When you use donor eggs to become a Dad your child will be genetically linked to your child's egg donor. There are two types of egg donation in the UK.
Known Egg Donation: You may know someone who would like to donate their eggs or meet an egg donor through an organisation.
Anonymous Egg Donation: In some countries like the US you can gain lots of information about your child's egg donor including pictures and a written profile. In the UK however egg donation via clinics is anonymous, so you will only be given limited information about your donor and no picture (see below). In UK your child will be able to contact their egg donor when they are 18. However if you use an egg donor in most EU countries, your child will never be given information that makes them able to trace their donor.
It is illegal to pay for egg donation in the UK. Donors can receive up to £750 to cover the costs per donation cycle.
When selecting an egg donor you can specify:
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ethnic origin
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hair colour
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eye colour
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height
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body shape
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degree of education
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proven fertility
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personality
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interest, hobbies and work
Time FramES
There are varying waits for egg donors in the UK, between 3 weeks and 6 months depending on whether you use an agency or a fertility clinic with its own bank.
Egg donation requires consent from both donating and receiving parties (your surrogate) and you will all need to individually attend a counselling session to ensure you are aware of the implications of creating families through donation.
KEY points
GENETICS
Is it important for you and your child to know their genetic origins?
Do you wish the egg donor to have some involvement in your child's life? These are important questions to consider
TIME
Egg donor waiting lists are between 1-6 months depending on which clinic or agency you use. Choosing a clinic which has its own egg bank may speed up the IVF joureny.
COST
Egg donation using an agency will cost. Some clinics have egg donation packages as they will also provide egg donors. IVF cycles with egg donation can cost up to £15K in the UK.
