If you are thinking of going abroad for IVF treatment using donor eggs, there’s a lot to consider, so it’s more important than ever to do your research when considering going abroad or staying in the UK for treatment.
In a post-COVID 19 world, keeping safe is of the utmost importance. At Manchester Fertility, we’ve implemented even more measures to make sure all our patients feel safe and supported. From virtual appointments to temperature tests, we’re doing everything we can to prioritise your safety.
Before you make any important decisions about starting your family at home or overseas, take a look at how IVF treatment abroad with donor eggs compares with your options here in the UK.
Safety and standards
Legislation outlines safety standards for fertility clinics across Europe. So, it’s important to find out which laws a clinic is required to follow, depending on its location.
In the UK, we have statutory bodies that oversee legal compliance and safety, such as the Care Quality Commission, while the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Association (HFEA) independently regulates fertility treatment and research in the UK by licensing, monitoring and inspecting fertility clinics for standards of care.
Waiting times
Some individuals and couples head abroad for IVF treatment with donor eggs to avoid long waiting times for egg donors in the UK.
But at Manchester Fertility, we have our own donor programme, which means there’s no waiting list for UK donor eggs. And because we have fresh egg donors as well as a frozen egg bank your treatment can begin as soon as you are ready.
Success Rates
If you’re comparing clinics then you must make sure that you see up-to-date verified pregnancy and live birth rates for your specific treatment, for your age group.
Clinics can publish their best results to make it seem like they’re more successful – but ensure that this is relevant to your individual treatment and age group. Our success rates can be found here
Donor details
If you need fertility treatment using donor eggs or donor sperm, remember that in the UK donor anonymity was removed to allow donor-conceived children the opportunity to contact their donors in future years. This isn’t the case if you go abroad for treatment.
If you decide to go abroad for treatment egg donors might be completely anonymous and untraceable to children conceived from their donated eggs.
Different countries also have varying limits on how many families can be created from donor eggs - in the UK, it’s ten, which restricts the number of people a child could be genetically related to.
Aftercare
Choosing to have IVF with donor eggs is a big decision. Aftercare is an important reassurance, giving you the peace of mind that any questions you might have can be talked through at length, before, during and after your treatment takes place.
Here at Manchester Fertility, you’ll have the option of follow-up appointments and on-going advice and support throughout your fertility journey. If you travel abroad for IVF, however, the process of aftercare simply can’t be delivered in the same way as our personalised approach with our dedicated donor team.
We also have specialist fertility counsellors working to support you throughout your journey, making sure you get the right care, support and advice at all times.
Cost considerations
The cost of IVF treatment with donor eggs varies internationally, so it’s important when looking at costs to check what’s included. Some IVF clinics overseas don’t include consultation fees, fertility medication or charges for essential tests in their IVF prices.
There’s also the added cost of flights, accommodation and insurance to consider when working out fees for IVF treatment abroad with donor eggs.
Quality care with the fertility experts
Ultimately, there’s a lot to consider when making the decision to start a family through IVF treatment with donor eggs - whether you choose a clinic at home or abroad.
Manchester Fertility has more than 30 years’ experience in creating families through egg donation. We are one of the only fertility clinics in the UK to have a dedicated UK egg donor programme, with an expert team to support you on your journey, from start to finish.
Offering IVF treatment to individuals, couples and same-sex couples, we deliver a personalised journey - everyone who comes to us for treatment has a dedicated team member to provide all the necessary support throughout the treatment journey.
If you’d like to talk it through with our expert donor team, get in touch we’ll give you all the information you to help you take the next important step for your treatment.
Contact our dedicated Donation Team on 0161 300 2734.
Last updated: 25th June 2020