Egg Donation Laws: The UK vs the Czech Republic

If you’ve been thinking about traveling abroad for Egg Donation, you have probably become aware that there are significant differences in the law between the UK and other European countries. It is important to understand how these differences may impact you and your future family.

The biggest difference between UK and Czech law is that in the UK the donor’s information is held by the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) and the name of the donor and other identifying information such as last known address can be requested by the child once they are 18 years of age. It is possible for children to find other half-siblings from the same donor and for the donor to request information about if a child was born from their gamete donation.

In the Czech Republic, the donor must remain anonymous and identifying information isn’t accessible at any time to the child or parents alike, period.

For donors, the fact that their names are kept on record in the UK deters many from wanting to donate. Perhaps the thought of a young adult trying to find them in 18 years is intimidating because they themselves are not ready to be parents yet or because they have their own family units in tact.

The lack of donors causes the price in the UK to increase and can also be frustrating for women who do not have a lot of time to wait. Many couples opt for trying to find a donor to share with another couple looking for egg donation simply because there aren’t enough women willing to donate in the UK.

Because of the promise of anonymity in the Czech Republic, many more willing donors are found, providing couples with something they may not find in the UK: a choice among several women who are willing to donate. That choice, along with clinics that adhere to high standards such as Gynem Fertility Clinic in Prague, is why so many couples from the UK have decided to come to Prague for fertility treatment.

Egg donation UK vs Czech Republic: Comparison Table

Area of comparison	United Kingdom	Czech Republic
Donor anonymity	Donors are identifiable because their personal information is recorded.	Egg donors must remain anonymous.
Authority holding donor information	Donor information is held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.	Donor-identifying information is not made available to recipient families or donor-conceived children.
Access to identifying information	A donor-conceived person may request identifying information after turning 18.	Identifying information cannot be accessed by the child or recipient parents.
Examples of identifying information	Available details may include the donor’s name, last known address and other identifying information.	Identifying details remain confidential.
Information about genetic half-siblings	Donor-conceived people may be able to identify genetic half-siblings conceived using gametes from the same donor.	Access to information about genetic half-siblings is not provided.
Information available to the donor	Donors may request confirmation of whether a child was born as a result of their donation.	Donors do not have access to identifying information about the recipient family or child.
Effect on willingness to donate	The possibility of being identified in the future may discourage some women from donating.	Guaranteed anonymity may encourage more women to become donors.
Concerns that may affect donors	Some donors may feel uncomfortable knowing that a donor-conceived adult could search for or contact them after turning 18, particularly if they later establish their own family.	Anonymous donation removes the possibility of future identification or contact.
Donor availability	The United Kingdom may have fewer women willing to donate eggs.	A larger pool of willing anonymous donors may be available.
Effect on treatment price	Limited donor availability may contribute to higher treatment costs.	Greater donor availability may provide more treatment options and donor choice.
Effect on waiting	Donor shortages may result in longer waiting times, which can be particularly difficult for patients facing age-related time pressure.	Greater donor availability may reduce waiting times and allow patients to choose from several suitable donors.
Shared-donor arrangements	Some patients consider sharing eggs from one donor with another recipient because of limited availability.	Shared-donor arrangements are less commonly associated with donor shortages.
Choice of donor	A smaller donor pool may restrict the number of available matches.	Patients may be matched with a donor from a wider pool of anonymous candidates.
Reason described for travelling abroad	Some UK patients consider treatment abroad because of donor shortages, waiting times and concerns about identifiable donation.	Anonymous donation, greater donor availability and wider donor choice are among the reasons patients travel to Prague for treatment.

What is the biggest difference in egg donation between UK and Czech Republic?

The main difference is donor anonymity. In the United Kingdom, donor information is stored by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. A donor-conceived person may request identifying information about the donor after turning 18.
In the Czech Republic, egg donors must remain anonymous. Neither the child nor the recipient parents can access identifying information at any stage.

What information may a donor-conceived person request in the UK?

From the age of 18, a donor-conceived person may request identifying details such as the donor’s name, last known address and other information held on record.

Can a donor-conceived person find genetic half-siblings in the UK?

Yes. Donor-conceived people may be able to identify genetic half-siblings conceived using eggs or sperm from the same donor.

Can the donor find out whether a child was born in the UK?

A donor may request confirmation of whether a child was born as a result of their donation. However, this does not give the donor parental rights or access to identifying information about the child.

Can a child access the donor’s identity in the Czech Republic?

No. Identifying information about an egg donor is not available to the child or the recipient parents.

Why may fewer women donate eggs in the UK?

The requirement to keep identifying information on record may discourage some potential donors. Knowing that a donor-conceived adult could request their identity in the future may feel intimidating, particularly for someone who is not ready to become a parent or who later establishes a family of her own.

How may a donor shortage affect treatment in the UK?

Limited donor availability may:

• Increase treatment costs
• Create longer waiting times
• Cause additional pressure for patients with limited time to pursue treatment
• Lead some recipients to consider sharing eggs from one donor

Why may more donors be available in the Czech Republic?

Guaranteed anonymity may make egg donation feel more acceptable to potential donors, contributing to a larger and more readily available donor pool.

Why do some UK couples travel to Prague for egg donation?

Some patients travel to Prague because Czech clinics may provide access to a wider selection of anonymous donors and shorter waiting times.

Prague also has fertility clinics offering internationally focused treatment, including Gynem Fertility Clinic, UNICA Clinics, IVF Cube and Clayo Clinic.