Embryo Donation

Embryo donation is often needed where the intended parents require both donor sperm and donor eggs. They may be particularly necessary where the intended parents are at risk of passing on hereditary conditions or where there is unexplained infertility or recurrent miscarriage.

Consents need to be obtained from the donor of the egg and sperm to create an embryo and the consent will cover how that embryo can be used in treatment and how it should be stored. Embryos are often donated by people who have successfully completed their own family via IVF and want to assist others. Conditions can be set out by the donors should they wish to specify any. Consent can be varied or withdrawn at any time but there are then strict procedures that must be followed before the embryo can either be used or destroyed depending on the outcome of the consent procedure.

There are also stringent rules on the storage of eggs, sperm and embryos depending on whether they were stored before or after 1 October 2009.

For further information or to speak to one of our experts, please get in touch