Treatments Using a Donor
Having IVF treatment with donor eggs or sperm at one of our East of England clinics, including those in Cambridge, Norwich and Wickford, could help you achieve your dreams of parenthood.
Page Guide
We understand that fertility treatment can be a complex and emotional journey. Our team is dedicated to providing you with all the information and support you need throughout the process.
How does it work?
Donor treatments
Starting your own family is sometimes more challenging than first expected and you may need help from a donor – whether known to you, or anonymous.
We offer a range of treatments – using donated eggs, sperm or embryos – to help you on your journey to become parents. The treatment process is very similar to IVF or ICSI treatment, except that the eggs, sperm or embryos are used from a donor.
Despite the acute shortage of donors in the UK, we run an innovative donor programme to recruit altruistic and egg and sperm sharing donors for our bank.
Our donor coordinator will support you in finding a suitable donor and can explain more about donor availability and answer any questions you may have.
Please select your specific donor type from the sections below for more information.
In some situations using donated eggs may be the best chance to have your own baby.
How does it work?
Despite the acute shortage of egg donors in the UK, we hope to match you with donated eggs for your treatment in the shortest time possible – thanks to our innovative donor programmes.
Donated eggs can come from our egg-sharing programme or altruistic donors. Egg-sharing enables women who need IVF treatment themselves to anonymously donate some of their eggs reducing the cost of their own treatment.
Alternatively, we can arrange for someone you know to donate to you.
Is it right for me?
You need donated eggs if:
- You have a premature menopause – this affects 1-2% of women under 40
- Your ovaries have been damaged by chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for cancer
- You were born without functioning ovaries (for instance, Turner’s syndrome)
- Your ovaries are resistant to stimulation
- You are at high risk of passing on genetic disorders to your offspring
- You developed poorly functioning ovaries as you got older
What next?
The donated eggs are fertilised using your partner’s (or donated) sperm and the resulting embryos are transferred to your uterus. You will have treatment to prepare your uterus for the embryo transfer.
Between day 2 and 5 of your embryo development, the transfer will take place, followed by a pregnancy test. If this is positive, you should attend one of our clinics in Cambridge, Norwich or Wickford about 20 days later for a pregnancy scan.
We highly recommend counselling for donor egg recipients and Bourn Hall has a choice of specialist counsellors available for you.
For more information get in touch.
Flexible Pricing Options
To help make your treatment affordable and achievable, we offer fixed price treatment package options and a variety of finance solutions for patients looking to spread all or part of the cost of their treatment.
Explore our prices
Discover our prices and finance options, making treatments more accessible for you.
Book a 15 minute discovery call
Schedule a discovery call to find out which tests and treatments are right for you.
Fertility funding partners we work with:
We’re incredibly proud of our success rates
At Bourn Hall, you can be assured of the best chances of having a baby within the shortest possible time. If you are under 35, you have a 73%* chance of falling pregnant within one year.
*Data from 2021
Younger than 35
If you are under 35, you have a 73% chance of falling pregnant within one year.
35 to 39 years old
If you are 35-37 years old and you continue treatment with Bourn Hall, you have a 63% (50% for 38-39 year olds) chance of getting pregnant (pregnancy seen on scan) within one year.
40+ years old
If you are a female aged over 40 and you continue treatment with Bourn Hall, you have about a 25% chance of getting pregnant within one year.
We provide world-class support throughout the fertility journey.
As one of the UK’s top fertility treatment centres, our values ensure we put our patients first.
Passion
Adaptability
Commitment
Teamwork and Collaboration
Our excellence in fertility treatment
Patient reviews you can trust
Genuine experiences from real patients. See why so many trust us with their fertility care.
“We went to an open evening at Bourn Hall Wickford and came away feeling really positive about the place. The staff were really friendly and the presentation was clear about the statistics regarding success rates and live birth rates; their data was very transparent. We came away feeling like we would really be looked after.”
Katy and Leigh are parents to Charlie after IVF
Patient 2023
“We chose to make an appointment at Bourn Hall Wickford because of the favourable reviews. When we got there and met the staff they were just so lovely, making us feel welcome and explaining to us what tests would need to be done and what our options were; we just thought ‘yes, let’s get the ball rolling!”
Jess and Fran are mums to Nathan after IVF with donor sperm
Patient 2023
Your Stories
Real journeys, real hope. Hear from our patients as they share their paths to parenthood.
Our Fertility Events
Join our experts at a range of events including support groups, webinars and open evenings. Learn more about the options available to you, including fertility tests and treatments, and get the answers to any questions you might have.
Related Content
If you qualify for NHS-funded fertility treatment under the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, our fertility diagnostic pathway is the same as the services offered by your local NHS hospital but with much shorter waiting times and in an environment dedicated to fertility services.
Our male couples fertility testing package includes semen analysis tests for you both, a free 30-minute consultation with our fertility nutritionist and a private consultation.
We offer fertility health and wellbeing packages at our clinics in Cambridge, Norwich, Wickford, or at home. Our male package includes a semen analysis, a free 30-minute consultation with our fertility nutritionist, and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results.
Our female couples fertility testing package includes options to provide you both with results on your fertility. These include AMH blood tests for ovarian reserve; TSH to assess your thyroid stimulating hormone; an ultrasound scan; and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results.
Our female package includes the option of AMH blood tests for ovarian reserve; TSH to assess your thyroid stimulating hormone, an ultrasound scan; and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results. Additionally, we include a free 30-minute consultation with our fertility nutritionist to provide you with nutrition and lifestyle advice.
For heterosexual couples, our female and male fertility testing package includes the option of semen analysis; AMH blood tests for ovarian reserve; TSH to assess your thyroid stimulating hormone; ultrasound scan; and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results.
Once you’ve made the decision to extend your family, even thinking that you might have a fertility issue can be stressful. And for a man, the thought that your sperm might not be in tip-top condition is definitely a cause for concern.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions answered. Find clarity on every step of your fertility journey.