IVF clinic in Cyprus: What should you know before using donor eggs?

Medical

Being told that donor eggs may offer the best chance of pregnancy can be a lot to take in. For some women, it comes after several unsuccessful IVF cycles; for others, after a diagnosis of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or diminished ovarian reserve.

Many UK patients who reach this point start researching treatment overseas, and Cyprus is a destination they often come across. Before choosing an IVF clinic in Cyprus for donor egg treatment, though, there is a lot to consider, medically, legally and emotionally.

Who May Be Advised to Consider Donor Eggs?

Donor egg IVF involves fertilising a donor’s eggs with sperm from a partner or donor, then transferring the embryo to the woman who will carry the pregnancy. A specialist may discuss it with women who:

  • Have diminished ovarian reserve or premature ovarian insufficiency
  • Have had previous IVF cycles with few eggs or poor embryo development
  • Have had cancer treatment or surgery affecting their ovaries
  • Carry a genetic condition they do not wish to pass on

Because donors are usually younger, success with donor eggs is generally less affected by the recipient’s age than treatment with her own eggs, although some age-related considerations remain.

Give Yourself Time to Process the Decision

Moving to donor eggs can involve a real sense of loss, even when it feels right. Some women grieve the genetic link they hoped for, and partners may come to terms with it at a different pace. UK licensed clinics must offer counselling before donor treatment, and many patients find it valuable wherever they are treated.

Understand That Cyprus Has Two Separate Regulatory Systems

Many patients do not realise that the island has two separate administrations, the Republic of Cyprus in the south and North Cyprus in the north, with clinics operating under different legal frameworks. This can affect donor anonymity, age limits for treatment and how many embryos can be transferred. Ask which regulations apply and who oversees the clinic.

Think Carefully About Donor Anonymity

In the UK, anyone conceived with eggs donated through a licensed clinic since April 2005 can apply for identifying information about their donor at 18. Overseas, donation is often anonymous. In North Cyprus, for example, donors remain anonymous, and the HFEA notes that children born from donor treatment abroad cannot access donor information through its register. With consumer DNA testing becoming more common, anonymity may not always be guaranteed in the long term.

This does not make anonymous donation the wrong choice, but it is worth thinking about how you would answer your child’s questions. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine supports telling children about their donor conception, and the Donor Conception Network offers practical guidance.

Ask How Donors Are Screened and Matched

Questions you may want to ask include:

  • What is the age range of donors, and how are they recruited?
  • Which infectious diseases and genetic conditions are donors screened for?
  • What non-identifying information will you receive?
  • How are donors matched, for example by blood group or physical characteristics?
  • Are the eggs fresh or frozen, and how many are allocated to each recipient?

No screening process can rule out every health condition, and matching cannot guarantee how a child will look.

Don’t Forget Your Own Health

Although the eggs come from a donor, you carry the pregnancy, so your own health remains central. Research has found that donor egg pregnancies carry a higher risk of some complications, such as pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure, and these risks may be greater at an older maternal age. This makes a thorough pre-treatment assessment and good antenatal care at home important.

It is also worth discussing embryo transfer. Twin pregnancies carry higher risks for mother and babies, and many specialists recommend transferring a single embryo.

Look Beyond the Headline Price

Ask whether donor compensation, medication, embryo freezing and storage are included, and what happens if a donor produces fewer eggs than expected. Remember to factor in travel, accommodation and time away from work or caring responsibilities.

How Does Cyprus IVF Centre Approach Donor Egg Treatment?

Cyprus IVF Centre, which operates in North Cyprus, provides donor egg treatment for international patients. Its donors are aged 20 to 29 and remain anonymous under North Cyprus regulations. Donors undergo infectious disease testing, hormone tests, karyotyping and screening for selected inherited conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and thalassaemia, and must either have a child of their own or have made a previous donation that resulted in a live birth.

Patients receive non-identifying donor profiles, which may include age, physical characteristics, blood group, education and medical history. As with any clinic, screening and matching cannot guarantee a pregnancy. You can find out more about Cyprus IVF Centre as an IVF clinic in Cyprus on its website.

A Big Decision Deserves Time and Clear Information

Donor eggs can offer a realistic route to parenthood, but the decision has long-term emotional, legal and family implications. The right clinic should answer your questions openly, explain how treatment applies to your circumstances and support you through every stage.

Medical Review

Medically reviewed by the Cyprus IVF Centre Medical and Embryology Team

Last medically reviewed: 4th November 2026

Team page: https://cyprusivfcentre.com/meet-the-team-2/

References

  1. Cyprus IVF Centre. Egg Donation Cyprus – North Cyprus Egg Donation Process. https://cyprusivfcentre.com/egg-donation-north-cyprus/ Supports: clinic section (donor age, anonymity, screening, donor profiles).
  2. HFEA. Legal implications of using donated sperm. https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/using-donated-eggs-sperm-or-embryos-in-treatment/legal-implications-of-using-donated-sperm Supports: UK donor identity release at 18; children born from donor treatment abroad cannot access donor information through the HFEA.
  3. HFEA. Fertility treatment abroad. https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/fertility-treatment-abroad/ Supports: donor rules and anonymity differ between countries; UK donors receive counselling.
  4. Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Informing offspring of their conception by gamete or embryo donation: an Ethics Committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2018;109(4):601–605. Supports: disclosure of donor conception to children.
  5. Storgaard M, Loft A, Bergh C, et al. Obstetric and neonatal complications in pregnancies conceived after oocyte donation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG. 2017;124(4):561–572. Supports: higher risk of pre-eclampsia and hypertensive disorders in donor egg pregnancies.
  6. HFEA. Fertility Trends (latest edition). hfea.gov.uk. Supports: success with donor eggs is less affected by the recipient’s age than treatment with own eggs.
  7. HFEA. Multiple births and fertility treatment. hfea.gov.uk. Supports: risks of twin pregnancy and single embryo transfer.
  8. Donor Conception Network. https://www.dcnetwork.org Supports: guidance for families on talking to children about donor conception.