Requirements to donate eggs in Spain

Donate eggs in Spain: process requirements process to help other women to fulfil their dream of becoming mothers.

Legal requirements to donate oocytes.

Egg donation in Spanish legislation (regulated by Law 14/2006) sets out certain requirements that must be met by all centres working with donated gametes, whether eggs or sperm. The main characteristic, which sets us apart from other countries, is anonymity on both sides, i.e. no personal information (such as name, place of birth, identity document, etc.) can ever be given out about either the woman who decides to donate her eggs or the recipient of the eggs. This confidentiality is ensured by the authorised centres to carry out this procedure, such as all the Instituto Bernabeu clinics.

It is a voluntary and altruistic process as the legislation prohibits the purchase of eggs. Having said that, as it is a process that requires several medical visits and loss of working hours, financial compensation is given to compensate for these inconveniences.

Legal requirements in Spain

1. The minimum age to donate is 18 years old. The maximum age by law is 35, although some centres set their own limit, as is our case, as we only accept donations up to the age of 33 (once you turn 34 you will not be able to enter our donation programme).
2. You must be in good health, both mentally and physically. In order to ensure this, psychological, analytical and physical studies are carried out before starting.
3. Sexually transmitted diseases are ruled out periodically.
4. There are physical requirements that vary from clinic to clinic. In our case it should be noted that the minimum height is 155 cm and we also look for a body mass index (BMI) between 18-30.
5. There is no maximum number of times a woman can donate, what the law does require is a maximum number of live births for both the woman who donates and those who receive the eggs. This maximum is 6 children and, in order to ensure this, there is a national register called SIHRA in which all authorised clinics add the details of the cycles carried out, as well as whether they have been successful or not. The SIHRA never lists names, but assigns a number to each donor in order to maintain the confidentiality of the process. If you have already donated in one clinic and decide to carry out the process in another, you must ask for this identification number.
6. All this information will be given to you in writing in an informed consent form. Any doubts you may have can be discussed with our gynaecology team before deciding whether or not you wish to undergo the process.

How is the procedure done?

Once you have been accepted into our donation programme, you must notify us on the first day of your period of the month we have agreed upon.

• After an ultrasound scan, the treatment will begin, which consists of 8-12 days of subcutaneous injections. These injections are designed so that there is no discomfort when you inject them and they are very easy to use.
• This medication will make the follicles (this is what we call the ultrasound image indicating that a possible egg is evolving) grow and to control this process 2-4 visits will be necessary.
• During this period sexual intercourse is forbidden as getting pregnant in the process increases the risk of complications.
• Once everything is ready, the most important day arrives, and the one that requires the most organisation on all sides, the day of the egg retrieval through an ovarian puncture.
• This is a quick process, which does not usually last more than 10-15 minutes, and is carried out first thing in the morning during which we administer medication to the donor so that she is asleep and it is not painful. With a needle we enter the ovaries without the need for scars and aspirate the follicles. Although it is a short process, your stay in our rooms will be a little longer (1-2 hours) until we check that everything is fine and then you can go home.
• The recommendations for that day are to lead a quiet life, without intense physical exercise and to be accompanied. For all these reasons you should choose the month that suits you best for the process, as the exact day of the puncture will not be known until some of the ultrasound checks have been carried out.

Frequently asked questions about egg donation

• Is it possible to donate eggs using birth control pills or IUDs?

No problem. In the case of IUDs or implants, regardless of the type, it doesn’t need to be removed and do not prevent safe egg donation. On the other hand, in the case of oral contraceptives, they must be stopped with the period of the month in which the woman decides to donate the eggs. They are immediately reintroduced with the next menstrual period.

• Can I donate my eggs to my sister, a friend or a family member?  

No. Spanish legislation is very clear with regard to anonymity, so no directed donations can be made. It is the clinic that looks for compatibility with the recipient.

• Can I donate eggs if my tubes are ligated?

Yes, it does not prevent donation. On the first visit, a transvaginal ultrasound scan will be performed as part of the physical examination to verify that there are no complications from the surgery making difficult to the obtain the eggs.

• Will I go through menopause earlier if I donate eggs?  

No relationship has been found because every month, despite ovulating one or two eggs, we lose many more that have lost that ovulation battle. In the donation process, what we do is that those eggs that were going to be discarded anyway, grow and we can take them for other patients. This is why your ability to become a mother after egg donation is not affected.

• What are the risks?  

The main risk, being one of the most important, is the so-called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in which the ovaries continue to grow after the cessation of stimulation and may even compromise the health of the donor. Nowadays it is a very rare complication due to the adjustment of medication doses, the use of agonists and the recommendation not to have sexual relations during the process.

• Can I carry on with everyday life during the donation process?

Yes, you can continue with your daily activities. During the days of stimulation, you may feel some abdominal discomfort, but it is not usually significant. During the last few days, and depending on how the stimulation goes, your doctor may recommend not to do any intense physical exercise. On the day of the ovarian puncture, rest is recommended.

Instituto Bernabeu donation centres

Alicante

Avenida de la Albufereta, 31, 03016 Alicante

Madrid – Ayala

Calle Ayala, 48, 28001 Madrid

Madrid – Velázquez

Calle Velázquez, 48, 28001 Madrid

Palma de Mallorca

Calle Aragón, 8, 07006 Palma de Mallorca

Cartagena

Duque Severiano, 5-7, Esquina Alameda de San Antón, 30205 Cartagena

Albacete

Ibáñez Íbero, 3, 02005 Albacete

Elche

Clara Campoamor, 1, Esquina Avda. Libertad 03206 Elche

Benidorm

Avenida Emilio Ortuño, 21, 03501 Benidorm

Dr Maria Martinez (medical associate no. 03/2870742), medical coordinator of Instituto Bernabeu Elche.