Double donation

IVF with donor eggs and donor sperm

In our IVF department, we support you every step of the way if you choose double donation treatment to achieve pregnancy.
Book a free double donation consultation

What is double donation?

Double donation involves receiving both donor eggs and donor sperm.

The process takes place during IVF treatment, where the donor egg is fertilised with donor sperm in the laboratory.

The fertilised egg is then transferred to the uterus.

Who can benefit from double donation?

Double donation may be relevant for:

  • Single women
  • Lesbian couples
  • Couples where the man is transgender
  • Heterosexual couples where the man’s sperm cannot be used to fertilise an egg
Book free initial consultation

Double donation involves these steps:

  • 1. The initial phase
  • 2. Choosing an egg donor
  • 3. Tests and examinations
  • 4. Egg retrieval and fertilisation
  • 5. Preparation for embryo transfer
  • 6. Embryo transfer and subsequent pregnancy test

1. The initial phase

Before treatment can begin, you must book an initial consultation. Read more about the initial consultation.

You can already start considering whether you want to use an open or closed donor. Read more about the egg donors here.

Before the egg donation process can begin, it is important that you choose a sperm donor and arrange for a sperm donation unit to be sent to the clinic. We are happy to support this process and advise you on the options.

Book your initial consultation here

2. Choosing an egg donor

Now it’s time to find an egg donor. Via our egg donor database you can get information about all donors in our egg donor corps.

Egg banking is not permitted in Denmark, which means that donated eggs cannot be stored unfertilised. Therefore, we only contact the egg donor for start-up when we have a patient who is interested in using her as a donor. Only then do we start the preparatory treatment of the egg donor.

This means that there may be a waiting period due to the donor’s circumstances. Therefore, we recommend that you select several donors as possible matches for you. This way, we can most likely offer you treatment faster.

Access our comprehensive donor database

Open vs closed egg donor: What does it mean?

Closed egg donor:

The child cannot find out who the donor is and cannot contact the donor.

Open egg donor:

From the age of 18, the child can get the identity of the donor, and 1 contact with the donor will be possible.

3. Tests and examinations

Certain tests are required for the woman before treatment can begin.

  • Pap smear (max. 3 years old)
  • Chlamydia and gonorrhoea (swab must be max. 6 months old)

Blood tests:

  • HIV (HIV 1-2)
  • Hepatitis B (HBsAG + HBcAB)
  • Hepatitis C (HCV antibody)
  • TSH + TPO
  • Vitamin D
  • Ferritin
  • Rubella (only needed if you are not vaccinated).
Additional tests can be arranged with the doctor.

4. Egg retrieval and fertilisation

Once you have been assigned an egg donor, she will begin hormone treatment, followed by egg retrieval.

The number of eggs donated varies from donor to donor, so it is not possible to determine in advance how many eggs you will receive. The eggs will then be fertilised in the laboratory using the donor sperm, which will be thawed for the procedure.

Development to blastocysts

Over the next few days, our skilled embryologists will monitor the development of the fertilised eggs in the laboratory. Only eggs that develop into blastocysts are suitable for transfer to the uterus. Any additional blastocysts will be frozen for future use.

We guarantee at least one blastocyst in egg donation treatment. If only one blastocyst is achieved and it does not result in pregnancy, we offer a 40% discount on the next egg donation treatment.

You will be kept informed throughout the process about how many eggs have been fertilised and how many eggs have reached the blastocyst stage.

5. Preparing for embryo transfer

Before a fertilised egg (blastocyst) can be transferred to the uterus, the woman must be optimally prepared to increase the chances of pregnancy.

This preparation can be done in your natural cycle (if possible), using hormone injections, or a combination of estradiol tablets and progesterone supplements.

You will receive a personalised treatment plan, which will be reviewed with a specialist from our experienced team. This ensures you know exactly what medications to take and when to take them.

Some women may require a “reset” of their cycle before starting hormone treatment (downregulation), but this will always be tailored to individual needs.

Hormone treatment process for double donation:

  • Contact the clinic on the first day of your period.
  • Start taking tablets on the second day of your period (three times daily).
  • Ultrasound scan after 10–12 days of treatment, or send the scan report to the clinic.
  • If the uterine lining is satisfactory, the start of progesterone supplementation will be scheduled.
  • Embryo transfer will take place 5 days later.

6. Embryo transfer and subsequent pregnancy test

The embryo transfer is a simple procedure that most women find completely painless. The blastocyst is placed in the uterus using a small catheter. At the same time, we perform an abdominal ultrasound to ensure the blastocyst is positioned perfectly.

After the transfer, you will need to continue taking the prescribed tablets and suppositories until the pregnancy test result is available. If the test is positive, the hormone treatment will continue until the 12th week of pregnancy.

Read more about embryo transfer

Want access to our egg donor database?
Contact us here