Egg donation: What is it and how much does the treatment cost?

1. Indications

IVF with egg donation is not the initial treatment that many women choose. However, in certain situations, egg donation is clearly indicated:

• Ovarian failure: If the woman does not produce viable eggs, either due to premature menopause, ovarian failure or absence of ovaries.
• Genetic diseases: If the woman is a carrier of genetic disorders that can be passed on to her offspring.
• Advanced maternal age: From the age of 40 onwards, the quality of the eggs declines, which increases the risk of chromosomal problems.
• Repeated failure of previous treatments: When previous attempts at IVF with the woman’s own eggs have been unsuccessful.

2. Selection of the egg donor

The selection of an egg donor is a highly controlled process. The candidate must meet a series of medical, psychological and ethical requirements. To be a donor, a woman must:

• Be between 18 and 35 years old.
• Be in good physical condition and not be a carrier of genetic, hereditary or infectious diseases.
• Participate in the altruistic and anonymous donation process, which means that the donor’s identity is kept confidential.

The selection process ensures that the eggs used are of high quality, which contributes to the success of the treatment.

3. Types of egg donation

There are several types of egg donation, depending on the origin and handling of the eggs:

3.1 Fresh egg donation

In this type, the donor and recipient must have synchronised cycles. The eggs are retrieved from the donor in the same cycle and, after 5 days, the embryo is transferred to the recipient’s uterus.

3.2 Vitrified egg donation

Here, the eggs are retrieved from the donor, vitrified (frozen) and stored until a compatible recipient requests them. This process does not require synchronisation between the donor and the recipient.

3.3 Banked eggs

The frozen eggs come from an egg bank. These banks have a database of donors, allowing clinics to quickly access eggs without the need to synchronise with a particular donor.

3.4 Mini egg donation

In this type of donation, fewer eggs (usually between 4 and 5) are used instead of the 8-10 eggs in a full donation. This reduces the cost of treatment and avoids the creation of surplus embryos.

4. Step-by-step egg donation procedure

The egg donation process consists of several key stages:

1. Ovarian stimulation of the donor: The donor receives hormone treatment to stimulate the production of several eggs.
2. Follicular puncture: The mature eggs are removed from the donor’s ovaries.
3. Fertilisation: The eggs are fertilised in the laboratory using ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).
4. Endometrial preparation of the recipient: The recipient receives hormones to prepare her uterus for embryo implantation.
5. Embryo transfer: The selected embryo or embryos are transferred to the recipient’s uterus.

👩‍⚕️ Would you like to know how the procedure would be adapted to your personal case?

Our medical team can offer you an initial assessment with no obligation. Book your appointment here.

5. Clinical results of egg donation

The success rates of egg donation are generally higher than those of conventional IVF. According to the 2022 report by the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF):

• Fresh egg donation: pregnancy rate of 56.9% and live birth rate of 42.2%.
• Vitrified egg donation: pregnancy rate of 52.3% and baby at home rate of 39.5%.

📈 Our clinical results are above the national average, thanks to the experience of our embryologists and the quality of our donors.

Find out more about our success rates here.

6. Prices

Egg donation treatment is more expensive than conventional IVF, due to the need to pay compensation to the donor and for hormone medication for stimulation. Typical prices range from £4,000 to £9,000 depending on the clinic and the type of egg donation.

Below are the estimated prices for IVF with egg donation:

• Fresh egg donation: £4,000 – £9,000
• Egg donation with vitrified eggs: £4,000 – £8,000

💡 At Rainbow Fertility, we combine the best medical quality with affordable prices to make egg donation treatment accessible to more people.

Check out our detailed price section for IVF with egg donation here.

7. Video about egg donation

In the following video, embryologist Silvia Azaña explains the egg donation process, its indications, types and costs.

8. Frequently asked questions about egg donation