Oocyte (Egg) Donation

Egg donation has existed at Erasme Hospital since 1984 and has enabled thousands of women worldwide to become mothers. In Belgium, under the law on Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR), requests are accepted up to the age of 45, and donation procedures can be carried out until the age of 47.

In which cases am I concerned?

Egg donation is proposed when infertility is due to very low egg quality despite the presence of menstrual cycles (ovarian insufficiency or failure), or when the ovaries no longer contain follicles and no longer function (menopause).

Some patients choose egg donation to avoid transmitting a genetic disease to their offspring.

Who are the donors?

• Women who voluntarily present themselves at Erasme or the Gametia egg bank.
• Women motivated by a close relative or friend in need of egg donation, who agree to donate their eggs to the Erasme MCH bank. The eggs, obtained after ovarian stimulation, are anonymously allocated to several women with the same indication. Their relatives may receive several anonymous consecutive donations. This is known as cross donation.

Any woman requiring egg donation may register on a waiting list. However, most prefer to bring their own donor to reduce waiting time and costs and increase success rates.

Directed donation

Directed donation is also possible at the Fertility Clinic of Erasme Hospital. In this case, you receive eggs exclusively from your donor (sister, friend, cousin), when access to genetic origins is important to you.

Anonymous donation

According to Belgian law, anonymity is permanent. Even as an adult, the child will not be able to access the donor’s identity.

Couples choose anonymous donation to clearly define the donor’s role and avoid biological or relational ties.

Anonymous cross donation also allows repeated access to donated eggs, increasing pregnancy chances compared to directed or simple anonymous donation.

Physical characteristics are recorded to ensure appropriate donor–recipient matching.

Psychological assessment and support

Donor criteria

• Anonymous donors: 20–34 years old
• Directed donation: up to 38 years old, with at least one child

Medical assessment

• Evaluation of ovarian reserve (blood test and ultrasound)
• Gynecological assessment and explanation of treatment
• Genetic consultation to exclude transmissible genetic disorders

For anonymous donation, all donors undergo carrier screening (over 1,000 rare but serious genetic conditions), also offered to recipient couples. This test is costly and requires 2–4 months.

Belgian law requires a mandatory psychological interview prior to gamete donation to ensure motivation, informed consent, and absence of coercion.

At least one psychological consultation is required, with optional ongoing support during treatment, pregnancy, or after birth.

Treatment and success rates

Donors undergo controlled ovarian hyperstimulation similar to standard IVF cycles.

Recipients receive estrogen and progesterone to prepare the endometrium. Treatment continues for three months if pregnancy occurs.

Increasing scientific evidence supports embryo transfer in natural ovulatory cycles. In this case, embryos are frozen and transferred five days after ovulation.

Pregnancy rates per attempt are generally higher than in conventional IVF. The main determining factor is donor age.

What support is available?

Psychological support addresses emotional distress related to infertility and MAR, while encouraging reflection focused on the future child.

Specialized fertility psychologists work closely with gynecologists to provide comprehensive multidisciplinary care.

Questions regarding disclosure to relatives and to the child receive particular attention.

Fertidata 

A national Belgian application managed by Sciensano that limits the number of families per donor to six.

Anonymous cross donation offers the highest chance of pregnancy at lower cost but requires openness about infertility and acceptance of non-genetic parenthood. Our medical-psychological team can guide you through this process

Collaboration with Gametia egg bank

Partnerships with Cryos and Fertibank

Anonymous donor recruitment program (ages 18–34, €1,000 compensation per cycle)

Embryo transfer in natural cycles

Study on progesterone-induced endometrial luteinization without waiting for ovulation peak (Dr Amirgholami- Prof Delbaere) 

Cross egg donation is performed exclusively at Erasme in Belgium.

Genetic matching available via Begecs.

Associated Services

Administrative Contact: Linda Gouin

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics

• Pr. Anne DELBAERE
• Pr. Fabienne DEVREKER
• Dr. Soraya AMIRGHOLAMI
• Dr. Catherine HOUBA
• Dr. Caroline LECOCQ 

Psychologists

Department of Genetics

Geneticists:

• Pr. Guillaume SMITS
• Pr. Isabelle VANDERNOOT
• Dr. Sandra COPPENS

Genetics Supervisors:

• Adeline BUSSON  
• Marie-Laure GRENET  
• Marie BRUNEAU
• Alice LE MORILLON