Written evidence submitted by Professor Nicky Hudson, Loughborough University [EDF0051]

This response is submitted by Professor Nicky Hudson, PI of the ‘EDNA study’ which explored the experience of donors in the UK (as well as Spain and Belgium). More details about the study can be found at: About us – The EDNA Project Blog It was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council ref: ES/N010604/1 

This response draws on findings from the research as well as limited additional literature to respond to the questions.

Q1 What are the short and long-term health impacts of donating or freezing eggs and embryos and to what extent are they sufficiently researched and understood?

The short-term risks associated with hormonal stimulation are well-documented and include bloating, discomfort, headaches, breast tenderness etc. There is little evidence about the long-term physical risks of donating eggs – what research there is has been conducted with people under-going stimulation cycles for their own IVF treatment. Some self-report surveys suggest that donors experience health issues that they perceive to be linked to their donation (Kramer et al. 2009), but there is little evidence of the relationship between egg donation and any longer-term risks.

In terms of the psychological impact; there is no evidence to suggest a negative impact on donors; on the contrary, the majority of egg donors report satisfaction with their experience (see Kenney & McGowan 2010, Söderström-Anttila et al. 2019). More research on long-term outcomes is needed, though it is important to note that egg donation has been practiced safely and legally for over 40 years. 

Q2 Whether the counselling provided ahead of egg donation is adequate to ensure informed consent, including of potential health impacts?

Our research shows that UK donors feel informed by the counselling process and that information provision was seen as one of the main benefits of counselling (Loyal et al. 2023). However, donors also report that there are areas where counselling could be improved: i.e. by providing counselling sessions which were more tailored to them/the specific context of their donation and also to ensure donors are aware that they can take multiple sessions with the counsellor if needed (Loyal et al. 2023).

Q3 What level of compensation / payment should be provided to egg donors, if any?

Compensation for donors needs to be specific to the local context: i.e. aligned with local/national regulation and cultural norms for tissue donation. The rates of compensation for egg (and sperm) donors in the UK was set by the HFEA following a set of principles arrived at after a review of donation practices in 2011. This was reviewed by the authority in 2024 and increased to reflect an increase in inflation and the cost of living.

Our research shows that financial compensation is rarely a central feature of decision making for non-patient egg donors (i.e. those people donating but not under-going any fertility treatment themselves) (Hudson & Fearon 2024). Financial compensation of the amount currently offered to non-patient donors is unlikely to be a significant driver, but instead ensures that donors are not out of pocket when donating eggs – especially when they are travelling to a clinic away from their home. Our research shows that egg donation is not seen by UK donors as something to be taken lightly, and participants in our recent UK-based research felt that the money (at current UK levels) is not enough on its own to encourage people to donate (Hudson & Fearon 2024).

Q 4 What evidence is there, if any, of vulnerable women being encouraged into egg donation or egg freezing?

There is no evidence of UK clinics encouraging vulnerable women into egg donation or egg freezing.

Q 5 Is the regulatory regime on advertising as it applies to egg donation and people wishing to freeze their eggs or embryos sufficient?

Egg donation is carefully regulated in the UK by the HFEA. Clinic advertising is subject to advertising rules produced by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority. Clinics need to ensure they are compliant with the CAP code (see enforcement notice).

Our research in this area suggests that advertising by some clinics could be improved, especially with regards to success rates and risk factors. For egg donation, our recently published analysis shows that this includes the need for clinics to provide clearer information about the lack of known long-term risks for egg donors and about what might be considered more minor side effects (see Jaxsens et al. 2024 for details).

Q 6 What has been the impact of changes to the release of donor information, including support for the families involved, and whether further legislation is required?

Our research shows that UK egg donors take their responsibility towards people conceived from their eggs very seriously and this shapes their decision making. Donors in our research were clear that they saw themselves having a future role once a person reached 18 years old and was able to access identifying information about them. They were also clear that this did not represent a parenting role.

Q7 Whether the existing legislative framework, including the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, is effective in safeguarding the best interests of those undergoing treatment for egg donation or egg or embryo freezing?

The regulatory framework in the UK as applied to assisted conception and including egg donation and egg freezing is often held up as an exemplar of good practice around the world. The Act ensures that donors are compensated for their time at a rate which is acceptable and appropriate and professional governmental regulation ensures that the standards of care are high.

January 2026