Egg Donation in Cyprus

Egg donation is a fertility treatment in which eggs from a screened, healthy donor are used to help a woman achieve pregnancy when she is unable to conceive using her own eggs. The donor eggs are fertilised in the laboratory — most commonly using ICSI — and the resulting embryo is transferred into the recipient’s uterus, following the same clinical steps as standard IVF.

This approach is often referred to as donor egg IVF, and it allows women to carry and give birth to their own pregnancy, even when their own eggs are no longer viable or available. At Cyprus Hope Fertility, egg donation treatment is personalised for each patient, from donor matching through to embryo transfer.

There are a selected group of patients that require Donor Eggs:

• Women with a fully functioning uterus but whose ovaries do not produce eggs due to premature menopause (this affects 1-2% of women under the age of 40);
• Women who have had their ovaries removed because of treatment for cancer, pelvic infection or endometriosis;

• Women whose ovaries have been damaged because of chemotherapy or radiotherapy;

• Women who were born without functioning ovaries due to a chromosomal factor such as Turner Syndrome;

• Women who have had poor ovarian responses to hormonal stimulation after many IVF attempts, failure of egg collection or poor egg quality;

• Women who have a high risk of passing on genetic disorders such as haemophilia, muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s chorea;

• Couples with recurrent miscarriages due to chromosomal abnormalities;
• Older women who have poorly functioning ovaries.

• There are selected groups of women who may consider donating their eggs either anonymously or specifically to known friends or relatives. All potential egg donors are made aware of the selection criteria adopted by Cyprus Hope IVF. These include:

  • Egg donors are anonymous and will not be known to the recipient couples (unless they bring their own donor). Under Cyprus legislation, the donor has a right to anonymity;
  • Egg donors are healthy women, between the age of 20 and 28;
  • There should be no family history of genetic or inheritable diseases;
  • No history or mental disorders;
    
    • No history of sexually transmitted disease, pelvic inflammatory disease or history of DVT or pulmonary embolism because of the increased risk of complications following egg collection.

All prospective egg donor candidates are screened in line with the standards recommended by the UK regulatory bodies such as HEFA and ASRM in order to avoid the risk of transmission of infectious diseases to the recipient and offspring and to avoid passing on genetic or inherited diseases.

Potential donors are screened for:

• HIV;
• Hepatitis B and C;
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Syphilis;
• Gonorrhoea
• Chlamydia
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF)
• Sickle cell (in appropriate ethnic groups)
• Thalassemia
• Karyotype
• Blood Group

Counselling for prospective egg donors

All prospective egg donors are offered counselling, but they are not obliged to accept it. The donor should be comfortable with her decision to donate eggs and they renounce all rights to them. In the cases of known donors, related issues such as the potential impact of the relationship between the donor and recipient should be explored by a trained counsellor.

A doctor will review the medical and family history and perform a general and internal examination. A full explanation of the treatment and procedures will be provided to the couple. There may be a need for the male partner to provide a sperm specimen for semen analysis.

Women over the age of 45 should be counselled about the welfare of the potential offspring as well as the risks of pregnancy and labour in older women. They also require an ECG and Health report to state they can carry a viable pregnancy with no harm to them or a potential baby.

Pregnancy and live birth rates following egg donation are significantly higher compared to that achieved with IVF using the woman’s own eggs. Success of pregnancy is over 70% in each treatment cycle. There are of course many factors that may affect success rates.

The cost of egg donation treatment in Cyprus varies from patient to patient, depending on several factors rather than a single fixed price. At Cyprus Hope Fertility, we provide a transparent, personalised cost breakdown after your initial consultation, once your treatment plan has been determined.

Factors that typically influence the overall cost include:

• Medication protocol — the type and duration of hormonal medication required for both the donor and the recipient
• Laboratory procedures — techniques used during fertilisation and embryo culturing, such as ICSI, IMSI, or Assisted Hatching
• Donor selection — whether a donor is matched from our donor pool, or a known donor is brought by the patient, which can affect overall costs
• Accommodation and travel support — package options that include accommodation and transfer assistance for international patients
• International patient services — multilingual coordination and ongoing support throughout your treatment journey

Please note that patients who wish to reduce costs may also consider using frozen eggs from our Cryo Egg bank, or bringing their own known donor, both of which can lower the overall treatment cost.

Yes. Egg donation is a legally regulated fertility treatment in North Cyprus, carried out under clear clinical and ethical standards. This is one of the key reasons international patients — including many from countries where donor treatments are more restricted — choose Cyprus for their fertility journey.

At Cyprus Hope Fertility, all egg donation treatments follow strict confidentiality and patient protection principles:

• Anonymous donation — under Cyprus legislation, egg donors are entitled to anonymity, and recipient couples do not have access to the donor’s identity unless they bring their own known donor
• Donor rights — donors participate voluntarily and are under no obligation to disclose personal information beyond what is required for medical screening
• Patient confidentiality — all patient and treatment information is handled with strict medical confidentiality throughout the process

We recommend that patients speak with our team during their consultation for guidance specific to their individual circumstances and country of residence.

Many of our patients travel from abroad for egg donation treatment, and we structure the process so it feels as straightforward as possible from the very first consultation to the journey home.

Before You Travel
The process usually begins with an online consultation with Dr. Zehra Onar, where your medical history is reviewed and a tailor-made treatment protocol is prepared before you arrive in Cyprus. This allows much of the planning to be completed remotely, so your time in Cyprus can be focused on the treatment itself.

How Long Should I Stay?
The length of your stay depends on your individual treatment plan and donor matching process. Our team will confirm your personalised timeline during your consultation, so you know exactly what to expect before booking your travel.

Accommodation and Airport Transfers
For international patients, we offer package options that include accommodation and transfer support, helping you manage the logistics of your trip with less stress. Our patient coordination team can guide you through accommodation options suited to your treatment schedule.

During Your Treatment
Once in Cyprus, your scans and monitoring appointments are coordinated by our medical team, and you will stay in a private en-suite room after your embryo transfer, with full support from our nursing and care staff.

Returning Home After Embryo Transfer
After your embryo transfer, you will be advised on rest and any necessary precautions before travelling. Our team remains available to support you even after you return home, including guidance on your pregnancy test and any follow-up questions.

At Cyprus Hope Fertility, egg donation treatment is built around careful donor selection and personalised patient care, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

• A large, carefully screened donor pool — our donors are healthy women aged 20–28 who undergo comprehensive medical, genetic, and psychological screening before joining our programme
• Flexible donor options — patients can be matched with an anonymous donor from our pool, or choose to bring their own known donor, with a tailor-made protocol designed either way
• Guidance from Dr. Zehra Onar — our specialist and medical team provide professional support at every stage, from donor matching to embryo transfer
• Comprehensive laboratory options — including ICSI, IMSI, Assisted Hatching, and embryo culturing to blastocyst stage, selected according to each patient’s needs
• Full patient support — from online consultation before travel to private en-suite recovery rooms and nursing care after transfer