Egg Sharing

What is Egg Sharing?

Egg sharing allows women who are prepared to share their eggs with a woman who needs donated eggs to have their own In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment at a much reduced fee.

Why are donor eggs needed?

Some women have no eggs of their own, either as a result of an early menopause, or due to chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer treatment, which has left them infertile. Others have genetic conditions which they do not want to pass on to their children, so they need donated eggs to overcome this problem.

How does Egg Sharing work?

Under the egg sharing scheme, sharers undergo ovarian stimulation as for an IVF cycle but agree to donate half of the eggs that they produce during a treatment cycle to a matched recipient or recipients.

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Who can be accepted as an Egg Sharer?

Women wishing to share their eggs need to meet the following criteria:

  • Be between the ages of 18 and 35
  • Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 19 and 30
  • Have a Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) level on Day 2-4 of her menstrual cycle less than 10iu/l
  • Be a non-smoker for at least 3 months
  • Have no personal history of transmissible disease
  • Have no personal or family history of inheritable disorders
  • Have no history of severe endometriosis
  • Have both ovaries
  • Have no history of previous low response to ovarian stimulation

What preparation is required?

Before being accepted onto the scheme, an egg sharer will need to complete a full medical and family history questionnaire and have a number of screening tests including testing for Human Immuno -deficiency Virus (HIV).

In addition to the screening tests, both the egg sharer and her partner, where applicable, will be required to attend for counselling prior to acceptance on the scheme

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How are Sharer and Recipient matched?

The egg sharer and recipient usually remain anonymous to each other at the time of treatment.

The physical characteristics of egg sharer and recipient are compared and every attempt is made to make the closest match possible. If a close match with the recipient’s features is not possible the characteristics of her partner will be taken into account.

The Unit will try to meet any requests or wishes made by the egg sharer regarding any couple who might receive her eggs. Likewise, any special requests made by the recipient couple regarding their egg provider will be met as closely as possible.

What information is available to a child born as a result of egg sharing?

From 1st April 2005 all egg and sperm donors are required to provide identifying information. This information will be kept in confidence by both the Unit and the Human Fertilisation & Embryology authority (HFEA) and it will enable the HFEA to provide identifying information about a donor if in the future any enquiries are made by a child that has been born following a donation after 1 April 2005 (the child will have to be age 18, or 16 if getting married). The HFEA will not disclose any information without first contacting the egg provider. Please also read the leaflet Egg Donation for donors.

Can I share my eggs with someone I know?

Yes. Egg sharing can also take place between an egg sharer and egg recipient who are known to each other, following appropriate screening and counselling.

Are there any risks?

Occasionally, a sharer may not produce enough eggs to share (ideally a minimum of eight eggs). In these circumstances, where there are fewer eggs collected than the minimum needed for sharing, the sharer will be able to use all these eggs at no additional cost to her and with no further commitment to the scheme.

Sometimes when ovaries are stimulated the woman may get ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) which if severe may be life threatening. This is very rare and women having their ovaries stimulated have regular scans to check how they are responding to the stimulation. Please also read the leaflets Ovarian Stimulation and In vitro Fertilisation.

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Can I change my mind?

You can change your mind up to the point at which your donation is used in treatment. This means that you can change or withdraw your consent after you have donated.

What is the cost of treatment as an Egg Sharer?

Egg Sharers pay for consultations and screening, followed by an inclusive IVF Egg Sharing fee or Intra Cytoplasmic sperm Injection (ICSI) Egg Sharing fee plus HFEA fee (see current fee schedule). This covers all treatment and drugs with the exception of freezing and storage of embryos, use of donor sperm and general anaesthetic if required.

What next?

If you would like further information please contact Business Manager Katherine Jenner on 0151 702 4287.