Egg donors are needed continuously, as hundreds of fertility treatments using donated eggs are carried out in Finland each year – and 70% of all donor-egg treatments in Finland are performed at Ovumia.
Is there be a more valuable gift than helping a new life begin? By donating your eggs, you can help someone’s dreams come true. We provide all the support you need, the latest expertise, and compassionate care throughout the process.
You can become an egg donor if you are a healthy woman aged 20–35 and there are no hereditary diseases in your immediate family. You are a suitable donor if you have the desire to help someone else have a child of their own.
Before donation, we will carefully review your health and any factors that may prevent participation.
All counseling, examinations, and clinic visits are free of charge. Our clinics are comfortable and welcoming, and every donor has a dedicated midwife supporting them from start to finish.
You will receive all test results and information regarding your reproductive health – it provides valuable insights into your own fertility! We also ensure you receive clear, detailed information at every stage, so you always know what to expect. Feeling safe and heard is our top priority.
Donated eggs are either frozen in Ovumia’s own The Finnish Egg Bank or used fresh. A suitable recipient is typically found within 2–4 months of freezing.
We are looking for healthy women who are 20–35 years old and have no hereditary conditions themselves, and who have no close relatives (parents, siblings or children) who have hereditary conditions. What are the factors that may prevent egg donation?
For example, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, muscular dystrophy, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, haemochromatosis, retinoschisis.
As stated above and additionally, for example, early-onset dementia (at 40–50 years old), two or more close relatives have a structural developmental disorder (such as club foot, hip dislocation, cheilouranoschisis, congenital heart disease).
Such as ADHD or other attention deficit disorder or autism.
Being significantly underweight may prevent the donation of eggs, because the ovaries of a significantly underweight woman may not function normally. The problem with a potential donor who is significantly overweight is that the medication used in the treatment may not work.
Smoking is not allowed during the donation process, because it affects the quality of the eggs.
You cannot donate eggs while pregnant or breastfeeding. After childbirth, you should wait at least 6 months before donating eggs. Before you can donate eggs, your menstrual cycle must have returned and you must have fully stopped breastfeeding.
A donor must be between 20–35 years old.
The first step is completing the form, which helps us assess your suitability as a donor. Once submitted, a nurse will contact you and provide an initial evaluation.
Before being accepted as a donor, you will meet with a nurse who will walk you through the donation process in detail. You will have an AMH blood test, which gives an indication of your ovarian reserve. You will also be offered a meeting with a therapist, who provides guidance and emotional support throughout the donation journey.
If your blood tests and health screening indicate that you are a suitable donor, you will meet with a doctor. The doctor performs a gynecological examination and uses ultrasound to assess your ovaries and overall fertility. You will receive thorough explanations about the treatment process and potential risks.
You will also go through the legal aspects of donation and have the chance to ask any questions. Together, you will create a personalized treatment plan based on your menstrual cycle. During this appointment, the donation consent form is signed.
You will also have a chromosomal analysis and infection screening (hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia).
Your eggs are matured with daily hormone injections for about 10 days, similar to hormone therapy used in IVF. The injection pen is easy to use and our staff will guide you throughout. During stimulation, you will have two ultrasound scans at the clinic.
Eggs are collected under ultrasound guidance using a thin needle. Local anesthesia and IV pain medication are provided. The procedure takes around 30 minutes. Afterward, we monitor you at the clinic for 30 minutes to two hours, based on your needs.
Because of the medication, you cannot drive for 24 hours. The doctor will issue 1–2 days of sick leave.
A nurse will call you a few days after the retrieval and again a week later to ensure you are recovering well. If necessary, a follow-up visit can be arranged.
Your period typically starts 1–2 weeks after retrieval, and by then you should feel completely normal.
Most donors undergo stimulation and egg retrieval without complications. A small number may experience mild side effects from the hormone treatment. The ovaries temporarily enlarge during stimulation, which can cause mild lower-abdominal pressure or bloating.
During egg retrieval, IV medication is used to minimize discomfort. Complications are rare, and any potential risks are reviewed thoroughly with the doctor during treatment planning.
According to Finnish fertility treatment law, donors are compensated for expenses such as daily allowances, travel costs, and receive a €350 inconvenience allowance.
The most meaningful reward, however, is the chance to help create a new life.
According to the currently valid Act on Assisted Fertility Treatments, every gamete donor is entered in a register maintained by a public authority, so that a child who may have been born from a donated gamete can, when they turn 18 years of age, obtain information about the donor’s identity from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. However, a person who has donated gametes does not have any rights or obligations as regards the child.
The identity of the donor will not be revealed to the couple who receive their gametes. They will only be told about the donor’s outward appearance, such as height, the colour of their hair and eyes, and their ethnic background. The same donor’s gametes can be used for providing children to no more than five different families. Each donation event is assessed separately. You can withdraw from the donation process without explanation at any time before the embryo transfer.
