IVF with Donor Embryos
Bourn Hall was the first in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinic anywhere in the world and for more than 40 years we have continued to perfect this well-recognised and successful fertility treatment. We appreciate the complex emotions which go hand-in-hand with fertility treatment, so please be reassured, we will offer you support and understanding, every step of the way.
Page Guide
We understand that fertility treatment can be a complex and emotional journey. Our team is dedicated to providing you with all the information and support you need throughout the process.
How it works
Prospective Donor Embryo Recipients
IVF brings together the sperm and egg in a controlled environment – outside of the body – where fertilisation takes place and high quality embryos are created. If a couple has successfully completed their treatment using IVF to have a family, they may choose to donate the remaining embryos to persons who would not otherwise be able to try for a family of their own. IVF treatment using donor embryos is ideally suited for persons who have compromised fertility but a desire to have a baby.
Some IVF patients donate their unused embryos to help others with compromised fertility to realise their dream of becoming a parent. With patient welfare always front-of-mind, we ensure that both donors of embryos and recipients go through extensive counselling prior to any procedures taking place.
To prepare your uterus for implantation you will need to take fertility drugs. Our fertility experts will explain this to you as part of your treatment plan. You will also need to make regular visits to the clinic for tests and scans, prior to implantation.
You will be using donor embryos that have been frozen during a previous round of IVF. FET is the name of the procedure whereby good quality embryos have been frozen during a previous round of IVF.
The embryos will be thawed then one or two will be transferred to your uterus, through a catheter. This is the same embryo transfer procedure used across all IVF treatments.
Around 15 days after the transfer of the donor embryos, you will be encouraged to take a pregnancy test. If the result is positive you will have a 20-day post-treatment scan at your clinic.
Is IVF right for me?
During your consultation, one of our fertility specialists will advise if you are a suitable candidate for donor embryo IVF treatment.
Using donor embryos is often the solution if your own fertility is severely compromised, which can be upsetting and stressful. But please be reassured that IVF using donor embryos has excellent success rates.
As a guide, IVF using donor embryos may be advisable if you meet one or more of the following criteria. You
- Have had cancer treatment
- Carry genes for an inherited disorder (haemophilia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy)
- Have had a premature menopause
- Were born without functioning ovaries
- Have undergone failed IVF cycles using your own embryos
- Are an older woman (>44 yrs)
Flexible Pricing Options
To help make your treatment affordable and achievable, we offer fixed price treatment package options and a variety of finance solutions for patients looking to spread all or part of the cost of their treatment.
Explore our prices
Discover our prices and finance options, making treatments more accessible for you.
Book a 15 minute Discovery call
Schedule a Discovery call to find out which tests and treatments are right for you.
Fertility funding partners we work with:
Our IVF success rates
At Bourn Hall, you can be assured of the best chances of having a baby within the shortest possible time. If you are under 35, you have a 72% chance of falling pregnant within one year.
*Data from 2025
If you are under 35, you have a 72% chance of falling pregnant within one year.
If you are 35-37 years old and you continue treatment with Bourn Hall, you have a 64% chance of getting pregnant within one year.
If you are a female aged over 40 and you continue treatment with Bourn Hall, you have about a 50% chance of getting pregnant within one year.
Success rates by age
At Bourn Hall, you can be assured of the best chances of having a baby within the shortest possible time. If you are under 35, you have a 72% chance of falling pregnant within one year.
*Data from 2025
Younger than 35
If you are under 35, you have a 72% chance of falling pregnant within one year.
35 to 39 years old
If you are 35-37 years old and you continue treatment with Bourn Hall, you have a 64% (58% for 38-39 year olds) chance of getting pregnant (pregnancy seen on scan) within one year.
40+ years old
If you are a female over 40 and you continue treatment with Bourn Hall, you have about a 50% chance of getting pregnant within one year.
Support at every stage
As one of the UK’s top fertility treatment centres, our values ensure we put our patients first.
Passion
Adaptability
Commitment
Teamwork and Collaboration
Our fertility milestones
1978
The world's first IVF baby
1980
Year founded by IVF pioneers
25000
Babies born through Bourn Hall
Patient reviews
Genuine experiences from real patients. See why so many trust us with their fertility care.
“We went to an open evening at Bourn Hall Wickford and came away feeling really positive about the place. The staff were really friendly and the presentation was clear about the statistics regarding success rates and live birth rates; their data was very transparent. We came away feeling like we would really be looked after.”
Katy and Leigh are parents to Charlie after IVF
Patient 2023
“We chose to make an appointment at Bourn Hall Wickford because of the favourable reviews. When we got there and met the staff they were just so lovely, making us feel welcome and explaining to us what tests would need to be done and what our options were; we just thought ‘yes, let’s get the ball rolling!”
Jess and Fran are mums to Nathan after IVF with donor sperm
Patient 2023
Patient stories
Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and we are always inspired by the success stories they have to share. Hear directly from our previous patients as they share their unique journeys to parenthood.
April & Giacomo’s Fertility Journey: Overcoming Male Factor Infertility Challenges
April and Giacomo’s journey to parenthood was filled with uncertainty, waiting, and emotional challenges, but throughout it…
From Challenges to Joy
Every fertility journey is different, and for Kim and her husband, the path to parenthood brought both…
Sophie’s Journey to Motherhood: Becoming a Solo Mum with Donor Treatment
At Bourn Hall, we’re privileged to support people on every path to parenthood. Today, we’re sharing Sophie’s…
Upcoming fertility events
Join our experts at a range of events including support groups, webinars and open evenings.
Learn more about the options available to you, from fertility tests to treatments, and find answers to any questions you might have.
Related information
If you qualify for NHS-funded fertility treatment under the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, our fertility diagnostic pathway is the same as the services offered by your local NHS hospital but with much shorter waiting times and in an environment dedicated to fertility services.
Our male couples fertility testing package includes semen analysis tests for you both, a free 30-minute consultation with our fertility nutritionist and a private consultation.
We offer fertility health and wellbeing packages at our clinics in Cambridge, Norwich, Wickford, or at home. Our male package includes a semen analysis, a free 30-minute consultation with our fertility nutritionist, and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results.
Our female couples fertility testing package includes options to provide you both with results on your fertility. These include AMH blood tests for ovarian reserve; TSH to assess your thyroid stimulating hormone; an ultrasound scan; and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results.
Our female package includes the option of AMH blood tests for ovarian reserve; TSH to assess your thyroid stimulating hormone, an ultrasound scan; and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results. Additionally, we include a free 30-minute consultation with our fertility nutritionist to provide you with nutrition and lifestyle advice.
For heterosexual couples, our female and male fertility testing package includes the option of semen analysis; AMH blood tests for ovarian reserve; TSH to assess your thyroid stimulating hormone; ultrasound scan; and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results.
Once you’ve made the decision to extend your family, even thinking that you might have a fertility issue can be stressful. And for a man, the thought that your sperm might not be in tip-top condition is definitely a cause for concern.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions answered. Find clarity on every step of your fertility journey.
This depends on the stage of your embryos (when they were frozen) and on how many embryos you wish to be transferred. If you have cleaved embryos (frozen on day two or day three) or blastocysts (frozen on day five or day six), then we will thaw your embryos until there are enough surviving to meet the required amount for transfer.
If your embryos were frozen at the pronucleate stage (frozen on day one), then we will continue to thaw them until we have double the number that you need for transfer. For example, if you want two embryos transferred, we will thaw embryos until we have four surviving. This is because this stage of embryo still has to divide and, hopefully, it will allow you to have two good-quality embryos available for transfer.
Not all embryos or blastocysts will survive the freezing and thawing procedure, however. Our current thawing survival rate is approximately 80%.
We recommend that we thaw all your frozen embryos, as it is likely that some of them will not survive the procedure. The more embryos you have available for culture after thawing, the more likely it is that you will have some good-quality blastocysts at the time of transfer.
Embryo grading is based on the size and shape of the cells within them, as well as the amount of fragmentation of cells seen within the embryo. When your eggs are fertilised (day one), they will not have cleaved (divided) and are, therefore, only a single cell. This means that we do not assign these embryos a grade until the following day (day two) by which time they should have cleaved.
As embryos develop, our embryologists carefully check their growth and quality. The healthiest embryo is then selected for transfer, giving you the best chance of success.
Some people are prescribed Buserelin as part of a medicated FET cycle, usually before starting oestrogen and sometimes for a short time after. Whether it’s right for you will depend on your personalised treatment plan, which your nurse coordinator will explain in detail. If you’re unsure or have any concerns about medication, our friendly nursing team is always here to talk things through with you.