Manchester Fertility Services Calls For Egg Donors To 'Give Hope, Give Life', UK

Main Category: Fertility
Also Included In: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 16 Oct 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Manchester Fertility Services is urging women to donate their eggs and give the gift of life to childless couples.

The call comes as The National Gamete Donation Trust (NGDT) and the Department of Health promote their 'Give Hope, Give Life' Egg Donor Appeal - an initiative that aims to raise awareness of the need for egg donors in the UK and encourage more women to come forward and donate their eggs.

On average, over 50 donors are required every year in Manchester and 2000 in the UK. In 2006 only 812 egg donors came forward in Britain and the need for eggs far outstrips the supply.

The campaign is calling on women aged 23 - 35 to donate their eggs to women whose quantity or quality of eggs is impaired. Donations from just 0.01% of the UK's fertile population would satisfy the current demand for eggs in this country.

One in six couples faces problems conceiving and for many of these couples, eggs donated by another woman are pivotal to their hopes of having a family.

Whilst some couples are able to use a "known donor" - friends or family willing to donate eggs - less fortunate couples are likely to languish 'in the queue' waiting for sufficient anonymous donors to volunteer their eggs. However, they cannot wait indefinitely, as couples will be refused treatment once they reach 50 years of age.

Founder of Manchester Fertility Services, Professor Brian Lieberman, who is also credited with establishing the first NHS IVF unit in the UK in 1982 and The National Gamete Donation Trust, said: "It's crucial that women see the value of donating eggs and consider what it means to the recipients - the possibility of a family. The process of egg donation is much more involved than that of sperm donation and, as a consequence, demand outweighs supply. It is a special woman who chooses to donate her eggs.

"We want to educate women about donating eggs and assure donors that they will have no financial or legal responsibilities to any related offspring, either now or in 18 years' time. Importantly, they'll be treated with the highest quality of one-to-one care by our nursing and medical team."

Manchester Fertility Services houses a dedicated state-of-the-art IVF theatre and laboratory. To date, more than 3,000 babies have been born as a result of the treatment, skill and dedication of staff at the clinic.

For further information on how to become an egg donor visit http://www.manchesterfertilityservices.com or call 0161 227 0010.