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.
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.
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.
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 €250 inconvenience allowance.
The most meaningful reward, however, is the chance to help create a new life.
Donated eggs are needed when someone has no viable eggs of their own or when egg quality is too low for pregnancy to occur despite repeated attempts. Donor eggs are also used when the recipient carries a serious genetic condition and wishes to avoid passing it on.
More than 700 donor-egg treatments are performed annually in Finland, but the need is even greater: the main limitation right now is the shortage of donated eggs.
Success rates with donor eggs are high: when at least one embryo transfer is achieved, up to 72% of recipients have a child.
Overall, more than 80% of couples receiving donor eggs are able to have the child they hoped for.
Under current Finnish fertility legislation, every gamete donor is recorded in an official registry, so that any child born from donated eggs may, at age 18, request identifying information about the donor from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira). Donors, however, have no rights or obligations toward the child.
Recipients remain anonymous to the donor and receive only basic characteristics: height, eye and hair color, and ethnic background.
A single donor’s eggs can be used for children in up to five families.
Donation can be withdrawn at any time, without explanation, before the eggs are fertilized.
