Who needs donor eggs
The egg donation programme offers assistance to women whose bodies, for medical reasons, are unable to produce eggs of sufficient quality for successful fertilisation. IVF protocols using donor oocytes are used in cases of absolute female infertility or a significant reduction in ovarian reserve.
Main indications for recipients: Assisted reproductive technologies using donor oocytes are highly effective. In leading clinics, the success rate of IVF programmes involving the transfer of a single healthy embryo reaches 78 per cent. This makes donation a reliable path to long-awaited parenthood.
- Low ovarian reserve or its depletion. This may result from premature ovarian failure, surgery or medical treatment.
- Age-related decline in oocyte quality (after the age of 38–40). High risk of chromosomal abnormalities and IVF failure.
- The presence of genetic disorders. To prevent the transmission of serious hereditary diseases to the child.
- Repeated failed IVF attempts. When it is not possible to obtain viable embryos using the woman’s own eggs.
Who can become an egg donor?
The desire to become a donor is an important and noble decision.
At the same time, egg donation requires a woman to be in excellent physical, psychological and reproductive health. The programme is regulated by Ukrainian law, so candidates are selected according to strict medical and ethical criteria. According to statistics, only one in ten applicants passes the selection process.
Key requirements for oocyte donors: During the consultation, the reproductive specialist assesses not only the results of the medical examination but also phenotypic characteristics (hair type, eye colour, skin colour, etc.) to ensure compatibility between the donor and the recipient and to rule out the risk of passing on undesirable hereditary traits. Such rigorous medical and genetic screening guarantees the safety, effectiveness and highest quality of the clinic’s oocyte donation programmes.
- Age. Candidates must be young women aged between 18 and 30 inclusive.
- Reproductive health. A mandatory requirement is that the candidate must have a healthy child of her own.
- Physical condition. Normal build. A healthy BMI (body mass index) is important and must be between 18 and 25.
- General health. The candidate must be free from chronic, gynaecological or infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis) and any genetic abnormalities that could be passed on.
- No harmful habits. Candidates will be excluded if they suffer from drug addiction, alcoholism or substance abuse.
Step-by-step donation protocol: from application to egg retrieval
The egg donation process is a clearly structured medical programme lasting approximately 3–4 weeks and comprising several key stages.
First, a prospective donor submits an application to the clinic, after which she completes a donor questionnaire. Following a preliminary review of the questionnaire results, an administrator contacts the woman and invites her for a consultation and a comprehensive medical examination. If all medical and psychological criteria are met, the medical phase of preparation for the oocyte donation programme begins.
It is important to note that, to preserve a woman’s reproductive health, it is recommended that no more than 8–10 stimulation cycles be undertaken in a lifetime. Repeat participation in the programme is possible no earlier than two months after the previous procedure.
Detailed assessment of the candidate
The first visit to the clinic is dedicated to a comprehensive medical examination.
The woman provides information about her medical history and undergoes a free examination, which includes:
The examination includes: Such thorough screening ensures that participation in the programme is completely safe for the woman and that the eggs obtained are of high biological quality.
- Laboratory tests (blood tests, screening for infectious diseases and biochemical parameters).
- Genetic testing to identify carrier status for genetic disorders.
- pelvic ultrasound to assess the condition of the ovaries and their ovarian reserve.
- Consultations with specialists, including a gynaecologist.
Hormonal stimulation
Following successful completion of the diagnostic phase, the reproductive specialist prescribes hormonal stimulation of the ovaries. The aim of this stage is to induce the maturation of several eggs simultaneously, thereby increasing the programme’s success rate.
The stimulation process lasts around 10–11 days. The reproductive specialist tailors the protocol and medication dosages on an individual basis, based on blood tests for hormones and the results of ultrasound monitoring.
During the cycle, the woman undergoes folliculometry (ultrasound monitoring of follicle growth) several times to determine the optimal time for egg retrieval and to avoid complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Thanks to modern stimulation protocols and constant monitoring by specialists, the risk of future hormonal imbalances is minimal.
Egg retrieval procedure
Once the eggs have matured, they are retrieved – a procedure known asfollicular aspiration.
This is a quick, minimally invasive procedure carried out under sterile conditions at the clinic and takes only 15–20 minutes. The procedure is performed under intravenous anaesthesia and with continuous ultrasound monitoring. Thanks to the anaesthesia, it is completely painless.
Egg donation is considered a safe procedure; however, like any medical intervention, it carries minimal risks. The most common of these is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). In rare cases, minor bleeding or inflammation may occur.
It is important to understand that donation can only be risky if the doctor’s recommendations are not followed. In modern clinics, thanks to the individual tailoring of medication doses and constant monitoring, the risks are minimised.
Use of oocytes: fresh IVF protocol or cryopreservation
Once the oocytes have been retrieved, their subsequent use depends on the IVF (in vitro fertilisation) programme chosen by the recipients. There are two main options:
Cryopreservation (freezing)
The retrieved oocytes are placed in a special culture medium and then frozen using vitrification — ultra-rapid cooling in liquid nitrogen. The biomaterial is stored in the clinic’s cryobank.
Vitrification is a modern and reliable method of preserving genetic material, which causes virtually no reduction in oocyte viability after thawing. Thanks to the cryobank, recipients can select donor biomaterial whose characteristics match their phenotype and undergo an IVF programme at a convenient time, without the need to synchronise with the donor.
Fresh IVF protocol
This option is used when the IVF programme is carried out without freezing the oocytes. To achieve this, the menstrual cycles of the donor and the recipient are synchronised using medication.
Once retrieved, the oocytes are immediately fertilised with sperm from the recipient’s partner or a sperm donor. The resulting embryos are transferred to the recipient’s uterus. The fresh protocol ensures the oocytes remain in the most natural state possible, but requires precise coordination between reproductive specialists and embryologists.
Legal aspects and anonymity of the programme
Egg donation in Ukraine is a lawful and strictly regulated procedure, subject to state oversight and governed by current Ukrainian legislation, in particular Ministry of Health Orders No. 787 and No. 107n.
Key legal provisions: The programme thus guarantees full legal protection, confidentiality and compliance with legislative requirements for all participants.
- Anonymity.
- The programme guarantees complete anonymity. Neither the donor nor the recipient receives any personal information about the other (apart from generalised phenotypic data). This is a mandatory legal requirement that protects both parties from potential legal claims in the future. The donor bears no legal responsibility for a child born as a result of the programme.
- Contract. All rights and obligations of the parties – the clinic, the donor and the recipient – are set out in a formal contract. This document confirms that the donor has no parental rights over the future child. Before signing the contract, the candidate is provided with full information about the procedure, the risks and the terms of compensation, making the process as transparent and legally protected as possible.
