IVF with Sperm and Egg Donor
IVF using donor sperm and donor eggs follows the same scientific process as IVF using your own sperm or own eggs. It can be useful for single women, same sex female couples or heterosexual couples.
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
Single Women
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. IVF treatment using donor eggs and sperm is ideally suited to single women who have compromised fertility but a wish to have a baby.
Same Sex Female Couple
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. IVF treatment using donor eggs and sperm is ideally suited to same-sex female couples who, like you, have compromised fertility but a desire to carry a child.
Heterosexual Couple
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. IVF treatment using donor eggs and sperm is ideally suited to couples who, like you, have compromised fertility but a desire to carry a child.
As you are using both donated sperm and eggs for your IVF treatment, you will need to decide if you want to source them from someone you know or from unknown donors. We will guide you through both options. If you prefer an unknown sperm donor, we can help you find one through our highly regulated sperm bank or via the network of high quality sperm banks with whom we collaborate. If you prefer to use an unknown egg donor, we can help you find one through our innovative egg donor programme.
You will need to take fertility drugs to prepare your uterus for implantation. Our fertility experts will explain the process and you will need to make regular visits to the clinic for tests.
All sperm used in our IVF process is carefully ‘washed’ so that only the strongest and most viable sperm are used. This ‘washed’ sperm is then added to a culture dish containing the donated eggs, where fertilisation will take place over about 18 hours.
After a period of growth, we will examine the embryos under a microscope. One or two viable embryos will then be transferred into your uterus and you can have the remainder frozen for future use.
This is the transfer of good quality embryos that have been frozen during a previous round of IVF. This method avoids the need to repeat an entire IVF cycle if pregnancy is deferred at the time of the IVF cycle.
Sometimes conventional IVF needs a helping hand. ICSI is similar to IVF but involves a single sperm being injected into a single viable egg. Following successful fertilisation one or two or embryos will be transferred to your uterus in the same way as conventional IVF.
If you go ahead with IVF or IVF with ICSI, 18 days after the embryo implantation 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, our fertility specialists will advise whether you are a suitable IVF candidate.
Using donor eggs and sperm 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 eggs and donor sperm has excellent success rates.
As a guide, IVF using donor eggs and sperm may be advisable if you meet one or more of the following criteria. You
- Have had cancer treatment and do not produce any sperm or carry any eggs
- Have had a vasectomy and no sperm can be retrieved
- Do not produce sperm
- Carry genes for an inherited and serious health condition
- Have had a premature menopause
- Were born without functioning ovaries
- Have ovaries resistant to stimulation
- 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.
IVF, or in vitro fertilisation, is a treatment where eggs and sperm are brought together in a laboratory to create embryos. An embryo is then transferred into the womb to try to achieve pregnancy. IVF can help overcome a range of fertility challenges.
You can begin by joining one of our open events, where we share insights into our treatments, success rates and the support we offer.
The next step is to book a consultation with one of our fertility doctors. Together, we’ll review any test results you have, discuss your medical history and design a treatment plan tailored specifically to you.
If you haven’t had fertility tests yet, we’ll arrange these for you and update your plan once the results are available.
The cost of fertility treatment varies depending on the care you need. After your consultation, we’ll provide you with a personalised treatment plan that includes a full breakdown of all costs.
You can also visit our fees and funding page or use our fee calculator for an estimate tailored to your circumstances.
In the UK, you can receive NHS funding or IVF up to the age of 42 (if you meet other NHS criteria). However, as a private clinic, Bourn Hall do not impose the same restriction and we aim to support patients in their decision making process. Bourn Hall will not offer fresh IVF treatment using your own eggs if at the time of starting treatment, you are expected to be 45 years or older. If you are over this age, then please speak to us about other options such as IVF using donor eggs.