New sperm and egg donor fees agreed

19th October 2011 - Sperm and egg donors will be offered new payments under fees agreed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority today.

Donors used to get out of pocket expenses capped at £250. In future, fertility clinics will be able to offer sperm donors a fixed fee of £35 per visit, including expenses.  Egg donors will get a fixed sum of £750 per cycle of donation, also including expenses.

Not just crude sums

In a statement, Professor Lisa Jardine, chair of the HFEA, says:  "We are convinced that it is right to look at compensation not in terms of crude sums but in terms of the value of donation."

She says the regulator has set the fees so that they "will not deter those interested in donation but will retain donors already in the system, without attracting those who are merely financially motivated".

The changes follow a public consultation on ways of encouraging more donors to come forward.

"We know that any one change that we make to our policies is unlikely completely to solve current problems in the donation system," Professor Jardine says. "That’s why we have decided to capitalise on our unique position by actively helping the sector to attract and retain donors, use their donations to their full and ensure that donors are well cared for and valued."

Benefits in kind

The HFEA also looked at 'benefits in kind' in which people can receive treatment services in return for donation of their sperm or eggs to treatment or research, a procedure known as egg sharing.

The current guidance focuses almost entirely on egg sharing in exchange for IVF, but other benefits are possible, including storage and waiting list arrangements.  

The HFEA says this should be allowed to continue, but it will be reviewing its guidance.