The complete guide to egg, sperm and embryo donation
Whether you're considering donating your eggs, sperm or embryos — or hoping to build your family with the help of a donor — donation is one of the most generous and life-changing things people do in fertility care.
This guide brings everything together in one place: what to expect as a donor, what to expect as a recipient, and how the laws differ from country to country — including anonymity, age limits, who can access treatment, family limits and compensation.
It's educational information only — always verify the current law with your clinic and, where relevant, a family lawyer, as these frameworks change frequently.
For prospective donors
Thinking of donating eggs, sperm or embryos?
Donating helps people build the families they might otherwise never have. Here's what to expect if you're considering becoming an egg, sperm or embryo donor — the process, time commitment, compensation and things to think through carefully first.
Egg donors
Who can donate
Usually women aged 18–35 who are physically and mentally healthy, non-smokers with a healthy BMI, and no significant family history of genetic or hereditary conditions.
The process
- 1Application form and medical questionnaire
- 2Screening: blood tests, genetic carrier tests, infectious disease tests, ultrasound
- 3Psychological assessment and counselling
- 4Hormonal stimulation (10–12 days of daily injections)
- 5Egg retrieval under light sedation (~20–30 minutes)
- 6Follow-up appointment
Typical time commitment
6–8 weeks from application to egg retrieval
Compensation
Varies by country — expenses only in most of Europe (£750/€1,000–€1,500), commercial compensation of $8,000–$20,000+ per cycle in the US.
Things to consider
- The stimulation and retrieval carry small medical risks
- In identifiable-donor countries, the child can contact you at 16–18
- Most countries limit how many families can be created from your donations
- Once eggs are used, you have no legal parental rights or responsibilities
Sperm donors
Who can donate
Usually men aged 18–40 or 18–45, non-smokers, physically and mentally healthy, with no significant family history of genetic or hereditary conditions.
The process
- 1Application form and medical questionnaire
- 2Screening: semen analysis, blood tests, genetic and infectious disease tests
- 3Psychological assessment and counselling
- 4Regular donations at the clinic or sperm bank over 6–12 months
- 56-month quarantine of samples before release
- 6Follow-up screening and release of samples
Typical time commitment
12+ months of regular commitment (typically 1–2 donations per week)
Compensation
Expenses only in most of Europe (£35/€40–€50 per visit), €250 per approved donation in Nordic countries, $70–$150 per donation in the US.
Things to consider
- In identifiable-donor countries, children can contact you at 16–18
- Family/birth limits apply — usually 5–15 families per donor
- Commitment to regular donations over many months
- No legal parental rights or responsibilities to any resulting children
Embryo donors
Who can donate
Individuals or couples who have completed their families through IVF and have remaining frozen embryos they wish to donate to help others.
The process
- 1Discuss with your clinic where your embryos are stored
- 2Screening: infectious disease tests and updated medical history
- 3Psychological assessment and counselling (usually mandatory)
- 4Legal consent forms — parenthood, disclosure, contact arrangements
- 5Embryos matched with a recipient (may be immediate or take time)
Typical time commitment
3–6 months from decision to legal transfer
Compensation
Embryo donation is almost always altruistic — no financial compensation.
Things to consider
- You will not know when or if a child is born from your embryos (in most cases)
- Any resulting children are genetically siblings of your own children
- In identifiable-donor countries, they can contact you at 16–18
- The decision is irreversible once embryos have been transferred
Counselling is a normal — and often required — part of donation
Most clinics require donors to have implications counselling before donating. This is a confidential conversation with a specialist counsellor to help you think through the long-term emotional, legal and family implications of donation. It's not a test to pass — it's there to support you.
For prospective parents
Building your family with donor eggs, sperm or embryos
Donor conception is how thousands of families are created every year — solo parents, same-sex couples and heterosexual couples using a donor for medical or genetic reasons. Here's what to expect from each pathway.
Using donor eggs
Who often chooses this
Often chosen when there's low ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, previous IVF cycles with poor egg quality, a hereditary condition to avoid passing on, or for single fathers and male same-sex couples using a surrogate.
Typical process
- 1Consultation and screening for the recipient (or intended mother/gestational carrier)
- 2Choosing a donor — anonymous match, open ID, or known donor
- 3Legal and counselling appointments
- 4Recipient's uterus prepared with hormone medications
- 5Donor egg fertilised with sperm (partner or donor) to create embryos
- 6Embryo transfer, pregnancy test 10–14 days later
Typical success rate
50–60% live birth rate per embryo transfer with fresh donor eggs (varies by clinic and age of embryo).
Indicative cost
£8,000–£15,000 (UK), €6,000–€10,000 (Spain/Greece/Czech Republic), $35,000–$60,000 (US)
Using donor sperm
Who often chooses this
Chosen by single women, female same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples affected by male-factor infertility or where the male partner carries a genetic condition.
Typical process
- 1Consultation and screening
- 2Choosing a donor from a sperm bank — anonymous or open ID
- 3Legal and counselling appointments
- 4Treatment: IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF depending on your fertility
- 5Pregnancy test 10–14 days later
Typical success rate
10–20% per IUI cycle; 40–55% per IVF embryo transfer (varies by age).
Indicative cost
£1,500–£3,000 per IUI cycle; £5,000–£8,000 per IVF cycle (plus sperm cost — usually £500–£1,500 per vial).
Using donor embryos
Who often chooses this
Often chosen when both partners have fertility challenges, for single women or same-sex couples, when there are hereditary conditions to avoid, or after multiple unsuccessful IVF cycles.
Typical process
- 1Consultation and screening
- 2Matching with a donated embryo (may involve waiting lists)
- 3Legal and counselling appointments (usually mandatory)
- 4Recipient's uterus prepared with hormone medications
- 5Frozen embryo transfer, pregnancy test 10–14 days later
Typical success rate
40–50% live birth rate per embryo transfer (embryo quality dependent).
Indicative cost
£3,000–£5,000 (UK/Europe), $5,000–$10,000 (US) — often the most affordable donor option.
Talking to your child about donor conception
Research consistently shows that children who grow up knowing they were donor-conceived from an early age have better emotional outcomes than those told later in life. Most clinics and organisations like DC Network provide age-appropriate resources.
Implications counselling
Recipients are usually required (or strongly encouraged) to have implications counselling before starting treatment — a supportive conversation to think through the long-term legal, emotional and family implications of donor conception.
Filter countries
Showing 22 of 22 countries.
Key legal considerations before donor treatment
- Legal parenthood — who is recognised as the child's legal parent(s)
- Right of the donor-conceived person to access donor identity
- Whether treatment is open to single people and same-sex couples
- Donor compensation and whether it's expenses-only or commercial
- Family / birth limits per donor to prevent consanguinity
- Recognition of the birth in your home country if treated abroad
- Registration of the donor and child on any national donor registry
- Whether embryo donation is legal, restricted or prohibited
Donation laws — frequently asked questions
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Educational information only
Donation laws change frequently. This page summarises publicly available information from sources including Fertility Europe, Egg Donation Friends, Donor Nexus, DC Network, Growing Families, Fertility Clinics Abroad and national fertility authorities. It does not constitute medical or legal advice. Always confirm the current position with your clinic and a qualified legal professional in both the treatment country and your country of residence before starting a donor cycle.