The Father's Genetics in the Baby
Half of the embryo's genetic make-up comes directly from the intended father's sperm; the baby carries the father's hereditary traits exactly.
Egg Donation Guide
What Is Egg Donation?
Donor egg IVF may be a treatment whose name you hear often but whose details you know little about. In this guide we explain, in plain language, what egg donation (also called egg transfer) is, how it is done, its genetic dimension and why it reaches such high pregnancy rates.
Up to 90% success
Young donor eggs
Full confidentiality
Care in 5 languages
Definition
A clear definition of egg donation
Egg donation is an IVF treatment in which, for a woman who cannot achieve pregnancy with her own eggs, eggs retrieved from a young donor who has passed health and genetic screening are fertilised in the laboratory with the intended father's sperm, and the resulting embryo is placed in the intended mother's uterus; the intended mother carries the pregnancy in her own womb and gives birth herself.
In other words, the answer to "how is egg donation done" is largely the same as conventional IVF: the only difference is the source of the egg cell. For a general overview of the scope of the treatment, the donor pool and our clinic's approach, you can take a look at our egg donation page.
Because donor candidates go through an intensive screening process and the eggs are obtained from a young age group, embryo quality is markedly high. This makes the treatment the strongest option particularly in cases of advanced age and low ovarian reserve.
Egg Donation at a Glance
The key points that define the treatment:
- Egg source: screened young donor
- Sperm source: intended father
- Carries the pregnancy: intended mother
- Fertilisation method: ICSI in the laboratory
- Where it takes place: Nicosia, North Cyprus
- Pregnancy rate: results of up to 90%
Whose Egg, Whose Genetics?
Genetic and epigenetic facts
The question families ask most is who the baby will belong to. The scientific answer is far more reassuring than people imagine.
Resemblance Matching
Because the donor is chosen according to the intended mother's blood group, skin tone, eye and hair colour, the baby fits naturally within the family.
The Womb Environment and Epigenetics
Throughout pregnancy the intended mother's womb environment influences which genes are switched on through epigenetic mechanisms; the baby takes shape within the mother's body.
The Bond Forms in Pregnancy
The person who carries the baby for nine months, experiences the entire hormonal and emotional bond and gives birth is the intended mother herself.
Legal Framework
Why not in Turkey, why legal in Cyprus?
Because Turkey's assisted reproduction legislation does not cover reproductive cell donation, donor egg treatment is not carried out in Turkey. In North Cyprus, on the other hand, egg donation has been a routine treatment for years, performed under the supervision of the health authorities and within a clear legal framework.
Thanks to this legal clarity, thousands of couples from Turkey, Europe and the Middle East come to Nicosia for treatment every year. As Clavis IVF Center, with over 23 years of experience we have so far accompanied more than 45,000 families on this journey; we run patient coordination in 5 languages.
- Donor candidates are typically healthy women in their 20s
- Infectious disease, hormone and genetic carrier screening is mandatory
- Anonymity between the donor and the family is safeguarded by law
- All personal data is protected under data protection law
How Does Confidentiality Work?
Mutual anonymity is essential in donation programmes: the donor never learns the family, and the family never learns the donor, at any stage. Only the treatment team can access medical records; matching information is not shared with third parties. Before treatment begins, all of these assurances are presented to you in writing.
Success Rate
Why is success so high?
The strongest factor determining the chance of pregnancy in IVF is the age of the egg. Because donor eggs are obtained from a young age group, their chromosomal structure is sound and their fertilisation and blastocyst development potential is high. As a result, donation programmes reach pregnancy rates of up to 90% — even when the intended mother's age is advanced.
The laboratory infrastructure also affects the outcome directly: at our centre embryos are grown in MINC+ incubators, their development is monitored without interruption by embryoscopy, and the strongest embryo is selected for transfer. Remaining good-quality embryos can be frozen for future attempts using vitrification, which offers a 99% survival rate.
The first step in finding out whether the treatment is right for you is to complete the free IVF pre-assessment form; you can find the cost items in detail on the egg donation cost page.
Factors That Strengthen the Outcome
- High chromosomal health in young donor eggs
- Stable embryo culture in MINC+ incubators
- Uninterrupted development tracking with embryoscopy
- 99% survival rate in vitrification
- An experienced team led by Medical Director Op. Dr. Armağan Ulubaş
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about the definition of egg donation
For questions you can't find answered here, our WhatsApp line is open 24/7.
Ask a QuestionIs egg donation different from IVF?
The laboratory process is identical to conventional IVF; the only difference is that the egg comes from a screened young donor rather than from the intended mother. Fertilisation, embryo monitoring and transfer follow the standard IVF protocol.
Who does a baby born from donor eggs belong to genetically?
Half of the baby's genetic make-up comes from the intended father and half from the donor. That said, the intended mother who carries the pregnancy influences which genes are switched on through epigenetic mechanisms; she grows the baby in her own body and gives birth to it.
Why isn't egg donation performed in Turkey?
Turkish legislation does not cover reproductive cell donation, so the treatment is not carried out in Turkey. In North Cyprus, egg donation is performed within a clear legal framework, under the supervision of the health authorities and with full confidentiality.
How are donors selected?
Donor candidates are typically healthy women in their 20s; they are screened for infectious diseases, hormone profile and genetic carrier status. Matching is based on the intended mother's blood group and physical characteristics.
How is confidentiality protected in egg donation?
The donor and the family never learn each other's identity at any stage; anonymity is safeguarded by law. Medical records are held in systems accessible only to the treatment team, and personal data is protected under data protection law.
How can I find out the cost of egg donation?
The treatment fee varies according to the scope of the programme and any additional methods, so the exact figure becomes clear with a personalised plan. You can find current package details on our egg donation cost page and message our WhatsApp line for a tailored quote.
Free Initial Consultation
Ask your questions to a specialist
Ask your questions to a specialist
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Clarify whether egg donation is right for you, along with the process and the cost, in a free initial consultation with our coordinators.
Average response time: 15 minutes · 24/7 WhatsApp support
Egg Donation Guide
Other guide pages in the cluster
You've learned the definition; now explore whether the treatment is right for you, its steps and its cost.
Egg Donation
Our main guide page covering the scope of the treatment, our donor pool and the Clavis approach.
ExploreWho Is Egg Donation For?
Early menopause, low reserve, advanced age: a detailed list of the situations where the treatment is suitable.
ExploreThe Egg Donation Process
From the initial consultation to the pregnancy test, the step-by-step process and a 5-7 day stay plan in Cyprus.
ExploreEgg Donation Cost
The scope of donation packages, the factors that affect the price and a transparent cost guide.
Explore