Using donated sperm, eggs or embryos in your treatment
What is donor conception?
Donor conception is using sperm, eggs or embryos donated by someone else in your fertility treatment.
Around 2,000 babies in the UK are born each year using donated sperm, eggs or embryos. The experience of people who have had donor-conceived children shows that this can be a very positive way to create a family.
Usually a clinic recommends donor conception because treatment would be unlikely to be successful if you were to use your own eggs or sperm.
If you are considering using donated sperm, eggs or embryos, you will need to think about some complex issues before starting treatment.
Many people find it helpful to talk to a professional counsellor.
Is donor conception for me?
A clinic is likely to recommend donor conception if:
- you are not producing eggs or sperm of your own
- your own sperm or eggs are unlikely to result in the conception of a baby
- you have a high risk of passing on an inherited disease.
How does donor conception work?
For information on how each type of donor conception works, see:
Importing donated sperm, eggs or embryos from overseas
The procedure for using donated sperm, eggs or embryos from abroad is more complex than if you are using donated sperm, eggs or embryos that originates in the UK.
For more information, see:
Page last updated: 09 May 2012
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) literally means ‘fertilisation in glass’ giving us the familiar term ‘test tube baby’.