General Information on Egg Donation
Egg donation is a process where a woman (the donor) donates her eggs to another woman (the recipient) who is unable to produce her own eggs or has fertility issues. This procedure is an effective solution for many couples who wish to have a child but face difficulties due to health problems, age, or genetic factors. Egg donation can be anonymous or from a known donor and is part of the broader in vitro fertilization (IVF) process.
When to Consider Egg Donation?
Egg donation is recommended for women facing various fertility issues such as:
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency
When the ovaries stop functioning normally before the age of 40.
Ovarian Exhaustion
When, due to age or other factors, women no longer produce viable eggs.
Genetic Disorders
When there is a risk of passing on genetic abnormalities to the child.
Failed IVF Cycles
When IVF cycles fail despite the use of ovarian stimulation medications.
Oophorectomy
Removal of ovaries due to medical interventions such as surgery.
Donors and Recipients in Egg Donation
Donors
Donors are typically women aged 18 to 35 years who are healthy and have good reproductive potential. Before being accepted as donors, they undergo strict medical and psychological evaluations to ensure they meet all health and psychological stability criteria. These evaluations include:
- Medical history and physical examination
- Genetic testing to detect genetic disorders
- Tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Psychological assessment to determine the donor’s ability to handle the process and its implications
Recipients
Recipients are women who cannot produce their own eggs due to health problems, age, or genetic factors. Often, they are slightly older women who have undergone failed IVF cycles using their own eggs or suffer from serious genetic disorders. Recipients also undergo medical and psychological evaluations to ensure they are capable of carrying a child.
Preparation for the Recipient
The recipient must also be properly prepared for the procedure. This preparation includes:
- Medical Evaluation: Includes tests to assess overall health and the condition of the uterus.
- Hormonal Support: Hormones are administered to prepare the uterine lining to accept embryos.
- Monitoring: The recipient is monitored with ultrasounds and blood tests to ensure the uterine lining is in good condition for implantation.
Egg Donation Process
The egg donation process involves several stages and requires collaboration between the donor and the recipient. The main steps are as follows:
- Selection of the Donor: The donor undergoes strict medical and psychological evaluations to ensure she meets the donation criteria.
- Ovarian Stimulation: The donor receives hormonal treatment to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the usual one egg per cycle. Stimulation is closely monitored with ultrasounds and blood tests.
- Egg Retrieval: Once the eggs are ready, they are collected through a minimally invasive procedure called egg retrieval. The procedure is performed under mild anesthesia and takes about 15-20 minutes.
- Fertilization: The collected eggs are fertilized with the recipient’s partner’s sperm (or donor sperm if required) in the laboratory to create embryos.
- Embryo Transfer: The embryos are cultured for 3-5 days in the laboratory and then either frozen or 1-2 embryos are transferred into the recipient’s uterus.
- Support for the Recipient: The recipient receives hormonal treatment to prepare her uterus to accept the embryos and support the pregnancy.
Advantages of Egg Donation
Egg donation offers several advantages, including:
- High Success Rates: Due to the use of eggs from young and healthy donors.
- Scientific Progress: Techniques used are advanced and continually improving.
- Hope for Couples: It provides the opportunity for couples who cannot use their own eggs to have a child.
2023 Success Rates
Reproduction after 40
Reproduction after the age of 40 is a common topic of discussion for women who wish to have children at a more mature age. Despite the challenges, advancements in reproductive medicine have significantly improved the chances of success. Surgeon-gynecologist Dr. Marinos Tsirigotis, specializing in reproductive medicine, approaches each case individually, employing the most advanced treatment methods.
Success rates for women over 40 are encouraging, particularly thanks to egg donation and other innovative techniques that are now available. Dr. Tsirigotis and his team design tailored therapeutic plans for every woman, focusing on optimizing pregnancy chances. The personalized protocols, combined with the team’s expertise, result in high success rates.
The support and scientific knowledge provided by Dr. Marinos Tsirigotis are also crucial factors contributing to achieving motherhood, even after the age of 40.
If you’re seeking specialized solutions, don’t hesitate to contact the gynecologist to receive the best possible services!
Under 35 years old
35 – 37 years old
38 – 39 years old
40 – 42 years old
Ask the expert
Ask for a second opinion from Dr Marinos Tsirigotis!

Frequently Asked Questions About Egg Donation
The egg donation process is generally safe, but like any medical intervention, there may be some risks and side effects. These include:
For the donor:
- Hormonal side effects: Hormonal treatments can cause side effects such as bloating, nausea, and headaches.
- Ovarian hyperstimulation: In rare cases, hormone therapy can lead to ovarian hyperstimulation, a condition that can cause pain, bloating and other serious complications.
- Surgical risks: The egg retrieval procedure, although minimally invasive, carries small risks such as infection or injury to the ovaries.
For the recipient:
- Implantation failure: There is always a chance that the embryos will not implant in the uterus, leading to a failure of the attempt.
- Pregnancy complications: As with any pregnancy, there are risks such as bleeding, miscarriage, premature birth, pre-eclampsia, etc., especially in cases of multiple (eg twin) pregnancy.
Egg donation success rates are much higher compared to IVF, particularly in older women or women with fertility problems who use their own eggs. According to statistics, success rates range from 50% to 70% per treatment cycle, depending on various factors such as the age of the recipient, the quality of the eggs and the laboratory infrastructure of the clinic.
Using healthy eggs from young donors greatly increases the chances of success, making egg donation a highly cost-effective solution for many couples wishing to have a child.
The cost of egg donation can vary significantly depending on the clinic and individual circumstances. It usually includes the following:
- Medical tests and procedures: The cost of tests for donors and recipients, hormone treatments, egg retrieval and implantation procedures.
- Donor Fee: Reimbursement for the costs and time of the donor.
- Laboratory costs: The cost of fertilization and developing the embryos in the laboratory.
- Φαρμακευτική αγωγή: Το κόστος των φαρμάκων που χρησιμοποιούνται για τη διέγερση των ωοθηκών και την υποστήριξη της λήπτριας.
Egg donation is the most effective solution for many couples who wish to have a child but face difficulties due to fertility problems or other factors. With the right medical guidance from the gynecologist surgeon Mr. Marino Tsirigotis, the chances of success are high, offering hope and perspective to many families.