Choosing a country for donor egg IVF abroad usually comes down to a few practical questions:
- Can you legally access treatment there?
- Are you within the country’s and clinic’s age limits?
- Is egg donation anonymous, open-ID or non-anonymous?
- What will treatment actually cost once extras are included?
- Can you access the type of donor and treatment route you need?
Based on more than 8,000 unique patient inquiries received through our websites, Spain was the most selected destination, accounting for approximately 44% of inquiries. Greece followed at approximately 20%, the Czech Republic at 14%, North Cyprus at 11% and Portugal at 2.5%. Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Denmark each accounted for under 2%.
This guide explains how to compare the most popular destinations for egg donation IVF abroad, so you can choose the country and clinic that truly fits your medical needs, donor preferences and budget.
- Key takeaways
- Which countries are most popular for donor egg IVF abroad?
- Most Popular IVF Countries
- IVF Abroad – Countries Comparison
- Why do patients travel abroad for donor egg IVF?
- IVF with donor eggs abroad – which country shall I choose?
- 1. Can I legally access treatment there?
- 2. Will clinics accept a patient of my age and medical profile?
- 3. Does the donor model fit what I want?
- 4. What is the likely total cost?
- 5. Does the clinic regularly treat patients like me?
- Should I be aware of treatment quality and customer care levels abroad?
- Choosing an Egg Donor Abroad
- Anonymous vs non-anonymous donors: what changes by country?
- The Donor’s Race
- The number of guaranteed eggs that you will receive from the donor
- IVF with Frozen Eggs at Overseas Clinics
- Your age – the maximum age of an egg recipient
- IVF Clinics for Patients over 40
- IVF Clinics for Patients over 50
- IVF with donor eggs abroad for married couples and single woman
- IVF with egg donation programs for lesbian and same-sex couples
- Same-sex couples and single woman IVF treatment is not allowed in:
- IVF abroad – costs
- The average cost of an IVF donor egg cycle in countries that are most often chosen by international patients
- Country comparison for patients who need egg donation abroad
- The most often chosen destinations for IVF egg donation abroad based on the patient’s country of residence:
- If you need help choosing an IVF Clinic AbroadSpare 3 minutes of your time. You will save at least a few hours.
- Fertility Forums and Support Communities
- IVF abroad – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the best IVF clinic in Europe?
- Which country is best for IVF?
- Which country has the highest IVF success rate?
- How do I choose an IVF clinic abroad?
- Where is the most successful IVF clinic in the world?
- Which clinics offer IVF treatment for patients over 50?
- Which countries allow patients to choose an egg donor?
- Which countries offer anonymous egg donation?
- Which countries offer identifiable or open-ID egg donors?
- Which countries allow known egg donation?
- What information will I receive about my egg donor?
- How closely will the donor be matched to my appearance?
- Can the child access the donor’s family history?
- Can the child receive genetic test results?
- Can the child request the donor’s identity for medical reasons?
- What are realistic live-birth rates with donor eggs?
- Add Your Heading Text Here
Key takeaways
- Spain was the most selected destination in our inquiry data. It accounted for approximately 44% of inquiries, followed by Greece at 20%, the Czech Republic at 14% and North Cyprus at 11%.
- Typical donor egg IVF costs differ substantially by destination. Across the nine countries compared in this guide, current guide ranges run from approximately €4,000 to €11,000 per cycle, but package contents vary.
- Age limits vary significantly. Some destinations impose a fixed maximum age, while others leave more discretion to individual clinics.
- Donor identity rules can completely change which destinations fit you.
- Some countries use anonymous donation, some allow identity-release arrangements, and others offer more than one donor model.
- There is no single best country for every patient. The strongest option depends on legal eligibility, age, donor preferences, budget, travel requirements and the clinic’s experience with your situation.
Which countries are most popular for donor egg IVF abroad?
Spain was the most selected destination in our 2026 patient-inquiry data, accounting for approximately 44% of inquiries.
Greece ranked second at approximately 20%, followed by the Czech Republic at 14%, North Cyprus at 11% and Portugal at 2.5%. Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Denmark each accounted for under 2%.
Most Popular IVF Countries
| Rank | Country | Share of patient inquiries |
| 1 | Spain | ~44% |
| 2 | Greece | ~20% |
| 3 | Czech Republic | ~14% |
| 4 | North Cyprus | ~11% |
| 5 | Portugal | ~2.5% |
| 6–9 | Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Denmark | <2% each |
*The list above is based on more than 8,000 unique patients inquiries sent through our websites.
The vast majority of them are patients who travel overseas to undergo IVF or IVF with donor eggs. Below you will find the information you should take into consideration when choosing the Country and clinic in which you will undergo treatment.
Find Top Egg Donation ClinicsIVF Abroad – Countries Comparison
The most important differences between destinations are not just price. Age limits, treatment access and donor identity rules can rule a country in or out before you even compare clinics.| IVF law restriction comparison | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IVF country | Age limit for patient | Single woman | Lesbian couples |
| IVF Spain | 50 (some clinics may support patients up to 52) | Yes | Yes (ROPA) |
| IVF Portugal | 49 (+364 days) | Yes | Yes |
| IVF Czech Republic | 48 plus 12 months | No | No |
| IVF Greece | 54 (over 50 additional qualification is required) | yes | Yes (only if they are treated as a single woman - a notary statement is needed) |
| IVF North Cyprus | 58 (over the age of 55, the approval of the ethics committee is required, over 45 - the Ministry Of Health approval is required) | Yes | Yes |
| IVF Ukraine | No limit (not specified by legislation, decided by each clinic individually) | Yes | No |
| IVF Poland | No limit (not specified by legislation, decided by each clinic individually) | No | No |
| IVF Latvia | No limit (not specified by legislation, decided by each clinic individually) | Yes | Yes (only if they are treated as a single woman) |
Why do patients travel abroad for donor egg IVF?
- The national law restricts access to egg donors and egg donation programmes
- The age limit of egg recipient can be higher in countries abroad – offering treatment even for patients at the age of 55
- Types of egg donor IVF arrangements. Many patients search for IVF clinics abroad because of non-anonymous egg donation policies and practices in their home country
- The high costs of IVF, IVF ICSI or IVF with donor eggs in their home country
- Fertility clinics abroad offer high-quality treatment and achieve higher IVF success rates
IVF with donor eggs abroad – which country shall I choose?
The right country is the one that fits your legal eligibility, age, donor preferences, budget and treatment needs — not simply the country with the highest advertised success rate.
Start by asking these five questions.
1. Can I legally access treatment there?
Marital status, sexual orientation and treatment type can affect access. A destination that works for a heterosexual couple may not offer the same route to a single woman or female same-sex couple.
2. Will clinics accept a patient of my age and medical profile?
Check both:
- the country’s legal position;
- the individual clinic’s own policy.
A clinic can use a stricter age limit than the maximum permitted by law.
3. Does the donor model fit what I want?
Some patients prefer strict anonymity. Others want a future child to have the possibility of accessing identifying information about the donor.
That preference can substantially narrow the destination list.
4. What is the likely total cost?
Compare the expected cost of completing treatment, not only the cheapest advertised package.
5. Does the clinic regularly treat patients like me?
Ask about experience with your age, diagnosis, treatment history and donor requirements. A country can be popular overall while a different clinic or destination is a better fit for your individual case.
Should I be aware of treatment quality and customer care levels abroad?
No, not at all. International clinics provide high levels of treatment and customer care. Patients from abroad often constitute up to 50% of all patients. Fertility clinics abroad offer various additional services such as transfers to and from the airport, online/skype consultations, travel and accommodation, bespoke personal services and so on.
The choice of the destination depends mostly on personal preference in addition to legal restrictions on donor egg use, donor matching processes and the cost of egg donor IVF as these can all vary country by country. If you are considering undergoing egg donation in Europe, what you should pay attention to?
Professional IVF centres from various countries offer fertility treatments for international patients. Below you can find a list of the most popular destinations which allow for IVF treatment using eggs from an anonymous donor.
Choosing an Egg Donor Abroad
In most countries (e.g. Poland, Greece, the Czech Republic or Spain) the selection of egg donors is based on a phenotype matching with the recipient. This means a donor resembles the recipient in terms of eye, hair and skin colour wherever possible. These rules stem from legal requirements. This also means that in these countries patients will not be able to select “any donor”. In other countries (e.g. in Ukraine), a patient can choose a donor who looks similar to the recipient or otherwise.
According to international medical associations (ESHRE, ASRM), selecting an egg donor who shares some characteristics with a recipient is recommended -„phenotype matching”. This resemblance should at least cover the colour of hair, eyes and skin, height and a blood type.
Anonymous vs non-anonymous donors: what changes by country?
The main difference is whether the donor’s identity can ever be disclosed to the recipient or donor-conceived child.
Various clinics grant access to different amounts and types of information about an egg donor. For some patients, this may be an important factor affecting their choice of destination or an overseas IVF clinic. In Ukraine, Russia and the United States, in addition to donor’s standard features (height, weight, and hair colour), patients will get additional information including the donor’s adult/childhood photos and others. If you look for the non-anonymous egg donation cycle where they are non-anonymous because of the law – Portugal, USA and the UK are the best choices. As you can find extended information about the egg donors in Russia and Ukraine – they are still anonymous in terms of possibilities of contacting the donor.
The Donor’s Race
In Ukraine, Russia and Poland IVF clinic databases are dominated by egg donors of Caucasian origin. If you are looking for a donor with darker skin, your natural choice would be IVF centres from Spain, Cyprus or Greece. African-American or Afro-Caribbean donors are most often available in the USA or Barbados.
The number of guaranteed eggs that you will receive from the donor
The number of oocytes received from a donor varies from clinic to clinic. It is a generally accepted practice that you should receive at least 6 eggs, that may result in 2 embryos, on condition that your partner’s sperm parameters are satisfactory. Some overseas IVF clinics offer all donor eggs no matter how many eggs have been retrieved (so-called exclusive donor).
Please bear in mind, however, that it is not the number of oocytes, but their quality that matters in determining how successful the egg donation program would be.
IVF with Frozen Eggs at Overseas Clinics
Before you visit a clinic abroad, check out whether the IVF centre uses frozen or fresh eggs. In the case of frozen eggs, most overseas IVF clinics offer 6-10 oocytes. Crucially, this number usually refers to frozen eggs – such oocytes need to be thawed first – before fertilisation. Statistically, approximately 50-80% oocytes are successfully thawed, and this means that the number of eggs intended for fertilisation will be smaller. Please ask the IVF clinic about the oocytes survival rates – as it may vary from clinic to clinic. That will let you estimate the number of oocytes that will be ready for fertilisation.
Your age – the maximum age of an egg recipient
In most countries, the law limits the maximum age for IVF (recipients) to 49 or 50. For egg recipients who are 50 and older, there are only a very few available destinations including North Cyprus, Ukraine, Latvia, Russia (in Europe) and the USA.
IVF Clinics for Patients over 40
In Europe, there are no restrictions on the treatment of patients over 40 years of age. Legal restrictions start at the age of 49-50. If you are between 40 and 49 years old, you can easily find a clinic that will legally treat patients using IVF techniques.
IVF Clinics for Patients over 50
If you are looking for an IVF clinic for patients over 50, your treatment options may be limited. Below you will find a list of countries that allow the treatment of patients over 50 years of age. Treatment options for patients over the age of 50 do not always follow the law. In some countries, clinics themselves decide whether to treat, for example, a patient aged 55. In this case, clinics usually require, among others: additional tests and a certificate from a gynaecologist that there are no contraindications for pregnancy.
- IVF in Spain – there is an agreed limit of 50 years old, however, there are few clinics in Spain supporting patients up to 52 years old
- IVF in Greece – there is an age limit of 54 years old
- IVF in North Cyprus – over the age of 55 – up to 58, the approval of the ethics committee is required, over 45 – the Ministry Of Health approval is required – IVF clinics organize the process
- IVF in Ukraine – no limit – not specified by legislation, decided by each
clinic individually – most of the clinics set up the limit at 52-55 years old - IVF in Latvia – no limit not specified by legislation, decided by each clinic individually
- IVF in Russia – there is a limit set to 51 years old however IVF clinics may treat older patients at their own risk, there are clinics offering IVF treatment for patients up to 55 years old
- IVF Poland – no limit not specified by legislation, decided by each clinic individually – most of the clinics won’t treat women over 52 years old
IVF with donor eggs abroad for married couples and single woman
If you have a husband or a partner, the egg donor IVF programme is open to you in any country of your choice. However, if you are single, the list of overseas clinics that offer IVF or IVF with donor eggs is narrowed down to:
Find Egg Donation Clinics AbroadIVF with egg donation programs for lesbian and same-sex couples
If you are interested in undergoing IVF with donor eggs for same-sex couples, your choice of overseas destinations will be limited to:
Same-sex couples and single woman IVF treatment is not allowed in:
- Czech Republic
- Poland
IVF abroad – costs
Fertility treatment costs vary from country to country but you shouldn’t assume high costs necessarily mean better care services and higher success rates.
Read more about Egg donation success rates.
The most popular destinations chosen by patients from all over the world offer safe fertility treatment and high success rates of IVF with donor eggs. IVF cost abroad is usually lower than in the home country – and this is one of the reasons patients are travelling for an IVF treatment.
The average cost of an IVF donor egg cycle in countries that are most often chosen by international patients
The cost of IVF treatment abroad also varies between clinics in a given country. The differences in treatment costs can be significant. They may result from many factors, e.g. the services that the egg donation program includes, e.g. the number of eggs from the donor, additional techniques performed in an in vitro laboratory, guarantees or other. In every country you will find clinics that are very cheap and those that are very expensive. Our recommendation is to focus on the average priced clinics.
| IVF with donor eggs - cost comparison | |
|---|---|
| Egg Donation IVF in Spain | €5,900 – €11,000 |
| Egg Donation IVF in Czech Republic | €4,500 – €8,000 |
| Egg Donation IVF in North Cyprus | €4,500 – €6,000 |
| Egg Donation IVF in Greece | €5,000 – €8,000 |
| Egg Donation IVF in Ukraine | €4,000 – €7,000 |
| Egg Donation IVF in Latvia | €5,000 – €8,000 |
| Egg Donation IVF in Portugal | €6,000 - €8,000 |
| Egg Donation IVF in Russia | €3,800 – €7,000 |
| Egg Donation IVF in Poland | €4,000 – €6,000 |
Country comparison for patients who need egg donation abroad
For international patients who are planning to undergo egg donation abroad, eggdonationfriends.com have specially prepared a detailed comparison of the most popular destinations. Below you can find countries which offer full anonymity and infertility treatment safety.
The most often chosen destinations for IVF egg donation abroad based on the patient’s country of residence:
| Patient’s home country | The most often chosen destinations | Other frequently chosen destinations |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Spain, Czech Republic, Cyprus | Greece, Ukraine, Russia |
| Ireland | Czech Republic, Spain | Cyprus, Greece |
| Australia | USA, Czech Republic | Ukraine, Greece |
| Germany / Austria / Switzerland | Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal | Ukraine, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal |
| Netherlands / Belgium | Spain, Czech Republic | Cyprus, Greece |
| Norway | Ukraine, Latvia | Cyprus, Greece |
| Sweden | Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine | Poland, Cyprus, Greece |
| Finland | Latvia, Russia, Ukraine | Czech Republic |
| Italy | Spain, Czech Republic | Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece |
| France | Spain, Czech Republic | Cyprus, Greece |
| Spain | Spain, Portugal | |
| Poland | Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland | Spain, Greece |
| Russia | Ukraine, Latvia, Spain | Spain, Czech Republic, Poland |
| Canada | Spain, Czech Republic, Ukraine | Cyprus, Greece |
Estonia, country of choice for many Scandinavians and Baltic region residents for fertility travel should be added to the list of popular destinations for IVF in Europe. If you wonder why this should be so, you should know that there are many egg donors available and the clinics’ high standards speak up for themselves. Quality of the treatments have their price and you are looking at 3,000 Euro charge for treatment with own eggs and between 5,000 to 6,000 Euro with donated ones.
The other destination for patients from the U.S. to consider is Mexico. Our opinion is based on the number of positive patient reviews we receive from the U.S. and specific follow up investigations we have undertaken. So, why would anybody choose Mexico for treatment? One of the main reasons is logistics – it is simply more convenient to fly to Mexico rather than Europe; however the second reason is the price range which is on average 50 to 60% lower than in any U.S. clinic.
If you need help choosing an IVF Clinic Abroad
Spare 3 minutes of your time. You will save at least a few hours.
If you are looking for an egg donation clinic abroad, use the eggdonationfriends unique patients tool – Clinic Matching Test. Our consultants will analyse your needs and choose 3 overseas clinics which match your expectations. Our database of IVF centres includes only trusted fertility clinics which have experience in providing high quality services to international patients. The suggested IVF centres will contact you directly within 3 working days. Spare 3 minutes of your time – you will save at least a few hours! Our assistance is free of charge.
Fertility Forums and Support Communities
When searching for overseas clinics many international patients access resources that are available on the Internet. You can visit national or international infertility support communities to check out reviews and comments. Here are a few:
- Rollercoaster
- Babycentre – www.babycentre.co.uk
- Fertilityfriends
- Donor Conception Network UK
- Eizellspende.de – German forum
- Wunschkinder – German forum
- Klein-putz – German forum
While visiting national and international forums and support groups you will find dedicated threads and discussions about IVF with donor eggs, IVF in Europe, success rate of fertility clinics and patients’ experiences. There are discussions about cost, IVF or infertility treatments abroad. You may also find reviews and experiences of international patients who have undergone IVF or donor egg IVF at IVF centres across Europe and other countries.
You are welcome to visit eggdonationfriends.com a site that is used by international patients who search for trusted overseas clinics offering successful donor egg IVF programs. The site gives insights into top IVF clinics abroad and you will also find reviews written by international patients. For those who are starting their infertility journey we highly recommend visiting the egg donation FAQ section where you will find lots of content regarding the egg donation process and legal aspects. For those who have undergone a few IVF procedures and are still struggling to have a baby, we suggest looking at IVF Webinars – the IVF topic orientated videos by top IVF experts.
IVF abroad – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best IVF clinic in Europe?
The best IVF clinic in Europe is the one that will meet your expectations, giving you professional treatment options within your budget. In each of the popular IVF countries, you will find clinics that have both broad experience and great medical teams. There is no „best IVF clinic” for all patients. Each patient has different expectations and a different medical situation – that is why choosing an IVF clinic is a very individual matter. What does the term “best IVF clinic” mean? Most patients, when using this term, mean the clinic that will enable them to have children. However, remember that IVF treatment is not 100% effective – but in good clinics, a failed IVF cycle is treated as a diagnostic stage from which conclusions can be drawn for the future.
Which country is best for IVF?
The best country for IVF is the one where you can undergo IVF treatment legally and, at the same time, the one that meets your budget expectations in terms of treatment, travel and accommodation costs.
Different countries regulate IVF treatment options differently – therefore not all patients can benefit from the treatment in all popular countries. In particular, pay attention to the maximum age of the patient who can be treated with IVF methods and the patient’s marital status. There are restrictions in this regard in various countries and there may be different possibilities for married couples, single woman or lesbian couples. The budget is also an important aspect as the costs of IVF in popular countries and clinics can vary significantly. For example, in Europe the costs range from 3,000 EUR to even 10,000 EUR. Besides, you should pay attention to the availability of flight connections from your country. It is worth remembering that IVF treatment is a long process and it may require several visits to the clinic abroad.
For the patients who wish to undergo IVF with donor eggs, the availability of specific type of egg donors will be an important factor. You have to remember that the availability of eggs donors varies considerably between countries.
Which country has the highest IVF success rate?
According to the ESHRE report (ART in Europe, 2016: results generated from European registries by ESHRE) which includes the data on treatment effectiveness in Europe, pregnancy rates ranged from 13.2% to 57.1% in fresh cycles after IVF or ICSI. For egg donation cycles – most cycles were carried out in Spain, Russia, the Czech Republic and Greece. Pregnancy rates per embryo transfer for cycles with fresh oocytes from a donor are 49.4% on average and for thawed oocytes – 41%. There is a high variability in outcomes for the different countries, ranging between 9.7% and 66.5% for fresh donor eggs and between 29.5% and 67.4% for frozen donor eggs.
The ESHRE report shows IVF treatment effectiveness per country – but remember that these are only statistics. In each country, there are clinics that are either more or less effective in terms of IVF treatment.
How do I choose an IVF clinic abroad?
Choosing an IVF clinic abroad is a challenge for most patients. Most of them choose the clinic basing on the opinions of their friends and acquaintances. Others are looking for information available on the Internet, e.g. on websites with clinic profiles, forums or other patients’ reviews. Regardless of how you are looking for the best clinic for you, it is worth paying attention to the following factors:
- What experience does the clinic have in treating patients with similar problems to yours?
- How many IVF cycles does the clinic perform every year?
- What is the experience of doctors and embryologists in the clinic?
- How easy it is to contact the clinic – is the clinic responsive or is the contact difficult?
And then, if you find the clinic that meets your expectations, always ask what success rates you can expect in your individual case, taking into account your treatment history and the cause of infertility. In case of Europe, patients most often choose IVF clinics in Spain, the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine and Russia.
Where is the most successful IVF clinic in the world?
In each of the popular IVF destinations, there are IVF clinics which have high treatment effectiveness for certain groups of patients. You can find clinics offering good treatment results in Spain, Greece, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Ukraine, Russia and many other IVF destinations abroad. However, there is no single best IVF clinic with the highest treatment effectiveness for all patient groups.
Which clinics offer IVF treatment for patients over 50?
IVF treatment in popular countries is regulated by law. Patients over 50 can be treated in North Cyprus (up to 58 years of age). In Ukraine, Latvia and Poland – there are no legal provisions regulating the maximum age of a woman so IVF clinics independently decide up to what maximum age they offer IVF treatment- usually until around 55 years of age. In other popular destinations, IVF treatment is usually limited to the age of 49-50.
The number of international patients on our platform has been increasing every month. In 2022 eggdonationfriends helped over 8,000 couples from the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, amongst others to find the right IVF clinic abroad and to complete the dream of having a child.
Which countries allow patients to choose an egg donor?
It depends on the country’s anonymity model. In the strict-anonymity countries — Spain, the Czech Republic and Greece — you generally cannot pick your own donor.
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The medical team selects the donor for you, matching on physical characteristics, and you never see photos or browse profiles.
Where you get more say is in countries with extended donor profiles: Ukraine, Russia and the USA typically let you see much more (including adult and childhood photos) and give you real input into the choice. North Cyprus sits in between — still anonymous, but clinics usually share fuller non-identifying profiles (personality, education, hobbies) than Spain or Greece.
So if actively choosing your donor matters to you, look toward North Cyprus or the USA. If you’re comfortable letting expert matching do the work, Spain, Greece and the Czech Republic are excellent.
Which countries offer anonymous egg donation?
The main strict-anonymity destinations are Spain, the Czech Republic, North Cyprus, Latvia and Poland. Greece is also anonymous, with limited non-anonymous options at a few clinics. In all of these, the donor’s identity is never disclosed to you or to the child.
Spain is the most popular of the group — it performs over half of Europe’s donor-egg cycles, precisely because strict anonymity attracts patients who want full confidentiality and it has the largest donor pool.
You’ll still receive non-identifying information (physical characteristics and more), and the clinic matches you to a suitable donor. One honest caveat worth knowing: with home DNA-testing services like 23andMe and AncestryDNA now widespread, legal anonymity can’t fully guarantee lifelong anonymity — a determined donor-conceived person can sometimes trace genetic relatives independently, and current law doesn’t address this.
Which countries offer identifiable or open-ID egg donors?
If you want a donor whose identity your child can access later, the leading options are Portugal, the UK and Georgia. Portugal switched to non-anonymous donation in 2018, so the child can access the donor’s identity at 18. The UK has mandated identity-release since 2005. Georgia is the most open — full passport data can be available.
Some countries run mixed systems offering both anonymous and open donation, letting you choose: Denmark (the most transparent EU model), Ukraine and the USA.
Open-ID is often the deciding factor for patients who feel strongly that a donor-conceived child should be able to learn their genetic origins. It’s a personal decision with no right answer — an independent donor-conception counsellor can help you weigh it up.
Which countries allow known egg donation?
Known donation — where the donor is someone you already know, like a friend or relative — is far less common in Europe, because most popular destinations are built around anonymous donation and don’t permit it.
In the strict-anonymity countries (Spain, Czech Republic, Greece, North Cyprus, Latvia, Poland), a known donor is generally not allowed, because it breaks the confidentiality the law requires. Spain has one narrow exception: within a legally married lesbian couple doing ROPA, one partner can donate eggs to the other — but a sister or friend donating is not permitted.
Known donation is more feasible in countries with open or mixed systems, such as the USA and the UK, where the legal framework already allows the donor’s identity to be known. If a known donor is important to you, you’ll need to choose a jurisdiction that permits it — most European fertility-tourism destinations don’t.
What information will I receive about my egg donor?
Even in anonymous countries you always get non-identifying information — the amount varies by country. Typically:
Spain — hair and eye colour, blood group, age. Czech Republic — that plus height, blood type, education and hobbies. Greece — physical traits plus education, occupation and leisure interests. North Cyprus — as Greece, often plus the donor’s previous donation history. Ukraine, Russia and the USA — the most detailed, frequently including the donor’s childhood and adult photos.
You’ll also generally receive confirmation of the donor’s medical and genetic screening results (in non-identifying form). What you won’t get in anonymous countries is anything that could identify the donor — no name or contact details. Ask each clinic exactly what its donor profiles contain, as it varies clinic by clinic even within the same country.
How closely will the donor be matched to my appearance?
Quite closely — phenotype matching is standard, especially in anonymous countries where you don’t pick the donor yourself. Clinics match on ethnicity, skin tone, hair colour and texture, eye colour, height and body build, and often blood group too.
Some clinics go further and use AI-assisted facial-matching software (such as Fenomatch) that analyses your features to find the closest-resembling donor. These tools support the embryologist’s judgment rather than replace it.
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The goal is a donor who could plausibly share your physical traits, so the resulting child fits naturally within your family.
Matching is generally very good for common European phenotypes, where donor pools are large. For less-represented backgrounds, choice can be narrower — Spain, Cyprus and Greece have more diverse pools for darker skin tones, while the USA and some other destinations offer the widest range. Ask your clinic how close a match it expects for your profile.
Can the child access the donor’s family history?
Yes, in the important sense: clinics screen and record the donor’s medical and family history, and non-identifying medical/family-history information is generally retained and can be made available — this is separate from the donor’s identity.
Whether the child can access the donor’s identity (name, contact details) is the part that varies. In anonymous countries (Spain, Czech Republic, Greece, North Cyprus, Latvia, Poland), the identity stays confidential, though non-identifying background information may be shared. In identity-release countries — Portugal, the UK, Georgia — the child can access the donor’s full identity at 18, and with it the fuller family history.
So even with an anonymous donor, the relevant medical and genetic family history is typically documented for health purposes. If your priority is that your child can one day learn the donor’s identity and full background, choose an open-ID country.
Can the child receive genetic test results?
Egg donors are rigorously screened before donating — including genetic carrier screening for recessive conditions, karyotype (chromosome) checks, and infectious-disease testing.
Clinics also perform genetic compatibility matching, checking the donor and the sperm source aren’t both carriers of the same recessive condition, to reduce the risk of passing it on.
The non-identifying genetic and medical screening results are generally recorded and can be made available for the child’s healthcare needs, even in anonymous programmes. What differs by country is access to identifying genetic data — that’s tied to the anonymity model (open in Portugal, the UK and Georgia; closed in the strict-anonymity countries).
If genetic transparency matters to you, ask each clinic two things: exactly which genetic tests the donor undergoes, and what results are retained and later accessible. Screening standards are high, but the paperwork you can access varies.
Can the child request the donor’s identity for medical reasons?
This is where anonymity has limits. In identity-release countries (Portugal, the UK, Georgia), the child can access the donor’s identity at 18 regardless — including for medical reasons.
In strict-anonymity countries, identity is normally sealed, but there can be narrow exceptions for serious medical necessity. Spain, for example, allows disclosure in the case of a severe genetic disease where knowing the donor’s identity is medically essential — otherwise the donor stays anonymous. The exact threshold and process vary by country and are handled through the clinic and legal channels, not on request.
Because rules differ and this is a genuine concern for many families, it’s worth asking each clinic directly: under what circumstances, if any, can identifying information be released for medical reasons? If guaranteed medical access matters to you, an open-ID country removes the uncertainty.
What are realistic live-birth rates with donor eggs?
Donor-egg IVF is one of the most successful fertility treatments, because the eggs come from young, screened donors. A realistic live-birth rate is around 45–55% per embryo transfer, and it’s largely independent of your age, since the donor’s age drives egg quality.
For context, European registry data puts donor-egg pregnancy rates around 56–57% per transfer in Spain and Greece, with live births reaching about 45–50%. Fresh donor eggs have a slight edge over frozen, but the gap has nearly closed since vitrification became standard.
The most encouraging figure is cumulative: using the embryos from one donor batch across two or three transfers, over 90% of donor-egg patients have a baby within three cycles. So while any single transfer is roughly a coin-flip-or-better, the odds over a full donor-egg journey are strongly in your favour. What still matters on your side is uterine and general health, which affect implantation.
Success figures are averages; your own outlook is best assessed individually by a fertility specialist.
