Using a donor
Donor eggs & egg sharing
IVF using eggs from a donor, fertilised with your partner's or donor sperm and placed in your womb. Success depends mainly on the donor's age, so it can greatly improve chances for older women or those with very few eggs.
Matching wait, then 4–6 weeks
From about £4,500
Sometimes, e.g. early menopause
Who it's for
- Women with very low egg reserve or early menopause
- Repeated IVF failure with own eggs
- Women over around 42
- Where there's a high risk of passing on a genetic condition
Key facts
- About 5% of UK IVF births in 2024 used donor eggs.
- Egg donors receive up to £985 per donation cycle for expenses.
- In egg sharing, a woman having IVF donates some of her eggs in return for reduced-cost treatment.
- Waits for UK donor eggs can be long – especially for Black, Asian and mixed-ethnicity donors. Check each clinic's waiting times.
What happens
- 1
Matching
Your clinic matches you with a donor on characteristics like ethnicity, height and hair or eye colour. You can also use a known donor (e.g. a sister).
- 2
Counselling and consent
Counselling is offered; you and your partner sign consent and parenthood forms.
- 3
Synchronising
Fresh donation: your cycle is synced with the donor's. Many clinics now use frozen donor eggs from an egg bank, which is simpler.
- 4
Fertilisation and transfer
The donor's eggs are fertilised (usually with ICSI) and an embryo is transferred to your womb.
How long it takes: Waiting for a match can take weeks to many months. The treatment cycle itself takes about 4–6 weeks.
Success rates
- Usually higher than IVF with own eggs for women over 40, because donors are young. Ask clinics for their donor-egg birth rates.
Each clinic's published rates – compared with the UK average – are on its profile in the clinic finder.
Costs
Typically more than standard IVF because donor costs are added. Egg sharing can reduce your own IVF cost substantially.
| What | Price | Clinic |
|---|---|---|
| IVF with donor eggs | from £4,515 | TFP Fertility |
| IVF with egg sharing (you donate eggs) | £3,620 | TFP Fertility |
| Egg freezing with egg sharing | £1,000 | TFP Fertility |
| Genetic testing for donor matching (per person) | £800–£1,000 | ARGC |
NHS funding
- Sometimes NHS-funded (e.g. premature ovarian insufficiency) depending on where you live, but waiting lists can be long.
Risks and side effects
- Pregnancy at older ages carries higher risks for you and the baby.
- Usual IVF risks (no stimulation risks for you).
Sources
Prices are examples from clinics' published price lists, checked November 2026. They change – always get a written quote.