At the Assisted Conception Unit we offer fertility treatments for people wanting to use donor eggs, sperm or embryos.
Using donor gametes gives the opportunity of having children to those who are unable to on their own. This could be single people, heterosexual couples or LGBTQ+ couples wanting to start a family.
We do not source or transport donors or donations but work closely with donor organisations and cryobanks.
Our fertility investigation packages include workups for recipients and known donors or intended parents. IVF, ICSI and IUI are just some of the fertility treatments we offer for patients using fresh or frozen donor eggs, sperm or embryos.
What is egg donation?
Egg donation is when eggs are provided by a donor to another woman to get pregnant. The woman can either be the intended parent of the child, or a surrogate mother. Eggs are fertilised by mixing with the intended father’s or chosen sperm, and then the fertilised egg (embryo) is placed into the intended mother’s or surrogate’s uterus (womb).
For female patients experiencing fertility issues, fertility investigations can be used to understand your ability to conceive. Female infertility can be caused by many reasons including egg production, quality of eggs and egg reserve. Using donor eggs is an excellent option when female infertility is preventing a couple or individual from conceiving, such as same-sex couples, older women, women with genetic disorders and women with an intact uterus but no ovaries.
What is sperm donation?
Sperm donation is another third-party reproduction option that can help couples or individuals conceive a baby. In sperm donation, donated semen is used to fertilise a woman’s eggs. Sperm donors can be known or anonymous.
Fertility treatment using donor sperm can be done by intrauterine insemination (IUI), an artificial form of insemination in which the doctor places the concentrated and processed sperm directly in the woman’s uterus. In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) can also be an option in which matured eggs are fertilised with the sperm in a laboratory.
Couples may opt for a sperm donation if male factor infertility is the reason they cannot conceive. In some cases, these issues can be caused by medical conditions or medications. Sperm donation may also be used by same-sex couples or single women.
Fertility counselling is a vital part of all our fertility treatments using donor eggs, sperm or embryos and is offered to both recipients and donors.
Associated donor organisations
We work with a selection of donor organisations and advise patients to explore their options and find an organisation that suits them.
Benefits of using donor eggs
Using an egg donation is sometimes the only option if you’re experiencing untreatable infertility issues such as poor quality or no eggs, age, and genetic disorders. It can also be used with a gestational surrogate.
For patients using IVF with donor eggs, the more IVF cycles you go through the higher your chances are of getting pregnant. Figures show that there is a 59% success rate of pregnancy after the first IVF cycle, a 65% success rate after the second cycle, and an 89% success rate after the third cycle.
Benefits of using donor sperm
If you are a single woman, experiencing male factor infertility or using a gestational surrogate using donor sperm can help you have a child.
For patients using IUI with donor sperm, most women require multiple insemination cycles. A study found the pregnancy rate per cycle to be 17.2%.
Risks of using donor eggs
Using donated eggs can increase the risk of high blood pressure and is also associated with other risks such as:
- premature delivery
- needing a caesarean section
- low birth weight
Risks for the donor include:
- a higher chance of becoming pregnant
- ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) caused by the stimulation stage of the process
Risks of using donor sperm
For some genetic diseases there is no standard testing method on sperm. If the sperm bank doesn’t follow protocols related to handling sperm correctly, an infection could be a risk. However, there are no health risks associated with being a sperm donor.
Fertility packages and add ons
At the Assisted Conception Unit we offer comprehensive fertility consultation, investigation and treatment packages to suit your needs.
From female, male, heterosexual and same sex couple fertility tests to surrogate workups.
Discover our range of fertility procedures, such as ovulation induction, blood tests and genetics that can be purchased separately from treatment packages if required.
Fertility packages
For patients that meet our eligibility criteria, we offer two different fertility treatment packages to choose from.
Medications, cryopreservation of surplus eggs, embryos or sperm, genetics and administration charges are not included in our treatment packages.
Your tailored, costed treatment plan will be created with our specialist consultants and our teams will be able to answer any questions you might have in relation to payment or price.
Personalised care package
With our personalised care option, you get to choose from our four world-renowned specialists.
Consultant-led throughout, you will benefit from continuity of care, direct access to your chosen consultant and complete flexibility to plan appointments to suit your schedule.
Self-funded care package
With our self-funded care option, your journey will be led by our team of experienced nurses supported by consultants or senior doctors.
This option may be more affordable but still delivers excellent levels of care. We intend that all self-funded patients are seen within four to six weeks.
Fertility pricing update
Our price lists will be updated from June 2024. Existing signed treatment cards issued by the clinical team will be honoured for 90 days from issue date.
Consultation fees using donor treatments
All new patients will require an initial consultation before starting fertility treatment. Treatment plans and subsequent costs are tailored to each individual, and will be discussed with your specialist at initial consultation.
A follow-up appointment is required to initiate further investigations and treatment. Full payment is required before treatment commences.
How to pay for your consultation
Our prices are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.
If you choose the self-funded care package your consultation booking is not confirmed until your consultation fee is paid.
For personalised care package patients your consultant will invoice you for consultation fees directly after your appointment.
If you cannot attend your consultation or scan appointment, advance notice of 24 hours is required and cancellation fess apply.
£300
What’s included:
- 60 minute consultation with your consultant to discuss upcoming treatment options through the use of donor gametes (eggs, sperm or both)
£150
What’s included:
- 30 minute consultation with your consultant to discuss ongoing treatment options
Following an unsuccessful treatment cycle, a follow-up consultation is free of charge if booked within six weeks of a negative pregnancy test.
£600
What’s included:
- consultation with your chosen consultant
- referral for fertility counselling
- all necessary blood tests and ultrasound scans
£600
What’s included:
- consultation with your chosen consultant
- referral for fertility counselling
- all necessary blood tests and ultrasound scans
£900
What’s included:
- consultation with your chosen consultant
- ultrasound scan
- referral for fertility counselling
- donor tests
- hormone profile
£900
What’s included:
- consultation with your chosen consultant
- semen analysis
- referral for fertility counselling
- donor tests (extended virology profile and genetic panel)
Treatment packages using donor gametes
All prices are reviewed regularly. Quotes are valid for a period of 90 days post offer – treatment must be paid in full and commenced in this timeframe.
In the event that your treatment plan needs to be amended, your quoted price may change and additional fees may be charged. All changes will be discussed with you.
IVF may be changed to ICSI as late as the day of egg collection, if clinically indicated. The difference in cost will be charged accordingly.
Using donor eggs, sperm or embryos
Treatment packages do not include purchase or transport of donor gametes. These charges are paid directly to your chosen cryobank and courier, in addition to our import administration fee. Please refer to our fertility price lists for further information.
Treatment will only commence when the purchased donor’s gametes are safely in storage at our facilities.
What’s included in all packages:
- anaesthetic fees for sedation of donor
- egg collection
- sperm preparation
- IVF fertilisation
- embryo culture (including blastocyst culture if appropriate)
For the recipient:
- preparation of the womb lining
- virology screening
- all necessary remaining scans and embryo transfer procedure
What’s included in all packages:
- anaesthetic fees for sedation of donor
- egg collection
- sperm preparation
- ICSI fertilisation
- embryo culture (including blastocyst culture if appropriate)
For the recipient:
- preparation of the womb lining
- virology screening
- all necessary remaining scans and embryo transfer procedure
What’s included in all packages:
- anaesthetic fees for sedation of donor
- egg collection
- sperm preparation
- split IVF/ICSI fertilisation
- embryo culture (including blastocyst culture if appropriate)
For the recipient:
- preparation of the womb lining
- virology screening
- all necessary remaining scans and embryo transfer procedure
What’s included in all packages:
- egg thaw
- sperm preparation
- ICSI fertilisation
- embryo culture (including blastocyst culture if appropriate)
- embryo transfer procedure
What’s included in all packages:
- anaesthetic fees for sedation
- egg collection
- sperm preparation
- IVF fertilisation
- embryo culture (including blastocyst culture if appropriate)
- embryo transfer procedure
What’s included in all packages:
- anaesthetic fees for sedation
- egg collection
- sperm preparation
- ICSI fertilisation
- embryo culture (including blastocyst culture if appropriate)
- embryo transfer procedure
What’s included in all packages:
- female hormone profile (FSH, LH, E2, TSH)
- pre-treatment virology screening package (HepB surface, HepB core, HepC, HIV 1 and 2)
- AMH tests
- sperm preparation
- one insemination
What’s included in all packages:
- anaesthetic fees
- egg collection
- sperm preparation
- IVF fertilisation
- embryo culture (including blastocyst culture if appropriate)
- embryo freezing and up to 12 months of storage
What’s included in all packages:
- anaesthetic fees
- egg collection
- sperm preparation
- ICSI fertilisation
- embryo culture (including blastocyst culture if appropriate)
- embryo freezing and up to 12 months of storage
What’s included in all packages:
- embryo thaw
- embryo culture (where applicable)
- one embryo transfer
| Treatments | Personalised care package price | Self-funded care package price |
|---|---|---|
| Recipients of fresh egg donation with IVF | £6,000 | £5,000 |
| Recipients of fresh egg donation with ICSI | £6,950 | £5,950 |
| Recipients of fresh egg donation with IVF/ICSI split | £6,950 | £5,950 |
| Egg thaw with ICSI | £3,200 | £2,200 |
| IVF with donor sperm | £4,550 | £3,500 |
| ICSI with donor sperm | £5,500 | £4,450 |
| IUI with donor sperm | £1,400 | £1,200 |
| Embryo freeze cycle with egg or sperm donation with IVF (freeze all cycle) | £4,750 | £3,800 |
| Embryo freeze cycle with egg or sperm donation with ICSI (freeze all cycle) | £5,700 | £4,750 |
| Frozen embryo transfer | £1,750 | £1,500 |
| All treatment packages include a nursing appointment, counselling, monitoring scans, an early pregnancy scan or follow-up appointment with the doctor if booked within six weeks of pregnancy test results. | ||
Cryopreservation prices
Further cryopreservation procedures such as freezing and thawing are not included in treatment packages. These can be purchased separately if required.
| Services | Price |
|---|---|
| Egg freeze (in the event that sperm is not available on the day of egg collection) | £800 |
| Embryo freeze (freezing of surplus embryos) | £800 |
| Sperm freeze | £500 |
| Annual storage fees for eggs, embryos or sperm | £350 |
Locations
Our fertility services are available at the following locations:
Discover our fertility experts
Meet our team of leading fertility consultants. From infertility investigations to donor treatments, our specialists are here to provide you with personalised care.