can expect on your donation journey, including the procedures and screening that becoming a donor requires.

    This will assess your suitability to become an egg donor.

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  • Step three: Initial blood tests

    The initial blood tests form part of your preliminary health check and are really important as they tell us crucial information – determining whether you can become a donor, as well as giving us additional information about your current reproductive health.

    You will be tested for Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) to determine your fertility level.

    You may be using contraception and will advise you about when to stop taking this. 

  • Step four: Genetic testing

    Once we have assessed your fertility, there are some more tests that we can continue with.

    This includes genetic tests by Chromosome Analysis and Cystic Fibrosis, screening for certain transmissible viruses and a check of your blood group.

  • Step five: Support and Counselling

    At The Hewitt Fertility Centre, we work to ensure that the wellbeing of everyone using our services, and we know that choosing to donate your eggs is a personal and important decision. All donors and recipients of donated eggs will have counselling as part of the preparations for treatment.

    If you have a partner it is important that you are together for your counselling sessions (which usually last approx 1 hour).

    Counselling sessions are your opportunity to talk to our qualified experts who can advise you and answer any questions you may have.

     

  • Step six: Your treatment

    Once it is confirmed that your test results meet the requirements and you feel ready to proceed following counselling, we will start looking for the right recipient, and synchronise your cycle with hers.

    Typically, the treatment cycle involves 5 visits to the centre, this includes attending for scans and and administering the medication to stimulate your ovaries, leading to the egg collection.

    We will retrieve your eggs vaginally and this usually happens under sedation. 

     

 

Hear from Dawn Yell, one of our lead embryologists as she talks through the egg donation process. The HFEA also have a really helpful page with a detailed Q&A to help you.  

Are you interested in becoming an egg donor and helping give the gift of life?

If you would like to help create a family, or simply want to find out more please get in touch, or fill out the donor form below, providing your contact details.