FAQs about donating eggs for research

 

I have heard the HFEA made a decision on a policy for egg donation for research, what is this decision about?
The HFEA decided on a policy about egg donation for research projects, following a public consultation, 'Donating eggs to research: Safeguarding donors' that was carried out at the end of 2006.

It was decided that donation to research, both through non-patient donation and egg sharing arrangements, is appropriate, providing that several measures to ensure the safety of women wishing to donate are in place.

Each clinic that wishes to use donated eggs for research would have to apply individually to the HFEA and a Licence Committee would consider each application individually.

 

If I want to donate, what do I need to do?
You'll need to contact a clinic offering this service and find out if you are eligible for donation. You will also need to give written consent to have your eggs used in research.

 

Where do I go to donate for research?
Currently, only one licence allowing donation of eggs for research has been granted to the Newcastle Centre for Life. Read more about the research.

 

How will my eggs be used in the research?
How your eggs are used in the research will depend on the individual projects and this is something that you would need to discuss with the research group, when considering donating to research. If your eggs were to be used in a project licensed by the HFEA, then they would be used to create embryos and potentially the derivation of stem cells.

 

Will other clinics be offering this option?
Currently, we have only issued one licence to Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life. If other clinics wish to offer this service, they will need to apply for a licence to do so.  If any other research project is licensed to obtain eggs in this way, you can find out more details under the 'Current research projects' area of the site.

 

Do I have to be a patient to donate?
The HFEA's policy relates to two types of donation - egg sharing and non-patient donation. You do not need to be undergoing IVF treatment to donate to research.

 

I'm not eligible for egg share for treatment, can I still donate through an egg sharing arrangement for research?
The final decision for who is eligible for any scheme will be a matter for the research team and the clinic and you should check with them. The Authority agreed that centres are allowed to have different criteria for egg sharing in treatment and research. Detailed guidelines for this will be further discussed in collaboration with the appropriate professional bodies and groups.

 

Will I get paid for my donation?
No, if you donate eggs to research you don't get paid, although you would be eligible to claim back reasonable expenses including loss of earnings, up to a specified limit. This decision was a result of a consultation on sperm, egg and embryo donation, the SEED review.

 

If I donate my eggs, will I get subsidised treatment?
In compensated egg sharing, women can donate a proportion of the eggs obtained when they are undergoing treatment and receive benefits-in-kind such as reduced treatment costs. This already takes place for women who wish to donate eggs to treatment and the recent decision taken by the HFEA allows this for donation to research too.

 

Do I get more or less discount if I participate in an egg sharing arrangement for research rather than for treatment?
This arrangement will vary from clinic to clinic.  However, where a clinic offers egg sharing for treatment and research, the HFEA decided that equal benefits-in-kind should be received for both.

 

Will I be able to find out the long-term benefits of this type of research?
The potential benefits of the research will vary depending on the specific project and your clinic would be able to explain this to you, if you were considering donation. Research is only licensed by the HFEA if it fulfils one of several research purposes, such as to promote advances in the treatment of infertility or increase knowledge about serious disease.  Read more about HFEA licensed research.

Return to top

 

Last updated: 10 September 2007