Embryo Donation
A double-donation treatment in which donor eggs are fertilised with donor sperm in the laboratory to create embryos, and a suitable embryo is transferred to the prepared uterus.
- Egg and sperm donors undergo separate screening and documentation processes
- Genetic results from both gamete sources are assessed together
- Genetic relationships, consent and long-term family communication are discussed before treatment
Embryo Donation Quick Summary
How it works
Donor eggs and donor sperm are used to create embryos through IVF or ICSI.
Who may be suitable?
It may be considered when neither the egg nor sperm source can be used or is clinically appropriate.
Laboratory stage
Both donor sources are matched under identity-verification procedures, and embryos are tracked in separate records.
What happens next
A suitable embryo is transferred to the recipient’s uterus in either a fresh or frozen transfer plan.
What Is Embryo Donation Treatment?
In this treatment, both the egg and sperm come from donors; the recipient is the person who carries the pregnancy.
Eggs obtained from a screened egg donor are fertilised with suitable donor sperm. An embryo is selected according to its development and transferred to the prepared uterus.
Embryo donation, or double donation, may be considered as a family-building option when both gamete sources significantly limit the chance of pregnancy. The recipient does not undergo egg collection; the main medical stages for the recipient are uterine preparation and embryo transfer.
On this page, the term describes the creation of new embryos using donor eggs and donor sperm. In some countries, donation of frozen embryos remaining from another patient’s treatment is also called “embryo donation”. These two models are clinically and legally distinct.
When planning embryo donation in Cyprus, the screening results of both donors, the recipient’s suitability for pregnancy, the method used to create embryos, storage and future information-sharing should be addressed within one coordinated counselling process.
- Egg and sperm sources have separate identity and screening records
- Carrier-screening results from both donors are assessed together
- The recipient’s uterine health and overall suitability for pregnancy are assessed separately
- Treatment does not eliminate all genetic or obstetric risks
The Difference Between Double Donation and Donation of Existing Embryos
Although the same term may sometimes be used for both models, how and when the embryo is created differs.
New embryos are created using donor eggs and donor sperm
Donors are selected and screened separately for the programme.
- Egg collection and the donor sperm sample are part of the programme
- Genetic results from both donors are assessed together
- Embryos are newly created for the treatment plan
A previously created frozen embryo is used
This may involve transfer of embryos remaining from another treatment.
- The embryo was created previously
- Donor information and the scope of screening depend on the original programme
- Regulations and availability vary by country
The current approach applicable to an individual case should be confirmed directly with the clinic. This page primarily describes the double-donation model in which new embryos are created using donor eggs and donor sperm.
Who May Be Suitable for Embryo Donation?
Suitability is determined by the status of both egg and sperm sources, the recipient’s health for pregnancy and whether the treatment is permitted under applicable regulations.
When neither gamete source can be used
It may be considered when eggs and sperm cannot be obtained or are not clinically suitable for use.
Significant genetic risk from both gamete sources
It may be considered when both intended parents have a significant risk of transmitting a genetic condition and no other suitable option is available.
Repeated gamete-related treatment failure
It may be considered when repeated fertilisation or developmental problems related to both eggs and sperm have been identified.
Premature ovarian insufficiency together with azoospermia
It may be an option for couples who do not have usable eggs or sperm of their own.
Single-parent family-building
It may be considered when current regulations and clinical eligibility criteria permit.
Individual family-building circumstances
Individual circumstances should be considered together with medical, psychological and legal counselling.
No. Replacing both gamete sources may not be appropriate without first reviewing possible uterine, embryo, transfer-related or laboratory factors associated with the previous unsuccessful treatment.
What Is Assessed Before Starting Embryo Donation Treatment in North Cyprus?
The recipient’s suitability for pregnancy and the safety assessment of both donor sources are reviewed separately.
Recipient health assessment
The uterus, endometrium, hormone profile and health conditions that may affect pregnancy are assessed.
Egg donor screening
Medical and family history, infection screening, ovarian assessment and relevant genetic tests are reviewed.
Sperm donor screening
Medical and family history, infection screening, semen quality and relevant genetic screening are reviewed.
Genetic cross-matching
The possibility that both donors carry the same recessive condition is assessed.
Consent and psychological counselling
The implications for the family and future child of using donor eggs and donor sperm are discussed.
Endometrial preparation plan
A natural or hormone-prepared transfer cycle is planned, including the timing of progesterone.
How Is Embryo Donation Performed?
The process involves securely coordinating both donor sources while preparing the recipient’s uterus for embryo transfer.
Initial assessment
The recipient’s medical history, previous treatments and family-building goals are reviewed.
Donor selection
Egg and sperm donors are selected separately according to clinical criteria and applicable regulations.
Reviewing screening results together
Infection-screening results, medical history and genetic carrier-screening results are assessed together.
Recipient endometrial preparation
The endometrium is prepared for transfer either in a natural cycle or with hormonal medication.
Obtaining the eggs
In a fresh programme, eggs are collected from the donor; in a frozen-oocyte programme, the eggs are warmed.
Fertilisation and embryo culture
Donor eggs are fertilised with donor sperm using conventional IVF or ICSI.
Embryo transfer
A suitable developing embryo is transferred into the uterus; other suitable embryos may be cryopreserved.
Pregnancy test and follow-up
Medication is continued according to the plan and a beta-hCG test is performed on the specified date.
How Long Does Embryo Donation Take in Cyprus?
The overall duration depends on donor availability, whether a fresh or frozen programme is used, and the recipient’s uterine preparation.
Initial assessment
Medical-record review, assessment and counselling can begin before travel.
Matching both donors
Eligibility and screening results for both donors are verified.
Endometrial preparation
Uterine preparation often requires approximately 2–3 weeks of monitoring.
Embryo creation
After the eggs are obtained, embryo culture usually continues for approximately 3–6 days.
Pregnancy test
It is commonly performed approximately 9–14 days after embryo transfer.
If part of the uterine monitoring can be completed where you live, it may be possible to travel to Cyprus around the transfer period. A fresh-donor programme, additional tests or the need for clinical review may change the required length of stay.
What Factors May Affect Outcomes in Embryo Donation?
Using donor eggs and donor sperm may address some gamete-related factors, but pregnancy outcomes still depend on embryo development, uterine factors and the recipient’s overall health.
Egg source
The developmental potential of donor oocytes can influence embryo formation.
Sperm source
Post-thaw sperm quality and genetic characteristics may influence fertilisation.
Embryo development
Fertilisation, cleavage and blastocyst formation are separate stages.
Endometrial preparation
Endometrial preparation and progesterone timing are important for synchronising the transfer window.
Laboratory conditions
Identity safeguards and a stable embryo-culture environment are important.
Recipient health
Metabolic, hormonal and anatomical factors that may affect pregnancy are assessed.
Comprehensive donor screening does not guarantee a healthy child or live birth. Fertilisation, embryo development, pregnancy and live-birth rates are separate outcomes.
Embryo Donation Costs
Because the treatment involves two donor sources and embryo creation, the scope of the programme should be explained in detail.
Egg donor programme
Screening, matching, medication, monitoring and egg collection.
Donor sperm sample
Screening, sperm-bank services, storage and sample preparation.
Laboratory procedures
IVF or ICSI, embryo culture and laboratory quality monitoring.
Recipient preparation
Assessment, investigations, medication and uterine monitoring.
Freezing and storage
Vitrification of suitable embryos and the agreed cryostorage period.
Genetic assessment and counselling
Relevant carrier-screening assessments and specialist consultations.
Find out what your individual plan may include
Share your previous treatment records and health information so the scope of a double-donation programme, uterine preparation and transfer plan can be clarified.
Identity and Laboratory Safety with Two Donor Sources
Correctly linking the egg and sperm sources to the appropriate embryos requires double checks and complete documentation.
Identity verification for both donor sources
Egg donor, sperm donor, recipient and embryo records are maintained separately but linked through the treatment record.
Electronic witnessing
Specimen and patient records are verified at critical procedural stages.
Fertilisation method
The choice between conventional IVF and ICSI is made according to laboratory findings and gamete characteristics.
Embryo culture
Embryo development is documented regularly, and suitable embryos are selected for transfer or cryopreservation.
Vitrification
Remaining suitable embryos may be cryopreserved using vitrification.
Environmental quality
Temperature, gas levels, air quality, equipment and alarm systems are monitored regularly.
Clinical and Laboratory Team
Donation treatment is a multi-stage process involving coordinated work between the physician, embryology laboratory, patient coordination team and, when appropriate, genetic counselling.
Op. Dr. Beril Yüksel
Manages recipient assessment, endometrial preparation and transfer planning.
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Prof. Dr. Münevver Serdaroğulları
Contributes to treatment protocols, donation pathways and the scientific quality approach.
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Zafer Atayurt
Coordinates gamete receipt, identity verification, fertilisation and embryo-culture processes.
View profile →What Are the Risks and Limitations of Embryo Donation?
Double donation may address some gamete-related barriers, but it does not remove medical considerations or long-term family decisions.
Failure to create a transferable embryo
Even with donor gametes, fertilisation may not occur or no usable embryo may develop.
Implantation failure and miscarriage
Pregnancy may not occur after transfer, and pregnancy loss remains possible.
Multiple pregnancy
Transferring more than one embryo can increase pregnancy-related risks.
Residual genetic risk
Carrier screening cannot exclude every genetic variant or condition.
Pregnancy risks related to the recipient
Age and overall health can influence the risk of pregnancy complications.
Psychosocial and legal considerations
Using both donor eggs and donor sperm requires detailed counselling about genetic relationships, donor information and future disclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Embryo Donation
These answers are for general information. Individual treatment plans may vary according to medical assessment and applicable regulations.
What is embryo donation?
On this page, embryo donation refers to a double-donation programme in which new embryos are created using donor eggs and donor sperm. In some countries, donation of existing frozen embryos may also be described using the same term.
Are embryo donation and double donation the same thing?
In clinical use, treatment using donor eggs and donor sperm together is often called double donation or embryo donation. The legal meaning of these terms may vary by country.
Who may be suitable for embryo donation?
It may be considered when both egg and sperm factors significantly limit the chance of pregnancy, when there is substantial inherited-disease risk from both gamete sources, or in other family-building circumstances that are medically and legally appropriate.
Who is the child genetically related to?
An embryo created using donor eggs and donor sperm has a genetic relationship to both donors. If the person carrying the pregnancy is not one of the donors, there is no genetic relationship through the gametes.
Are the egg donor and sperm donor screened separately?
Yes. Each donor’s medical and family history, infection screening and relevant genetic assessments are reviewed separately, and the results are then considered together.
Is genetic matching performed between the two donors?
When appropriate carrier-screening results are available, the possibility that both donors carry the same recessive condition is assessed. Different screening panels may not be directly equivalent, and genetic counselling may be required.
Can donor physical characteristics be matched?
Where permitted by applicable regulations, factors such as blood group or general physical characteristics may be considered in relation to the recipient. Health, genetic safety and clinical suitability take priority over expectations of physical similarity.
How is embryo donation performed?
While the recipient’s uterus is prepared, donor eggs are fertilised with donor sperm using conventional IVF or ICSI. A suitable developing embryo is then transferred in either a fresh or frozen embryo-transfer plan.
Is ICSI used in embryo donation?
Conventional IVF or ICSI may be selected according to the number of oocytes, sperm-sample characteristics and the laboratory plan. Identity verification and specimen separation are particularly important in double-donation programmes.
On which day are embryos transferred?
Depending on embryo development, transfer may be planned on day 3 or at the blastocyst stage on day 5 or 6. Not every embryo will reach the blastocyst stage.
Can both fresh and frozen embryo transfer be used?
Yes. A fresh transfer may be considered when the recipient’s endometrial preparation and embryo development are suitable; a frozen embryo transfer may be planned for timing, testing or medical reasons.
How long does embryo donation treatment take?
Once donor selection, screening and recipient preparation are complete, embryo creation and transfer may be carried out within a programme lasting several weeks. A frozen-transfer schedule may take longer.
Does embryo donation guarantee success?
No. Donor gametes may address some egg- and sperm-related factors, but fertilisation, embryo development, implantation, pregnancy and live birth cannot be guaranteed.
What factors affect the chance of success?
Relevant factors include donor egg and sperm characteristics, embryo development, uterine conditions, progesterone timing, transfer technique, laboratory quality and the recipient’s overall health.
How many embryos are transferred?
Embryo characteristics, the recipient’s age and health, the risk of multiple pregnancy, previous treatments and current regulations are considered together. The aim is a safe singleton pregnancy whenever clinically appropriate.
When is the pregnancy test performed?
The clinic determines the test date according to the embryo’s developmental stage and transfer date. A blood beta-hCG test is commonly performed approximately 9–14 days after transfer.
How long do I need to stay in Cyprus for embryo donation?
The recipient may be able to complete part of the assessment and endometrial monitoring where they live. The required stay is personalised according to the transfer plan, any additional procedures and the need for clinical review.
What may be included in embryo donation costs?
Costs may be affected by the egg- and sperm-donor processes, screening, medication, egg collection, donor sperm, fertilisation, embryo culture, transfer, freezing and storage.
Can remaining embryos be frozen?
Suitable embryos may be cryopreserved with written consent and in accordance with current storage requirements.
Why is psychological counselling important?
Using both donor eggs and donor sperm can raise important questions about genetic relationships, family history, future disclosure to the child and privacy. Counselling before treatment can support informed decision-making.
Related Treatments and Information
Let Us Review Your Embryo Donation Plan Together
Share your health information, previous treatment records and family-building goals so donor screening, recipient preparation, embryology laboratory planning and your Cyprus transfer schedule can be coordinated within one plan.
- Recipient pregnancy-health and uterine assessment
- Separate donor screening and cross-review of genetic carrier results
- Treatment, embryo transfer and international patient coordination
Medical sources
Content is supported by current professional guidance relating to donor and recipient assessment, infection and genetic screening, counselling, laboratory safety and embryo transfer principles.