What are the requirements to become an egg donor?
You have to be under 36 years old and under 85kg / 190lbs / 13 stone. You will not
be able to donate if you have epilepsy, diabetes or any other serious infection such
as HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. If you are unsure about whether you would be able
to donate, please call us and we will let you know.

If I have just had a baby can I still donate?
Once your periods have started again and you have finished breastfeeding you
can donate.
Will any of the procedures be painful?
You will be having injections during the donation cycle and although these are not
painful they may cause some soreness. You may also experience some "period pain"
type cramps after the egg collection you will be given tablets to ease any discomfort you
may experience.
If I have not yet had any children how will a donation cycle effect my chances of
conceiving in the future?
This is unlikely. You will be assessed at the initial consultation and the doctor will
inform you of the risks involved and what effect these may have on your future fertility.
Your welfare will come first. There is a very rare chance of about 0.5 to 5% of OHSS
(Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome). This will be discussed with you at your
consultation. If you need any medical advice during any point of your donation,
you can always speak to one of the doctors at the London Fertility Centre.
Will I have to attend the clinic everyday for the injections?
No, the nurses can show you how to use the self-injection guns (like the ones used
by diabetics) that you can take away with you. If you have any problems using the gun
or you can not attend LFC daily, we can arrange an agency nurse to visit your home
each day to administer the injections.
Can I donate if I have been sterilised?
You can still donate your eggs if you have had a sterilisation, as we do not need your
Fallopian tubes to still be intact to collect your eggs. It will not effect the quality of your eggs.
Can I donate if I am taking the contraceptive injection?
Yes, although you will have to discontinue using it. Please try to note down when the
last time was that you had an injection and do not have another injection if you are
considering donating. You will be asked to use the sheath for contraception.
What are the drugs I will need to take during the cycle and what are the possible side effects?
The drugs that you will be taking are a synthetic version of the hormones normally produced
by your body during your menstrual cycle. These may give side effects normally associated
with pre-menstrual symptoms i.e. bloating, tenderness and loss of appetite.
Is the procedure totally anonymous?
Yes, you will be allowed a limited amount of information about the recipient couple, if you
request it, but throughout the procedure you will remain completely anonymous to each other.
Although we can let you know whether or not the cycle was successful.
Is there any risk of me becoming pregnant during the cycle?
During the cycle the doctor will advise that you use barrier contraception throughout the
egg donation cycle, as there may always be a risk of pregnancy. There are times in the cycle
when there is a higher risk, although the main time is around the time of your late night
injection when you are about to ovulate and then again after egg collection when there is a
chance of some of the eggs having already moved down into your fallopian tubes. The doctor
will advise you at these times of higher risk.
Can I specify whom I would like my eggs to go to?
We treat a variety of couples at our centre of different ages, ethnic backgrounds and religions.
We also treat older women (aged 45 to 55), single ladies and lesbian couples and have
obligations towards the welfare of any child resulting from fertility treatments. Therefore,
these ladies have to see 2 independent counsellors and we discuss their proposed
treatments at an Internal Review Committee Meeting before we can approve their treatments
to go ahead. If you have selection criteria regarding your recipient (eg. relating to age, the
relationship of the couple, etc.), please mention this in the enclosed questionnaire. We will
never match you to someone unless they fulfill these criteria.
How soon will my periods return back to normal?
Your first one or two periods after egg collection might start late & the amount of bleeding
might be different but your menstrual pattern will resume back to normal afterwards.

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