“For many couples the only way they can have a baby is through the generosity of one of our wonderful egg donors,” says Jackie Richardson, a Lead Nurse at Bourn Hall who heads up the egg donation programme.
There is a national shortage of donated eggs, so volunteers are being asked to consider donating their eggs to help others to overcome infertility.
Donated eggs may be required after surgical treatment or chemotherapy or after a premature menopause, this can happen to women in their early twenties onwards. Other women may need to use donated eggs as they are older or there is a family history of genetic conditions.
There is a shortage of donated eggs, particularly those from ethnic minorities, so more donors are required.
By volunteering, women can help to save families from the heartache of infertility or pregnancy loss.
Jackie says: “It can be devastating for a woman to realise she is had premature menopause or is unable to use her own eggs for fertility treatment.
“We match the characteristics of the recipient carefully with those of the donor and although we are now able to freeze eggs in our egg bank, there is always a need for more donors.”
Bourn Hall provides NHS and self-funded IVF treatment and is looking for women who are willing to donate altruistically should they meet the egg donation medical criteria. Those who participate are being offered up to £750 in expenses for a donation cycle as per Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regulations.
Bourn Hall also runs an egg sharing programme for those requiring IVF treatment themselves. If you meet the criteria to become a donor, you may be able to access an IVF treatment package at a significantly reduced cost, by sharing eggs collected during your own treatment.
Anyone interested in finding out more about egg donation can join a webinar hosted by Bourn Hall at 6:30pm on 30 November 2021.