Donor conception lawyers

The three types of donation are egg donation, sperm donation and embryo donation.

If you are intending on donating your gametes, you should do it through a registered clinic. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has a list of registered clinics.

It is recommended that you speak to a fertility lawyer to understand your legal rights and responsibilities as a donor.

Yes, you can donate your eggs or sperm if you identify as LGBTQ+.

In May 2024, the government passed a law which means that LGBTQ+ people who have non-transmissible HIV can donate their eggs and sperm.

However, there are restrictions regarding eligibility criteria. These are not specific to LGBTQ+ couples but may apply to trans-men who have started to undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as the quality of eggs can be reduced.

Fertility law in the UK means that the donor has no legal rights to the child if you use a registered donor clinic. This means that they have no legal or financial obligation to the child. They will not be named on the birth certificate, and you (and your partner, if you have one) will be the child’s legal parents. They have no legal right to have a relationship with the child.

Where legal complications can arise is if the treatment is not done through a registered clinic, as the donor may be considered a parent by law.

Our specialist solicitors can discuss this with you and give advice.

It is illegal to pay for donation in the UK. You may be able to receive compensation, which is up to £750 per donation cycle for eggs, and £35 for sperm. You may be able to claim more if your travel or other expenses were more than this.

It is legal to donate to your family member, however there are restrictions on mixing the eggs and sperm of close family members, e.g., brother and sister (including half brothers/sister).

If you are a woman and you give birth to a child, you are automatically considered the legal parent of the child, regardless of whether the egg is donated or is your own.

As a donor, providing you use a registered UK fertility clinic, you will have no legal rights or responsibilities towards any child conceived from your donation.

However, this can be more complex if you do not use a registered clinic as you may be considered the legal parent.

It is best to seek legal advice, as well as the advice of the fertility clinic, before embarking on the donation journey.