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Your guide to fertility treatment using a donor
For many individuals and couples, using a donor is the only pathway to build a family they had wished for. This guide aims to cover how to choose a donor, what is involved in the procedure and who may consider using a donor.
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In this guide:
When it comes to using a donor for fertility treatment, it's important to understand what is involved in the process.
In this guide, we cover:
- How fertility treatment using a donor works
- How the donor matching process works
- Fertility treatment options
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Fertility treatment using a donor
Fertility treatment involving a donor is a pathway for individuals and couples to build a family, particularly when a person's sperm or eggs are not viable due to reasons such as age or medical conditions.
This option can especially benefit same-sex couples, older women, single parents, women with genetic disorders, or those facing infertility. At TFP Fertility, our donors undergo in-depth health and fertility testing to ensure their donation is safe for its recipient and any children conceived.
How to choose a donor
Choosing a sperm or egg donor is one of the most important and life-changing decisions a future parent can make, so it is crucial to find the right match. We understand that it can be an overwhelming process, which is why we work with you to find a donor that feels right for you.
You can select your donor through a licensed fertility clinic or a donation bank. Or you can opt to use a known donor. Initially, you’ll review donor profiles based on personal preferences. These profiles include physical characteristics, such as height, hair and eye colour. They may also nor’s occupation, educational background, hobbies, interests and personality traits, which are detailed in the profile.
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How does fertility treatment using a donor work?
We understand that knowing what to from a journey using a donor can be useful when planning your next steps. Here's what a typical fertility journey looks like at TFP Fertility.
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Review donor profiles
Recipients will review sperm ordonor profiles based on their personal preferences. These include physical characteristics, such as height, hair and eye colour. Information about the donor’s occupation, educational background, hobbies, interests and personality traits are also included.
Donor matching consent
After selecting a donor, our fertility specialists will review the profile with the recipient, reiterating all the details, including eye colour, height, and weight. The recipient will then confirm if they are satisfied with the chosen donor.
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Treatment
Once the donor is confirmed, a treatment plan is created to prepare the recipient for embryo transfer. A course of medications is prescribed to help build up the womb lining, assisting with implantation. Prior to this, the partner will need to visit the clinic and provide a sperm sample. Alternatively, if you don’t have a partner, you can opt for a sperm donor. The donor egg will then be thawed in preparation for insemination, which is conducted via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). If successful, the recipient will be scheduled for an embryo transfer.
Treatment planning
At your treatment planning appointment, we'll explain your treatment in full and take you through your regime of fertility drugs and how to use them. You'll have the opportunity to ask any questions you have before treatment starts.
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Goodwill message
Some donors choose to leave a goodwill message for any children born from their donation. This will also be read by the recipient when choosing a donor.
We encourage donors to complete the form as much as possible using non-identifying information, so the recipients can make an informed decision that feels right for them.
Who might consider donor treatment?
There is no specific test for diagnosing early or premature menopause. Doctors generally make a diagnosis by considering various factors, including age, symptoms, and the regularity of the menstrual cycle.
Blood tests are not typically necessary unless a woman under 40 is exhibiting symptoms; in such cases, a blood test may be conducted to rule out early signs of this condition. This could include checking follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels to assess ovarian function. Other tests may be performed to evaluate chromosomes, bone density, and thyroid hormones, as thyroid issues can present similar symptoms.
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Legal and ethical considerations
There is no specific test for diagnosing early or premature menopause. Doctors generally make a diagnosis by considering various factors, including age, symptoms, and the regularity of the menstrual cycle.
Blood tests are not typically necessary unless a woman under 40 is exhibiting symptoms; in such cases, a blood test may be conducted to rule out early signs of this condition. This could include checking follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels to assess ovarian function. Other tests may be performed to evaluate chromosomes, bone density, and thyroid hormones, as thyroid issues can present similar symptoms.
Fertility treatment options
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In vitro fertilisation (IVF) with an egg donor
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Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
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Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
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Surrogacy
Fertility treatment using a donor FAQs
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Donor or frozen embryo treatments
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You might require treatment using your own frozen or donor frozen embryos. These treatments typically do not require stimulating drugs, so are known as un-stimulated cycles. Whether you are using your own frozen or donor frozen embryos, the treatment journeys are similar.
1. Referrals
Your referral may come from your GP or hospital doctor, or you can self-refer. Learn more about the referrals process.
2. Pre-treatment
Preliminary fertility assessment tests and screening
To make the best decision about your treatment in the consultation, your doctor needs the results of some tests. There may be a combination of blood tests and a vaginal ultrasound scan to assess your ovaries, and a semen assessment where appropriate. Your GP may do the tests and provide the results at the time of referral, or you can arrange an appointment yourself at the clinic. Learn more about TFP fertility assessment packages.
Initial consultation
At your first consultation with a TFP fertility specialist, they will cover your medical history and explain your test results. You and your doctor will then discuss their recommended programme of treatment based on your personal results and circumstances.
3. Counselling
Counselling is available at any stage of your treatment pathway. Fertility treatment is a significant emotional journey for all patients, and counselling provides extra emotional support.
It is completely confidential. If you are going to be using donated eggs or sperm for your treatment, then you’ll be recommended to see the counsellor before starting treatment to discuss the implications for both you and any children that may be born. Learn more about fertility counselling.
4. Treatment planning appointment
At your treatment planning appointment one of our specialist fertility nurses will explain your treatment in full. You will be taken through your regime of drugs and shown how to use them.
You will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding your forthcoming treatment. It’s also the time when you officially consent to undergo fertility treatment, and we go over the legal side of things.
This is an important part of the process which ensures that your parenthood will be recognised legally after treatment. We require that everyone involved in the treatment comes to the treatment planning appointment. It generally takes 60 minutes. If you are funding your own treatment, you will need to pay for your treatment programme at this point. Once all the tests, consent forms and payment are completed, you are ready to start your IVF cycle. Learn more about the treatment planning appointment.
5. Starting treatment
Your treatment will start on the first day of your period. You will need to call the clinic to let us know and to receive the instruction to start the treatment plan, as explained by your fertility specialist in your consultation and nurse in your planning appointment. As you’re not undergoing ovarian stimulation, you may or may not have drugs to take in this cycle; this will be agreed upon with your doctor at your consultation. If you have a regular menstrual cycle, we will monitor you so that we can transfer the embryo(s) at the best point in your ‘natural cycle’.
6. Cycle monitoring
We’ll monitor your cycle through visits to the clinic for scans and possibly blood tests. The timings are different for everyone, because treatment is tailored to suit each patient individually.
7. Embryo creation and selection
If you are using donated eggs or sperm, they will be used for insemination in the laboratory to create your embryos. If you’re using your own or donated frozen embryos, they will be carefully thawed for implantation. We place your embryos into culture dishes in the incubator to allow development to take place.
8. Embryo development
The embryos are carefully monitored in the period after insemination, first to check for fertilisation, then for signs for development which indicate the embryo is growing. Time-lapse monitoring allows us to carefully monitor embryo development. Click here to learn more about time-lapse monitoring. The clinic will be able to update you on embryo development.
Shortly after egg collection, you may also start taking drugs to help prepare your uterus lining to receive an embryo (this is known as Luteal Phase Support).
If your treatment plan includes genetic testing, then this will happen during this phase.
9. Embryo transfer
The decision about when to complete the embryo transfer will depend on the number and quality of your embryos. You’re effectively ‘on call' to come in for the transfer appointment when your embryos are ready. The procedure can feel like a smear test, but it takes longer: around 15 minutes. A tiny drop of culture medium containing one or two embryos is carefully deposited in the uterus using a thin catheter. If you decided before treatment to store any further good quality embryos for further cycles, you’ll be consulted again, and it will happen at this stage.
10. The wait
We appreciate how difficult this two-week wait can be. Please call us at any time if you are concerned; no worry is too small. It’s a good idea to make plans for after embryo transfer to help you feel more in control. We encourage you to try to live life as normally as possible.
11. The outcome
Positive test
If you’re pregnant, we schedule a scan in the clinic at around six to eight weeks. If everything looks good, you’re discharged to your GP.
Negative test
If your period arrives before the test is due, or the test is negative, rest assured you are not alone.
We can meet to talk, review your treatment, and consider what the next step will be on your assisted fertility journey. Assisted fertility conception often takes place over a number of cycles.
You could be ready for a new cycle within a short time, even a couple of months if you have frozen embryos, but this is completely up to you.
Our TFP fertility clinics in the UK
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TFP Wessex Fertility
Berrywood Business Village, Tollbar Way, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 2UN
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TFP Thames Valley Fertility
Ground Floor, Clarion House, Norreys Drive, Maidenhead, UK SL6 4BY
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TFP Simply Fertility
Essex Healthcare Park, West Hanningfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 8FR
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TFP Oxford Fertility
Institute of Reproductive Sciences Oxford Business Park North, Oxford , OX4 2HW
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TFP Nurture Fertility
Unit 8, 25 Business Park Bostocks Lane, Sandiacre, Nottingham, NG10 5QG
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Ready to start your fertility journey? We're here for you
Speak to our patient support team for advice about your options and to book your first consultation with a fertility expert.