Your questions answered
What medicine will I be given?
In general, our donors are prescribed three forms of medication.
- Nafarelin - which comes in the form of a nasal spray and involves taking two nasal 'sniffs' twice daily - an alternative is Leuprorelin (Prostap), given as a single injection. These drugs suppress your reproductive hormones so that spontaneous ovulation will not occur during the donation cycle.
- hMG (Human Menopausal Gonadotrophin) and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) - these injections of FSH/HMG are given daily to stimulate the ovaries. They are formulated to result in multiple egg development.
- hCG(Pregnyl or Profasi) - exactly 35 hours before egg collection you will have a late night injection of hCG. This injection is timed to ensure that egg maturity is achieved. Egg collection then takes place before ovulation. These are tried and tested procedures but our consultants and nurses monitor each patient carefully, at all times.
Administration of Drugs:
The administration of your IVF medication is very important and the ideal solution is for you to perform this yourself. We provide all the necessary instructions and advice and, if you have any problem with injections, as some people do, we can assist your partner to do this for you.
Does it hurt at any time?
Individuals have different responses to the egg donation experience - see "A Donor's Story" for one individual view. The egg collection is definitely considered a minor invasive procedure and some minor discomfort is not unusual - but real pain is very rare indeed. We can assure you that a dedicated and supportive team will help you with all the medical and emotional aspects of donation.
What about Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)?
OHSS is potentially a worrying complication. This happens when excessive numbers of eggs develop, leading to a fluid and electrolyte imbalance in the second half of the cycle and this can lead to cancellation of donation on medical grounds.
If we think you are at any risk of developing OHSS we immediately discontinue the injections and cancel the egg collection to avoid risking your health. If this happens you will be welcome to try again on a lower dose of drugs. If you have a poor response, with a very small number of eggs developing, we also usually advise cancelling the cycle.
Can my own fertility be affected?
Your welfare always comes first and your fertility is highly unlikely to be affected. Your consultant will explain in detail all treatment aspects and implications of egg donation during the Initial Consultation. Any implications of donating as far as your own fertility in concerned will be discussed with you at the appropriate time.
What about sexual intercourse during the cycle?
Yes, this is fine. We advise you to use barrier methods of contraception (not the contraceptive pill) from the menstrual period before you start the nasal spray or Prostap until the period after egg collection. When this occurs (approximately 2 weeks after your egg collection) you may then resume your normal method of contraception.
Will I have a continuing responsibility to any child born following the donation?
No . The HFE (Human Fertilisation and Embryology) Act, 1990, states that a person donating eggs will not be the legal parent of any resulting offspring. At the time of the donation you relinquish all legal rights and claims over offspring that may result from donated eggs.
Will I be held responsible if a child born from my donation is disabled in any way?
It is your responsibility to inform us of any genetic or inheritable disease present in your immediate family. Failure to do so is an offence and it is the right of any child disabled as a result of failure to pass on this information to sue the donor for damages. Most abnormalities, however, result from spontaneous mutation or difficulties at delivery, in which case the donor would not be held responsible.
What will happen if I change my mind?
You are free to modify or withdraw your consent at any time until the embryos have been transferred to the recipient.
How many times can I donate?
The law states that there should be no more than 10 live births from any one donor. However, we recommend that you only donate for a maximum of three cycles.
If I have to take time off from work and incur other expenses will these be paid?
It is important to mention that it is illegal to pay for donated eggs in the UK. We are able to pay any reasonable expenses you incur such as medication, travelling expenses, reasonable childcare and loss of earnings. All payments will be reimbursed retrospectively.
I've heard you can get £250 for egg donation - is this true?
Donors cannot be paid for donating eggs but, in addition to your claims for the "reasonable expenses" you incur when donating, you can also claim compensation for loss of earnings at the rate of £55.19 for each full day, up to a maximum of £250 per cycle of egg donation.
What about travel costs?
All travel costs for you and an accompanying person will be reimbursed. Travel costs must be fully receipted.
Suppose I have to stay in London overnight?
If overnight accommodation is necessary it will be arranged and paid for by Bridge.
Can I claim for childminding expenses?
You can claim for childminding expenses if they are directly incurred as a result of egg donation. We will need a receipt or a letter signed by the childminder.
Can I find out if my donation has been successful?
You can contact us at any time after your donation and we will let you know if any children were born from your donation, how many, their genders and the year of their birth(s). You will be asked to put your request in writing. We will not give you any information that may lead to the identification of anyone involved.
Anonymity
The law regarding anonymity was amended in 2005 and, for the avoidance of doubt, we provide the HFEA's guidance notes below.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Register and Confidentiality
The HFEA keeps a confidential register of information about donors, patients and treatments. This register was set up on 1 st August 1991 and therefore contains information concerning children conceived from licensed treatments from that date onwards.
As from the year 2008, people aged 16+ (if contemplating marriage) or 18, who ask the HFEA, will be told whether or not they were born as a result of licensed assisted conception treatment and, if so, whether they are related to the person they want to marry.
As the law now stands, children born as a result of treatment in the UK using donor eggs will have the right to learn the identity of the donor on reaching the age of eighteen if the treatment was carried out on or after 1st April 2005. No information about patients, their children and donors related to treatment before this date* will be given out by the Authority under any circumstances other than those outlined above. The names of the children are not collected.
*An exception would be if the child was born with a disability as a result of a donor's failure to disclose inherited disease. If he or she were to sue a clinic for damages, a court might require the HFEA to disclose the donor's identify under the Congenital Disabilities (Civil Liabilities) Act 1976.
If you have any other questions about being an egg donor then we strongly suggest referencing the HFEA website on www.hfea.gov.ukwhich is an excellent source of information.
Bridge is licensed by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority to perform IVF, microsurgical fertilisations and treatments using donated eggs and sperm and to store genetic material.
The Bridge Centre Limited, One St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RY Tel: 020 7403 3363 Fax: 020 7403 8552
Registered in England no: 2042977 Registered office: One St Thomas Street, London, Se1 9RY