CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Embryo donation
- Dedicated in-house donor programme
- The UK’s largest private IVF unit
- 5/5 HFEA rating
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EMBRYO DONATION AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
At Lister Fertility Clinic, we want to give every patient the best chance of creating a family. If you’ve had successful treatment with us and your family is now complete or you’ve decided to stop treatment, you’ll need to decide what to do about any remaining frozen embryos you have left in storage.
If you’d prefer not to discard your embryos, you may want to donate them to help others become parents. Alternatively, you could donate them to research to help scientists better understand and improve fertility treatments for the future.
If you’d prefer not to discard your embryos, you may want to donate them to help others become parents. Alternatively, you could donate them to research to help scientists better understand and improve fertility treatments for the future.
Embryo donation is when couples with frozen embryos donate leftover embryos that they no longer need. This could be because they’ve either completed their family or decided to stop fertility treatment.
One option is to donate the embryos for the purpose of research. This enables scientists and embryologists to increase their knowledge of genetic conditions and improve fertility treatments. There are no age restrictions or screening criteria to donate embryos for research purposes.
Alternatively, you may like to donate your embryos to help another person or couple create their own family. We can guide you through the process to help you to decide whether this is a suitable option for you. We’ll provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision and provide the relevant consent forms.
If you’d like to donate your embryos for another person or couple to use, you and your partner will be asked to meet with one of our consultants to have an assessment of your personal and family history. You’ll be asked to complete implications counselling on donating embryos and you’ll also need to have some blood testing. This is to reduce the risk of passing on medical conditions to children born from donation.
Age criteria apply to a couple wanting to donate their embryos. At the time the embryos were created, the egg donor must have been between the ages of 18 and 35, and the sperm donor between 18 and 45.
As part of the embryo donating process, you’ll need to attend a counselling session. This is required by law, as it’s important that you understand the implications around embryo donation and to make sure you’re aware of the ethical and legal issues. It’s also to ensure that you’re completely happy with your decision.
23,000+
babies born with us
10+
dedicated fertility consultants
35+
years since we opened our doors
Everything in-house
All our tests and procedures are carried out onsite, and our main clinic is linked to the HCA UK hospital network
State-of-the-art labs
Expert processing in our outstanding labs
Exceptional, personalised care
In modern, comfortable facilities
EMBRYO DONATION
What to expect
01
Initial consultation
You and your partner will be asked to come to the clinic to meet with your chosen fertility consultant. You’ll both need to fill out a detailed medical questionnaire, which your consultant will review. If you’re accepted for donation, your consultant will arrange counselling and screening tests for you both.
02
Counselling
As part of the embryo donating process, you’ll need to attend a counselling session. Our on-site counsellors provide a safe, confidential space for you and your partner to talk through any concerns you may have about donating your embryos.
They’ll also take you through the implications around embryo donation and make sure you’re aware of the ethical and legal issues before you commit to a decision. It’s important that you’re both completely happy with the whole process before you go ahead.
03
Screening tests
You and your partner will need to have blood test screening, which we carry out in the clinic. This is to reduce the risk of passing on medical conditions to any child born from donation.
04
Consent forms
Once you have completed the counselling and your consultant has reviewed your blood test results, you and your partner will need to complete the embryo donation consent forms.
Where can I go to arrange donating my embryos?
Lister Fertility Clinic
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
Lister Fertility Clinic at The Beaconsfield Clinic
Little Hall Barn Windsor End, Beaconsfield HP9 2JW Buckinghamshire
Lister Fertility Clinic at The Shard
The Shard Outpatients St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Embryo donation FAQs
Your donation will be anonymous at the time of treatment. However, any child born from your embryo donation will be able to request your name and address when they reach the age of 18, and can contact you if they wish.
It’s also worth considering that the child may not want these details, nor want to contact you. Your counsellor will talk you through the potential outcomes of donating your embryos and the emotional implications of each one.
It’s also worth considering that the child may not want these details, nor want to contact you. Your counsellor will talk you through the potential outcomes of donating your embryos and the emotional implications of each one.
You won’t have any legal rights or responsibilities over any children born from your embryo donation. It’s also your decision if you want to have any kind of relationship with them if they contact you after the age of 18.
When you become a donor, you have the option of writing a personal description and goodwill message. The personal description is to give potential parents and any children born from your donation some information about you as a person, while the goodwill message will be just for the child/children. We can provide information on how you can do this.
When you become a donor, you have the option of writing a personal description and goodwill message. The personal description is to give potential parents and any children born from your donation some information about you as a person, while the goodwill message will be just for the child/children. We can provide information on how you can do this.
If you decide to donate your embryos, you’re entitled to find out whether the donation was successful, how many children were born from the treatment, their genders and their year of birth.
You can withdraw your decision to donate your embryos up until the point the embryo is transferred to another woman, even if you’ve given written consent.
Yes. If you have embryos stored at another UK clinic and would like to donate your embryos to help one or more of our patients create a family, please get in touch. We can help you transfer your embryos to the Lister Fertility Clinic for this purpose.
Our patients’ stories
Clare’s fertility treatment
Clare and her husband Derek thought they might never have children, until joining the egg-sharing programme at the Lister Fertility Clinic.
How Lister Fertility Clinic helped two fathers-to-be
Paul is sitting in his home in Belfast, with his husband Neil and their beautiful three-month-old son Felix, talking about their journey to fatherhood – a journey that the Lister Fertility Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, accompanied them on.
Family matters - Faye and Stevie's story
For Faye, 35 and Stevie, 32, a couple who are both wheelchair users, their journey to parenthood is one of resilience and love, and perfectly demonstrates the importance of inclusive fertility care.
“We could not be happier with the treatment we received at Lister Fertility Clinic. Thanks to all the sonographers, doctors and staff for making our dream of starting a family a reality.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.