If you are struggling to start or grow your family, you may be considering egg, sperm or embryo donation. This is a major decision and there are several considerations you must take into account. At Aria Fertility, we can support and guide you through the decision-making process.
The journey to becoming a parent can be hugely challenging and there are many reasons why an egg, sperm or embryo donor is required.
There are many reasons why you may be considering donor eggs, sperm or embryos as a way to build your family.
We can use donor eggs, sperm or embryos instead of your own as part of In Vitro Fertilisation, Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or Surrogacy.
An unknown donor is someone not known to an individual or couple who is willing to donate their eggs, sperm or embryos altruistically. At Aria we can provide you with help and support to find a suitable match with an unknown donor through our approved donation agencies and clinics. We will ensure that all the necessary checks and screening have been performed in accordance with the national regulations and guidelines. We can help advise you of the legal ramifications and implications of donor conception and provide you with the necessary counselling.
A known donor is typically a friend or family member that has offered to provide their eggs or sperm. Before they can donate it is essential for them to go through the same tests and screening as an unknown donor before they will be accepted to donate eggs, sperm or embryos in your own fertility treatment.
In 2005, the regulatory framework in the UK underwent a significant transformation. This change allowed individuals conceived through donor procedures to obtain identifying information about their donors once they reached the age of 18. Parents, and donor-conceived individuals aged 16, are able to access information regarding the gender and birth year of genetic half-siblings. For adults who were conceived through donor procedures, contact between parties can be facilitated if both parties consent to it. You can learn more about accessing this registry by visiting the following link: “Discovering Information About Your Donor | HFEA”
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) ensures that individuals seeking fertility treatment have the option to receive counselling through their respective clinics. If you wish to get in touch with our counselling team, you are welcome to do so at any time, before, during, or after treatment, regardless of the amount of time that has passed since your treatment took place.
What rights will my donor have?
According to the HFEA Act 1990 the woman who carries and gives birth to a child is the legal parent of that child. Therefore donors (of eggs, sperm and embryos) have no legal responsibility to the children born as a result of their donation.
This covers the following:
What information can I learn about a potential donor?
If you are using an unknown donor through a provider that is licensed in the UK, you will not be informed of any details that may potentially reveal who they are.
Information that can be given includes a general physical description of their characteristics including height, weight, eye and hair colour. You can also be informed of their year of birth, their ethnicity, their medical history and whether they had any children at the time of donation.
Can I use the same donor to conceive two or more children?
This depends on whether the eggs, sperm or embryos are available. If you would like to use the same donor in the future, then it is important to discuss this with us at the beginning of your journey.
Are there limits placed on donation?
In the UK, the current regulations only allow an egg or sperm donor to create up to ten families not including their own. A donor may place restrictions on the use of the eggs or sperm; for example, if a friend or family member is donating they may restrict that only you may benefit from the donation.
What information can my donor-conceived child learn about their donor?
Any children conceived as a result of your treatment will have a right to request the following information from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFEA) register once they are 16 years of age:
At 18, they are able to ask for their donor’s name, date of birth and last known address. They can also join the Donor Sibling Link run by the HFEA and find out the contact details for any genetic siblings if they have also joined.
When you are ready and the time is right for you, the next step is to contact us and we will help you arrange a face-to-face, telephone or video-call introduction with one of our consultants.
You can do this by filling in the contact form below or by giving one of our friendly team a call on +44 (0) 203 263 6025 or emailing us at admin@ariafertility.co.uk.
Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm
8 Welbeck Way London W1G 9YL
