Treatments Using a Donor

Treatment with donor sperm can make it possible to have a family when using a partner’s sperm is not an option. It offers a safe and effective way to begin your journey to parenthood with the support of our experienced team.

When might treatment with donor sperm be recommended?

Donated sperm can be a helpful option if:

• You’re not producing sperm due to cancer treatment, a vasectomy or an injury
• You carry an inherited health condition that could be passed on to a child
• You’re a single woman or in a female same-sex couple
• You have male fertility issues, such as a low sperm count

How does it work?

Our sperm bank is supported by generous donors and our sperm-sharing programme, which means there’s no waiting list for donor sperm at Bourn Hall.

Sperm sharing allows men undergoing IVF to donate some of their sperm anonymously, helping others while reducing the cost of their own treatment. You also have the option to use sperm from someone you know.

In a standard IVF cycle at Bourn Hall, donor sperm is used in our laboratory to fertilise your eggs. All donor sperm is carefully screened and stored before being approved for treatment.

One or two embryos are then transferred into your uterus between day 2 and day 5 of development. After the transfer, there’s a short waiting period while your body begins the early stages of pregnancy.

Around 10–14 days later, you can take a pregnancy test. If your pregnancy test is positive, we’ll schedule an ultrasound scan around 20 days later at one of our clinics.

In some situations, using both donated eggs and sperm offers the best chance of starting or growing your family. In these cases, embryo donation may be the right option for you.

When might treatment with donor embryos be recommended?

Embryo donation may be suitable if:

• Both egg and sperm quality have been affected by surgery, cancer treatment, menopause or an inherited condition
• You have an inherited disease and want to avoid passing it on to your child

We recommend specialist counselling for anyone undergoing donor embryo treatment.  At Bourn Hall, our experienced counsellors are here to offer guidance, reassurance and emotional support every step of the way.

How does it work?

Our specialist team will work closely with you to create a personalised treatment plan that prepares your body for the donated embryo transfer. Wherever possible, we aim to match the characteristics of the embryo donors with yours, helping the experience feel as personal and positive as possible.

Every embryo donor at Bourn Hall receives counselling before giving consent, ensuring they are fully informed and comfortable with their decision to help someone else become a parent.

What happens next?

You’ll take medication to prepare your uterus for embryo transfer and attend monitoring appointments at one of our clinics, including ultrasound scans, so we can choose the best timing for your treatment.

When the donated embryos are ready, they’ll be carefully thawed and one or two will be placed into your uterus using a fine catheter – the same simple, comfortable process we use for all embryo transfers.

After the embryo transfer is complete, there’s a short waiting period of around 15 days. After this, you can take a pregnancy test to see if the treatment has been successful. If it’s positive, we’ll arrange a pregnancy scan about three weeks later at one of our Bourn Hall clinics to confirm and check your pregnancy.

Where do donated embryos come from?

At Bourn Hall, donated embryos come from patients who have completed their families after successful fertility treatment. During their own journey, they may have had extra embryos frozen for the future. Once they meet the criteria for donation, they can choose to give these embryos to help someone else achieve their dream of becoming a parent.

Who can benefit from donated embryos?

Donated embryos can be a pathway to parenthood for couples or individuals who need both egg and sperm donations. They are especially helpful for those who cannot conceive through other methods or with just one type of donation, such as when both egg and sperm quality or availability are a challenge.