Embryo donation

A fertility treatment where embryos donated by another person or couple are thawed and one is placed into your womb to try for a pregnancy.

✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review

In short

A donated embryo is thawed and placed into your womb; the resulting child is not genetically related to you.
No clinic can guarantee a baby; the chance depends mainly on the embryo's quality and the age of the egg provider when it was created.
UK law requires implications counselling first, and any donor-conceived child can ask the HFEA for identifying information about the donor at 18.
The person who gives birth is the legal mother; if you are not married or in a civil partnership, you must complete HFEA consent forms to secure legal parenthood for a second parent.

A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.

At a glance

TypeFertility treatment using donated embryos

AnaestheticNot usually needed; embryo transfer is awake, like a smear test

How long it takesPreparing the womb lining takes a few weeks; transfer itself takes minutes

Hospital stayOutpatient

Time off workUsually none; many people carry on with normal life

When you'll see resultsA pregnancy test about two weeks after the embryo transfer

On the NHS?Occasionally available on the NHS in some areas; most people pay privately

A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.

Best fit

Can make pregnancy and birth possible when your own eggs and sperm cannot be used.

Pause if

Situations where pregnancy would be dangerous for your health until that risk is properly assessed and managed.

Main recovery point

You take hormone medicines or have your natural cycle tracked, with scans. You can usually carry on with normal life, though medicines may cause mild side...

Good aftercare

Implications counselling offered and genuinely available, before and after treatment.

Preparing the lining (a few weeks)

You take hormone medicines or have your natural cycle tracked, with scans. You can usually carry on with normal...

Embryo transfer day

A quick, awake procedure like a smear test. You can return to gentle normal activity straight away; strict bed...

The two-week wait

You keep taking medicine to support the womb lining and wait for a pregnancy test. Many people find this the most...

Pregnancy test

A positive test is followed by an early scan a few weeks later. A negative result is common and does not mean a...

Medical line illustration of fertility treatment and IVF laboratory work for Embryo donation. — Illustration only - not a diagnosis, medical advice or a promise of result. Your anatomy and treatment plan may differ. Vuemedics does not publish before-and-after photos.

What is embryo donation?

Embryo donation is a fertility treatment that uses an embryo donated by someone else. The embryos usually come from people who have finished their own family after IVF and have good-quality embryos left over, or sometimes from separately donated eggs and sperm (called 'double donation'). The donated embryo is thawed and placed gently into your womb, in the hope it will lead to a pregnancy.

It is one way to have a baby when neither your own eggs nor your own sperm can be used, for example because of age, very low egg or sperm numbers, a high chance of passing on a serious inherited condition, or after cancer treatment. It is also used by some single people and same-sex couples.

A baby born from a donated embryo will not be genetically related to you or, usually, your partner. The person who gives birth is the legal mother, and this is a big, lifelong decision for everyone involved, including the future child. Because of this, UK law requires implications counselling before you start.

In the UK, embryo donation is licensed and inspected by the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority). It cannot promise a baby, and success depends a lot on the age of the woman whose eggs created the embryo and the quality of the embryo.

Types, options & approaches

There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.

Donated frozen embryos from another couple

Embryos left over after another person or couple's successful IVF, donated for someone else to use. They are stored frozen and thawed for your treatment.

Double donation (donor egg and donor sperm)

An embryo is created using separately donated eggs and sperm. This is sometimes counted as embryo donation and has the same counselling and legal steps.

Natural-cycle transfer

The embryo is transferred timed to your own natural cycle, using your body's own hormones to prepare the womb lining, with scans to check timing.

Medicated (hormone-supported) transfer

Tablets, patches or pessaries are used to prepare and support the womb lining before and after transfer. This gives the clinic more control over timing.

Embryo donation vs donor egg IVF

	Embryo donation	Donor egg IVF
Genetic link to you	Usually none	Possible via partner's sperm
Egg collection needed	No	No (donor provides eggs)
Who the embryo came from	An existing embryo	A new embryo made for you
Counselling and consent	Required	Required

Both routes use donated genetic material and need implications counselling and HFEA consent. Which suits you depends on your situation, what is available, and whether a partner's own sperm or eggs can be used.

Preparing for your treatment

Have implications counselling, which UK law requires, to think through how you, a partner and a future child may feel about donor conception.
Talk through the legal parenthood rules with the clinic and, if you are not married or in a civil partnership, complete the HFEA consent forms before treatment.
Ask about the donated embryo: the age of the egg provider when it was created, its quality grade, and how many embryos are available to you.
Have any checks the clinic asks for, such as a scan of your womb, infection screening and a discussion of your general health for pregnancy.
Take folic acid, and try to reach a healthy weight and stop smoking, as these can affect success and the safety of pregnancy.
Discuss how you will talk to a future child about how they were conceived, as openness is strongly encouraged.
Ask what happens, and what it costs, if a transfer does not work or no suitable embryo is available.

What happens

First, your womb lining is prepared so it is ready to receive an embryo. This is done either by tracking your natural cycle with scans, or by using hormone medicines (tablets, patches or pessaries) over a few weeks. Scans check that the lining is thick enough.

When the timing is right, a single donated embryo is thawed in the laboratory. The embryologist checks it has survived the thaw. The embryo is then placed into your womb through a thin, soft tube passed through the neck of the womb, using ultrasound to guide it. This is called embryo transfer.

Embryo transfer is usually quick, done while you are awake, and feels similar to a cervical screening (smear) test. It does not normally need any anaesthetic. Afterwards you take medicine to support the womb lining and wait about two weeks before doing a pregnancy test.

Is this treatment right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

May not be suitable if…

Situations where pregnancy would be dangerous for your health until that risk is properly assessed and managed.
When a treatable cause of infertility could be addressed first, or when treatment with your own eggs or sperm has not been fully considered.
When you have not had the implications counselling that UK law requires, or feel unsure about donor conception.
When the womb cannot safely carry a pregnancy, so a different route such as surrogacy may be needed.

Delay or rearrange if…

There is an active infection or an untreated sexually transmitted infection.
Important checks, such as a womb scan or infection screening, are missing.
Weight, smoking or alcohol use could be improved first to lower risk and improve the chance of success.
You feel rushed, unsupported, or have not finished thinking through the long-term implications.
A relationship or consent issue means legal parenthood is not yet clear.

Alternatives to discuss

IVF or ICSI using your own eggs and sperm where there is a realistic chance.
Donor egg or donor sperm treatment, where one partner can still contribute genetically.
Surrogacy with a donated or own embryo if you cannot carry a pregnancy.
Adoption or fostering as a route to parenthood.
Deciding, with counselling support, not to pursue treatment.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

What matters most to me?

Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.

What are all my options?

Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.

What would make me pause?

Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.

What happens if I do nothing today?

For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.

Benefits

Can make pregnancy and birth possible when your own eggs and sperm cannot be used.
Lets you experience pregnancy and birth, and the early bond, even without a genetic link.
Avoids the need for egg collection, so there is no surgical step or risk of ovarian hyperstimulation for you.
Can be a route to parenthood for single people and same-sex couples.
May avoid passing on a serious inherited condition that runs in your family.

Risks & complications

More common

Side effects from any hormone medicines, such as bloating, headaches, mood changes or breast tenderness
Emotional strain and disappointment, especially if a transfer does not lead to a pregnancy
Mild cramping or light spotting after the embryo transfer
The treatment not working in a single cycle, which is common

Less common

An embryo not surviving the thaw, so the planned transfer cannot go ahead
Early miscarriage if a pregnancy starts but does not continue
Ectopic pregnancy, where a pregnancy implants outside the womb
Complex feelings about not being genetically related to your child, for you or a partner

Rare but serious

Pregnancy complications linked to donor-conceived or older-egg pregnancies, such as raised blood pressure
A future child wishing to find out about, or make contact with, their genetic donor
A donated embryo carrying a condition not picked up by standard donor screening

The hardest parts of embryo donation are often emotional and legal rather than physical: the lack of a genetic link, the chance the treatment does not work, and the fact that a donor-conceived person can seek identifying information at 18. Ask the clinic about the embryo's quality and the age of the egg provider when it was created, about your own chance per transfer, and about the counselling and support available throughout.

Published figures to discuss

Success and risk vary a great deal between people. With donated embryos, the biggest factors are the quality of the embryo and the age of the woman whose eggs created it, rather than the age of the person carrying the pregnancy. Reliable, embryo-donation-specific success figures are limited, so be cautious about headline rates and ask your clinic for the live birth rate for embryos like the one offered to you.

Figure	Reported range	How to interpret it	Source / confidence
Success rate interpretation	Highly dependent on the age of the person whose eggs created the embryo and embryo quality	The recipient's age matters for pregnancy risks, but embryo potential is largely driven by the original egg age.	HFEA — Risks of fertility treatmenthfea.gov.ukSource-linked context
Multiple pregnancy	Avoidable risk when more than one embryo is transferred	Single embryo transfer is usually the safer default when embryo quality and prognosis are favourable.	HFEA — Risks of fertility treatmenthfea.gov.ukSource-linked context
Pregnancy complications in the recipient	Patient-specific	Hypertension, diabetes, BMI, uterine factors and age should be reviewed before transfer.	HFEA — Risks of fertility treatmenthfea.gov.ukSource-linked context
Consent and future identity issues	Clinically important	Legal parenthood, donor information, storage consent and future child disclosure should be settled before treatment.	Guide sourcesClinical context

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

What happens afterwards

There is little physical recovery from embryo donation itself; the embryo transfer is a quick, awake procedure. The 'recovery' is mostly the emotional wait to find out whether it has worked.

Preparing the lining (a few weeks)

You take hormone medicines or have your natural cycle tracked, with scans. You can usually carry on with normal life, though medicines may cause mild side effects.

Embryo transfer day

A quick, awake procedure like a smear test. You can return to gentle normal activity straight away; strict bed rest is not needed or helpful.

The two-week wait

You keep taking medicine to support the womb lining and wait for a pregnancy test. Many people find this the most anxious part.

Pregnancy test

A positive test is followed by an early scan a few weeks later. A negative result is common and does not mean a future attempt will fail; the clinic should review next steps.

Early pregnancy

If pregnant, you continue lining-support medicines for a while and have an early scan at the clinic before moving to normal maternity care.

What's normal — and not a worry

Mild cramping or light spotting for a day or two after the transfer
Side effects from hormone medicines, such as bloating, tiredness or mood changes
Feeling anxious or 'in limbo' during the two-week wait
Spotting around the time of the pregnancy test, which does not always mean it has failed
Mixed emotions about using a donated embryo, even when you feel sure of your decision

Aftercare

Take the womb-lining support medicines exactly as prescribed during the two-week wait and beyond if you become pregnant.
Keep gently active rather than resting in bed; normal daily activity is fine after transfer.
Avoid alcohol and smoking, and keep caffeine modest, while trying to conceive and in pregnancy.
Do the pregnancy test on the date the clinic gives you, not earlier, as testing too soon can mislead.
Use the clinic's counselling and support, whatever the result.
Contact the clinic about severe pain, heavy bleeding or feeling very unwell.
Keep your contact details up to date so any remaining stored embryos are not lost.

Before your treatment

Implications counselling completed
HFEA consent forms signed, including legal parenthood where needed
Womb-lining support medicines collected
Pregnancy test date written down
Clinic and out-of-hours phone numbers saved
Counselling or support contact noted
A plan agreed for what happens after a positive or negative result

⚠ Get urgent help if…

Severe tummy or pelvic pain not eased by simple painkillers
Heavy vaginal bleeding
Severe one-sided pain, shoulder-tip pain or faintness in early pregnancy (possible ectopic pregnancy)
Fever, smelly discharge or feeling generally very unwell (possible infection)
Sudden severe headache, visual changes or swelling in pregnancy (possible raised blood pressure)
A sense that you cannot cope emotionally, or thoughts of harming yourself

Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A 'good' result is a healthy single pregnancy that continues to a live birth, but this is never guaranteed. A positive pregnancy test about two weeks after transfer is the first step, and an early scan a few weeks later checks the pregnancy is in the womb and developing.

The chance of success depends mainly on the quality of the donated embryo and the age of the woman whose eggs created it, rather than your own age. Even with a good embryo, many transfers do not succeed, and a negative result is common rather than a sign that treatment can never work for you. Ask your clinic for the live birth rate, not just a 'pregnancy rate'.

How long it lasts

Embryo donation treats a single attempt at pregnancy. If you have more than one donated embryo available, spare embryos can be stored frozen for a future attempt or a future sibling, within the storage limits and consent you agree with the clinic and the HFEA (up to 55 years, with consent renewed every 10 years). A successful pregnancy does not change your underlying fertility.

Related tests, treatments or support

Embryo donation is sometimes considered alongside, or after, unsuccessful IVF using your own eggs or sperm. Some clinics offer genetic testing of embryos in selected situations, but this is usually not needed for already-screened donated embryos. Discuss any 'add-ons' carefully, as the HFEA warns few have strong evidence of improving the chance of a baby.

Follow-up & long-term care

After a positive test you will usually have an early pregnancy scan at the clinic at around 6 to 7 weeks, then move to normal maternity care. After a negative test, a follow-up appointment should review the cycle, explain what happened, and discuss options, including another transfer if you have more embryos, or counselling support.

Any spare donated embryos need ongoing storage, with consent renewed within HFEA time limits.
Keep your contact and consent details up to date with the clinic so stored embryos are not lost.
Consider, with counselling support, how and when you will tell a child about how they were conceived.
Be aware a donor-conceived person can apply to the HFEA for identifying donor information at 18.

Repeat, follow-on and what comes next

Many people need more than one transfer; a single failed cycle does not mean treatment cannot work.
An embryo may not survive the thaw, so a planned transfer is sometimes cancelled.
Plans can change if no further embryos are available or if a pregnancy miscarries.
Sometimes only one suitable embryo is available, so there may be no second attempt without finding another donor.

Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.

What good aftercare looks like

Implications counselling offered and genuinely available, before and after treatment.
A named contact and clear out-of-hours route for urgent concerns.
A follow-up appointment to review the cycle and discuss honest next steps.
Clear early-pregnancy care, including an early scan, after a positive test.
Proper storage, consent and record-keeping for any spare donated embryos, and support in planning how to tell a child.

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

Preparing and monitoring the womb lining, including scans and medicines.
Thawing the donated embryo and the embryo transfer itself.
Implications counselling and any extra support sessions.
Screening tests and consultations before treatment.
Ongoing storage of any spare donated embryos.
Legal information and consent processing for donor treatment.
Any 'add-ons' that may be offered on top of the basic transfer.

Make sure your written quote includes

Exactly what the quoted price for a transfer cycle does and does not include.
The cost of any hormone medicines to prepare and support the womb lining.
Charges for thawing the embryo and the transfer procedure.
Counselling sessions and whether further support is included.
Yearly storage fees for any spare donated embryos.
What happens to the cost if an embryo does not survive the thaw or a transfer is cancelled.
Follow-up consultation costs after a positive or negative result.

On the NHS? NHS funding for embryo donation is limited and there is no single UK-wide entitlement. Each nation decides differently: NICE guidance (NG257) sets out the clinical recommendations for England, but what is actually paid for is decided by NHS commissioners in England and by separate policies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and these rules can change. Most people pay privately for treatment and storage. Ask your GP, the relevant NHS or HSC fertility commissioner, or a licensed clinic to confirm the current eligibility rules where you live.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.

Choosing a specialist safely

Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Questions to ask your medical professional

Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.

What do you know about the donated embryo, including the egg provider's age when it was created and its quality grade?
What is the realistic live birth chance per transfer for an embryo like this?
How many embryos are available to me, and could there be enough for a sibling later?
What counselling and support is included, and how do I access it before and after treatment?
What are the legal parenthood steps for my situation, and what forms must I sign?
What happens, and what will it cost, if a transfer does not work or an embryo does not survive the thaw?
Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
Will you be the specialist who carries out my treatment, and who looks after me afterwards?
What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
What does a realistic result look like — and what can this treatment not achieve?
What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Frequently asked questions

Will the baby be genetically related to me?

Usually no. A donated embryo is not made from your eggs or, in most cases, your partner's sperm. You would still carry the pregnancy and give birth, and you would be the legal mother.

Can my child find out about the donor?

Yes. For donations made from April 2005, a donor-conceived person can ask the HFEA for identifying information about their donor once they turn 18. Anonymous donation is no longer allowed in the UK.

Do I have to have counselling?

Yes. UK law requires clinics to offer implications counselling before donor treatment. It helps you think through the long-term feelings and family issues, and is a sign of good care.

Will I be the legal parent?

The person who gives birth is the legal mother. If you are not married or in a civil partnership, you and a partner must complete HFEA consent forms before treatment to secure legal parenthood for a second parent.

Can I get embryo donation on the NHS?

Sometimes, but funding is limited and depends on where you live. There is no single UK-wide entitlement: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each set their own rules, and NICE guidance (NG257) is clinical advice for England rather than a promise of funded treatment. Local eligibility criteria vary and can change, so most people pay privately. Ask your GP, the relevant NHS or HSC fertility service, or a licensed clinic to confirm what you may qualify for where you live.

How likely is it to work?

It depends mainly on the embryo's quality and the age of the egg provider when it was created, not your own age. No clinic can promise a baby, and many people need more than one transfer. Ask for the live birth rate.

Find a verified specialist for embryo donation

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How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: HFEA — Donation HFEA — Donating your embryos HFEA — Consent to treatment and storage HFEA — Risks of fertility treatment NHS — IVF NICE — Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (NG257) NHS inform (Scotland) — Infertility and fertility access NHS Wales — Specialist fertility services commissioning policy (CP38) Northern Ireland Regional Fertility Centre (Belfast Trust)

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.