Donor egg treatment
Donor egg treatment is an option for singles or couples who are unable to conceive using their own eggs. Our experienced healthcare professionals will tailor a treatment plan based on your unique needs.
Donor egg treatment is a good option for patients who cannot produce eggs suitable for fertilisation themselves, neither naturally nor with fertility treatment. The quality of the eggs may be decreased for several reasons, e.g. medical conditions that have affected fertility, age-related decrease in egg quality, surgery on the ovaries, or the risk of passing on genetic conditions.
After an initial consultation and careful consideration of your medical background, our healthcare professionals will customise your donor egg treatment according to your circumstances.
What is donor egg treatment?
Donor egg treatment is a fertility treatment in which you receive donated eggs to achieve pregnancy. The egg donor is stimulated to produce mature eggs, that are retrieved and then fertilised with either sperm from your partner or a sperm donor (double donation). This fertilisation process can be done using either IVF or ICSI methods.
When fertilised, the eggs will develop in an embryoscope in our laboratory up until they reach the blastocyst stage. The blastocysts are then frozen and stored until the patient, who is going to carry the pregnancy, is stimulated and ready to receive the blastocyst. Finally, the blastocyst will be transferred to her uterus. Only one egg will be transferred at a time. If fertilisation results in more than one blastocyst, the remaining blastocysts can be stored for future use.
How much does donor egg treatment cost?
The price of one cycle of treatment with donor eggs at Cryos Clinic is EUR 6,760.
This price includes:
- An initial consultation and follow-up consultations if needed, where we review the medical history form and plan the best treatment for you.
- The egg donation process (screening, testing, medicine, and egg retrieval).
- Fertilisation (with IVF or ICSI), freezing of blastocysts, and one blastocyst transfer.
- An early pregnancy scan.
As a patient, you only need to cover the costs of the medicine needed, and – if needed - donor sperm as well as any future embryo transfers if more than one blastocyst is frozen.
You can see our list of prices here.
A guide to donor egg treatment at Cryos Clinic
Here is an introduction to what you can expect when having donor egg treatment at Cryos Clinic. Please see our Patient Guides for a more detailed step-by-step guide.
Planning and preparing for your donor egg treatment
Before planning your treatment at Cryos Clinic, you must request a free, initial consultation to get started. Then you will be asked to fill out a medical history form and attend the initial consultation with one of our experienced healthcare professionals. Together, we will go through your medical history and your recommended course of treatment. We speak English, Danish, and German.
The treatment procedure
The steps in the procedure are:
1. Choosing an egg donor
2. Egg donation process
3. Ordering of donor egg treatment
4. Fertilisation of donor eggs (using either IVF or ICSI technique)
5. Development of blastocyst in laboratory
6. Freezing and storage of blastocysts
7. Sign up for your treatment according to your treatment plan
8. Planning of embryo transfer incl. ultrasound
9. Embryo transfer
Your appointments will take place at Cryos Clinic - Aarhus, and you are welcome to bring your partner or other relative. Our experienced staff will be there along the way to guide you through the procedure.
- After your donor egg treatment
After having your egg donation treatment, you can return to your everyday life. Two weeks later you must have a blood sample taken at our clinic or your general practitioner to see if you are pregnant.
If you are pregnant, we offer a free, early pregnancy scan at Cryos Clinic - Aarhus about three weeks later (in pregnancy week 7-9). Hopefully, we will be able to see a heartbeat, and your treatment at Cryos Clinic will be considered complete.
If you do not become pregnant, the treatment can be repeated in your next cycle. Our healthcare professionals will also be able to guide you on other treatment options if the treatment is unsuccessful.
Which egg donors are available?
At Cryos Clinic, we offer both donor eggs and treatment in one place. Before being accepted, our egg donors undergo thorough physical examinations, genetic screening, and psychological evaluation, ensuring you the best possible starting point for your treatment.
Learn more about our different types of egg donors here.
Vitamin supplements for women in fertility treatment
In accordance with the Danish Health Authority's guidelines, we recommend that you start taking vitamin supplements when trying to conceive. A good choice could be a multivitamin tablet specifically designed for pregnant women, available in pharmacies, provided it contains the supplements mentioned below:
Folic acid
Folic acid supplementation is known to significantly reduce the risk of brain and spinal cord malformations (neural tube defects). We recommend a daily dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid. Start taking folic acid one month before trying to conceive and continue until three months into pregnancy. Even though folic acid is available through food - primarily in green vegetables, legumes, and fruit - the required amount is not sufficient.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D supplementation is recommended for anyone planning to become pregnant. Low levels of vitamin D are particularly an issue during the winter. Vitamin D, essential for both mother and baby, is absorbed through the skin from sunlight and can also be found in the diet, primarily in oily fish. We recommend a daily supplement of 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout your pregnancy.
Calcium
Calcium is essential for bone development and is recommended for women planning pregnancy. Calcium can be consumed through your diet, mainly through milk and dairy products. We recommend consuming half a litre of dairy product daily or a daily supplement of 500 mg of calcium before and throughout pregnancy.
Iron
Iron is important for women trying to conceive. Approximately 20% of pregnant women develop iron deficiency anaemia, which can be prevented with an appropriate iron supplement during pregnancy. From week 10 of your pregnancy, a daily iron supplement of 40-50 mg of ferrous iron is recommended. During fertility treatment, an adjustment of iron levels, possibly at a lower dose, may be necessary. To increase absorption, take the supplement between meals alongside vitamin C, like a glass of orange juice. It is also possible to find tablets containing both iron and vitamin C.
To summarise
- 400 micrograms of folic acid from pregnancy planning and the first 3 months into pregnancy.
- 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout pregnancy.
- 500 mg calcium throughout pregnancy.
- 40-50 mg ferrous iron from week 10 of your pregnancy and throughout the rest of the pregnancy.
Frequently asked questions about egg donation treatment
What is the difference between IVF and ICSI treatment with donor eggs?
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) involves the natural fertilisation of donor eggs, where the sperm cells are added to the laboratory dish and find their way to the egg themselves, while in ICSI (IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection) the embryologist chooses a sperm cell, and directly injects one single sperm cell into each egg. At Cryos Clinic, our experienced staff will advise you on which type of treatment is recommended for you based on your situation.
What is a blastocyst?
A blastocyst is a stage of embryo development, occurring about five days after fertilisation. Embryos are often preferred for transfer into the uterus at the blastocyst stage due to their higher chances of successful implantation.
What are the legal implications when using an egg donor?
Whether you choose an ID Release or Non-ID Release egg donor, the law ensures that the donor has no legal or moral obligations to the child. According to the Danish Children's Act, the egg donor will never be considered the legal mother of children conceived with her donations.