For donors


Lifting anonymity for sperm, egg and embryo donors

Until 1 April 2005, people donating sperm, eggs or embryos could remain anonymous.  They were asked to provide some non-identifying information which could be given to people choosing a donor for treatment, and to any person conceived using their donation (when they reach the age of 18).  

With a growing awareness of how important it would be for some donor-conceived people to find out more about their genetic origins, the Government lifted anonymity for donors in April 2005.  This means that anyone born using your donated sperm, eggs or embryos will be allowed to ask the HFEA for identifying information about you when they reach the age of 18. 

Please note that if you are sharing your eggs with another woman, you are also considered to be a donor, and the lifting of donor anonymity applies to you.      

 

More information:

Donating sperm, eggs or embryos

There are many reasons to become a donor.  You might want to help others, or a particular friend or family member.  If you have children of your own, you might want others to have the opportunity to be a parent.

Your decision will have an important impact on the people who receive your donation, on any children born as a result, and on your own family if you have one, or plan to have one.  It's important to think carefully about how you feel about this now, and how you may feel in the future.

Donating sperm, eggs or embryos for others to use in their fertility treatment is very different to donating organs or blood. You are potentially creating new human beings.  The clinic where you donate will offer you counselling which can give you an opportunity to discuss what is involved and future implications.

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Finding out about children born from your donation

One of the duties of the HFEA is to keep a record of all assisted reproduction treatments, including those using donated sperm, eggs or embryos, and the outcome of those treatments.  This record is known as the HFEA Register. 

As a donor, you are entitled to know whether any children were born from your donation and the number and gender of those children, as well as the year(s) in which they were born. There are limits to the number of children that can be created using your donation.  From 2005, a maximum of 10 families can be created from your donation.

Children born from your donation will also be able to contact the HFEA when they reach the age of 18 and ask for information about you. 

If you donated between 1991 and 1 April 2005, and if you have not re-registered as an identifiable donor, then your anonymity will be protected.  Any donor-conceived people contacting the HFEA will be given non-identifying information about you ? the information you supplied when you made your donation (or additional information you may have supplied later on).

If you donated after 1 April 2005, or have re-registered as an identifiable donor, donor-conceived people can be given both non-identifying and identifying information about you. 

More information:

The legal status of the male donor in embryo donation

Following a number of examples arising from recent court proceedings relating to the use of embryos by single women which were created using the sperm of their estranged partners, the HFEA highlights possible issues surrounding the legal position of the male donor in embryo donation arrangements. Find out more.

 

Find out more about the HFEA Register-For Donors

Last updated: 29 February 2008