Consultations & reviews of policy

Sperm, egg and embryo donation (SEED) policies evaluation

Background

Donor conception is using sperm, eggs or embryos donated by someone else in fertility treatment. Around 2,000 babies in the UK are born each year using donated sperm, eggs or embryos.

The original sperm, egg and embryo donation (SEED) review aimed to develop policies which ensure an effective and safe service for those requiring treatment with donor sperm, eggs and embryos, while protecting the interests of donors, recipients and those who may be born as a result.

Over the next few months, leading up to the December 2009 meeting of the Authority, the HFEA will be evaluating the practical impacts of the (SEED) policies that were developed as a result of a policy review in 2005/6.

  • 2005/6 SEED policy review

The 2005/6 policy review covered:

  • Screening of sperm, egg and embryo donors - professional guidance should be relied on for the medical and laboratory screening of gametes and embryos
  • Selection of donors - there should be no prescriptive guidance from HFEA on the selection of donors for treatment for a particular recipient, but the HFEA should produce guidance on issues to be taken into account.
  • Limiting the number of families conceived per donor – donors should continue to be able to place their own limits on the use of their gametes, which should not exceed use in more than 10 families in the UK.
  • Out-of-pocket expenses for sperm, egg and embryo donors - donors may be reimbursed for all demonstrable out-of-pocket expenses incurred within the UK in connection with gamete or embryo donation. 
  • Additional compensation for gamete (sperm and eggs) donors - donors may be compensated for loss of earnings up to a daily maximum commensurate with jury service, but with an overall limit of £250 for each course of sperm or egg donation. 
  • Benefits in kind - benefits in kind should be limited to discounted treatment services. Eggs collected from an egg sharer in a single cycle should not be shared amongst  more than two other recipients. 
  • Procurement of gametes (sperm and eggs) from abroad - procurement of gametes from abroad should fulfil the same quality standards as would apply in the UK. . 

Evaluation Process

The evaluation will consider:

  • the impact of the SEED policies on practice in clinics
  • the extent to which they have fulfilled the original SEED objectives
  • how well the HFEA can regulate clinics in relation to them. 

Talking with donor recruiting clinics, clinics which provide donor treatment services, donors and the donor-conceived will be central to the evaluation and its outcomes.

HFEA inspection and incident reports will also be analysed as well as information held on the HFEA’s Register of treatment data.

This evaluation will be carried out in two phases.

Phase 1 – to evaluate the impact of the SEED policies on practice in clinics and with others affected by donation

Phase 2 – the broad scope and objectives of future policy review work will be set by the Authority in December 2009, in light of the evidence gathered during Phase 1, and other donation projects relevant to the Authority. 

 

Evaluation Outcome

The outcome of this stage of the project will be discussed at the December 2009 meeting of the Authority. They will decide which aspects of the SEED policies to take into a more developed and far reaching policy review process.

Further Information

If you have further questions about the SEED evaluation or would like to make a suggestion about this area of work, contact:

Danielle Hamm
Policy Manager:

Phone: 020 7291 8253
Email: Danielle.Hamm@hfea.gov.uk

 

Supporting Documents

More about the SEED review (2005/6) can be found at:

Page last updated: 30 October 2009

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