Egg donation is, for some, the most realistic route to parenthood. In the UK it is legal and regulated under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) framework overseen by the HFEA. This guide covers the process, UK law, health & risks, success rates, costs, documentation, ethics and the current policy debate. We also point to safe legal alternatives and how RattleStork helps in other contexts.
How it works & basics
Donors are hormonally stimulated; mature oocytes are collected and fertilised in the lab with sperm (IVF or ICSI). Depending on the clinic, 1–2 embryos are transferred and surplus embryos may be cryopreserved. The recipient carries the pregnancy; genetically, the child is related to the donor.
UK legal framework
Egg donation is licensed and regulated by the HFEA under the HFE Act 1990 (as amended by the HFE Act 2008). Since 1 April 2005, donations are non-anonymous at 18: donor-conceived people can access identifying donor information on adulthood via the HFEA register (see HFEA guidance on releasing donor information). At 16, limited non-identifying information can be requested (see s.31ZA HFE Act 1990; legislation.gov.uk; see also s.24 HFE Act 2008 on register disclosures).
Legal parenthood
The birth mother is always a legal parent in UK law. Where donor gametes are used, legal parenthood for a spouse/civil partner/partner depends on correct consent forms; errors may require a court declaration (see HFEA overview on becoming the legal parents).
Health & risks
Donors: typical side-effects from stimulation are usually mild; ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is uncommon and mitigated with modern protocols (e.g., GnRH trigger, freeze-all). UK clinics counsel on rare but serious complications (NHS clinic info).
Recipients: after egg donation, the risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (especially pre-eclampsia) can be higher; standard care includes risk assessment, potential aspirin prophylaxis, and close antenatal monitoring (see NHS patient materials, e.g., CUH NHS).
Donor screening & matching
HFEA-licensed centres screen medical history, age/AMH, infectious diseases, blood group/Rh and often genetic panels. Matching may be phenotypic, blood-group-based or preference-led within ethical/clinical policies. UK clinics must comply with HFEA licensing conditions and coding/traceability rules; records are held on the HFEA register.
Success rates
Typical clinical pregnancy rates per embryo transfer with donor eggs often fall in the ~45–55% range internationally, varying by donor age/health, lab quality, embryo quality, number of transfers and uterine factors. UK national IVF outcomes are published by the HFEA and updated annually (see HFEA key facts & statistics and latest Authority papers).
Country comparison 2025 – rules, packages, prices
Orientation only; packages, legal routes and wait times vary by clinic.
| Country | Donation model | Law/transparency | Typical package | Indicative costs* (excl. travel) | Wait | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | mostly anonymous | registry, traceability | IVF/ICSI + 1–2 transfers | €7,000–11,000 | short | large donor pool |
| Czechia | mostly anonymous | clinic-dependent | IVF/ICSI + 1 transfer | €6,000–9,000 | short | short lead times |
| Greece | mainly anonymous | court/admin rules | IVF/ICSI + cryo | €6,500–10,000 | medium | confirm documents early |
| Portugal | open | state register | IVF/ICSI + 1–2 transfers | €7,000–11,000 | medium | 18+ access to origins |
| France | open | no anonymity | IVF/ICSI + register | €7,000–11,000 | medium | high transparency |
| Bulgaria | often anonymous | donor caps | IVF/ICSI | €5,500–8,500 | short | check local rules |
| Georgia | liberal | rules evolving | IVF/ICSI + contracts | €5,000–8,000 | short | watch legal certainty |
| Ukraine | liberal | volatile context | IVF/ICSI | €5,000–8,000 | medium | political risk |
| Israel | regulated | approval required | IVF/ICSI + commission | €9,000–12,000 | medium | strict criteria |
| USA | open | state-by-state | IVF/ICSI + extensive tests | ≥ €15,000 | short | highest totals |
| Canada | altruistic | no payment | IVF/ICSI + expenses | €10,000–14,000 | medium | receipts required |
| Japan | often anonymous | limited access rights | IVF/ICSI | €8,000–12,000 | medium | practice varies |
*Packages typically exclude medicines, travel/accommodation, optional genetics (e.g., PGT-A), cryo fees and subsequent transfers. UK clinics must be HFEA-licensed; EU clinics follow EU tissues/cells traceability.
Budgeting the total realistically
Across Europe, a total budget of roughly €12,000–20,000 is common. Add-ons: medicines, travel/stay, lab extras (assisted hatching, time-lapse), PGT-A (optional), cryostorage, subsequent transfers, and certified translations. North American totals are often higher. Cumulative chances rise across multiple transfers.
Documents & returning home after treatment abroad
Key items: complete clinical records (stimulation, lab, embryology), consents, donor information per destination law (open/anonymous; registers), transfer reports, relevant bloods and vaccination status, and certified translations. Check destination and home-country requirements in advance; clear, verifiable records help UK authorities process queries faster.
Ethics & children’s rights
Key points: informed decision-making without pressure; protection of donors (medical/social); transparency about genetic origins; long-term documentation. Many countries have moved from anonymity to open models with 18+ access to identifying data. Clear origin information can support identity formation later in life.
Reform & policy debate (2025)
The UK’s 2005 change created the first cohort able to access identifying donor data from 2023 onwards; the HFEA continues to publish data tools and policy updates (see HFEA news on donor anonymity and statistics).
Legal alternatives in the UK
Sperm donation: legal and well-established through HFEA-licensed clinics; strong consent and parenthood rules; access to donor information per UK law.
Embryo donation: regulated but less widely available; requires careful clinical and legal handling.
Fertility preservation (egg freezing): permitted; consent and storage rules follow the HFE Acts and HFEA licence conditions.
Important note & RattleStork alternative
RattleStork does not offer or broker egg donation. As a safe, legal alternative, we help you start with sperm donation in regulated settings — with verified profiles, practical guides and signposting to accredited services. The focus remains clinical safety, documentation and the child’s rights.
Clinic checklist (short & practical)
- Legality & licensing: HFEA licence, consent pathways, donor-information rules (ID-release at 18).
- Donor screening: infections, genetic panels, AMH/age, psychological information.
- Laboratory quality: embryology team, auditable outcomes, blastocyst/cryo protocols.
- Safety: OHSS prevention, single-embryo transfer to reduce multiples, pre-eclampsia prevention.
- Contracts & records: signed consents, translations, certified copies, complete dossiers.
- Budget & logistics: medicines, travel, follow-on transfers, add-ons; realistic timetable.
When to see a clinician
Before any treatment, arrange personalised risk/medication counselling, review comorbidities, discuss pregnancy risks, consider aspirin prophylaxis where appropriate, plan blood-pressure monitoring, and secure post-treatment follow-up in the UK.
Conclusion
In the UK, egg donation is legal under HFEA regulation. Legal certainty, high laboratory standards, careful medical oversight and a realistic multi-transfer budget strongly influence outcomes. The birth mother is a legal parent; donor-conceived adults can obtain identifying donor information at 18 for post-2005 donations. Structured planning and complete documentation improve safety and success.
Curated further reading: HFEA – donor-information rules • HFE Act 1990, s.31ZA • HFE Act 2008, s.24 • HFEA – legal parenthood • HFEA statistics • NHS patient info (donor eggs).