Donor Egg

• When moving forward with donor egg treatment, the first step is to identify an egg donor. Given the shortage of egg donors within the UK, Glasgow Royal Fertility Clinic (GRFC) has partnered with the Instituto Bernabeu in Spain that provides access to a large range of young, healthy egg donors.

  If moving forward with Instituto Bernabeu for egg donation treatment, our team ensures a strict process control is followed. The egg donation department at Instituto Bernabeu will search their bank for the donor most similar in terms of eye and skin colour, hair type, height, weight and blood type.

  The first step is to arrange a consultation at GRFC. At the consultation, Isabel Traynor, Nurse Manager, will talk through the process and be your local liaison for treatment with Instituto Bernabeu.

• Selecting the ideal donor

  Where a patient identifies a donor within the UK that they wish to use, the first step is to arrange a consultation on 0141 956 0509.

1. 1. How are donors screened at Institute Bernabeau?

   In Spain oocyte donors are required by law to be:

   • Between 18 and 32 years of age
   • Have an adequate body mass index
   • Be in good physical and mental health
   • Not suffering from any hereditary or infectious disease that can be transmitted to the offspring

   At the Institute Bernabeau they perform extensive testing of the donor to give you the best possible chance of having a healthy child. These tests include:

   • A psychological assessment, performed by a psychologist.
   • A personal and family medical history assessment, performed by a gynaecologist specialising in fertility, as well as a physical and gynaecological examination, so as to make sure that they are in good health condition and rule out the risk of transmission of a gynaecological pathology.
   • Chromosomal and genetic studies to rule out the possible presence of hereditary diseases: Karyotype, screening for Fragile X Syndrome, Thalassemia, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and the study of 552 genes linked to over 600 autosomal recessive diseases (Carrier Genetic Testing (CGT): The most comprehensive genetic compatibility test); and a general laboratory test (blood type and Rh factor, syphilis serology, hepatitis B and C serology, HIV serology, and coagulation tests) and STDs (most common sexually-transmitted diseases).

2. 2. Are oocyte donors at Instituto Bernabeu anonymous?

   Yes. Spanish Law states that the donor’s identity must be kept in the strictest confidentiality.

3. 3. Do donors receive any kind of monetary compensation?

   Donation is an altruistic act; so if you are using an oocyte donor within the UK we will not pay them any costs. This is just like blood donation within the UK. Some centres may pay individuals for donating oocytes but as you will have identified the potential oocyte donor and brought them along to GRFC this is not something we would do. Your donor will be for your sole use. At the Instituto Bernabeu they will compensate the donor with any transport fees paid to come to the centre, any wages missed due to a day off work, etc. On average they pay donors about 750 euros.

4. 4. Does egg donation affect my fertility or my ovarian response at a later stage?

   No, because the eggs that are retrieved in these treatments were destined to become lost naturally anyway. In other words, out of the 400,000 eggs that it is estimated ovaries have at the time of puberty, only 400 (0.1%) are destined to be ovulated month by month throughout a woman's life, while the rest become damaged without having been matured and ovulated by the ovaries.

Fees

Our full price list can be found here for download. Should you have any questions about the fees, please contact us on 0141 956 0509 and speak to a member of staff.