Egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain: an interdisciplinary study
Lead Research Organisation:
De Montfort University
Department Name: School of Applied Social Sciences
Abstract
IVF with donor eggs was first intended for use with younger women suffering from ovarian failure or dysfunction. More recently there has been a sharp increase in use of donor eggs for women with age-related infertility, and a growing demand among gay male couples who combine the use of an egg donor and a surrogate in order to have a child. The increase in egg donation treatment has been enhanced by developments in freezing and storage techniques, meaning eggs can now be used independently of the time and place of their retrieval. Donated eggs are now used in over 25,000 IVF treatment cycles in Europe, creating over 7000 babies per year, yet little is known about the motivations, decision-making and experiences of women who provide their eggs for use in infertility treatment, particularly in the European context.
The growing use of egg donation treatment is the subject of fierce political and ethical debate and presents a number of dilemmas for practice professionals and policy makers. While the selling of human eggs in Europe is formally prohibited according to EU legislation ('reasonable compensation' for egg providers is permitted), there is considerable variation in the interpretation of relevant regulations between countries, resulting in significant differences in practice. The UK, Belgium and Spain represent three countries at the cutting edge of technological developments in the infertility field but which have developed differing practices relating to how egg donation is practiced and governed.
The overall aim of this study is to explore the social, political, economic and moral configuration of egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain. Our research questions are: How are egg donation practices shaped by national economic, political, cultural and moral contexts? How do new reproductive subjectivities emerge as a result of (gendered) socio-technical processes such as egg donation? How do egg providers understand and frame egg donation in the context of infertility treatment and how is their moral reasoning shaped by a neo-liberal, bio-economic context? What is the role of professional rationalities and commercial choreographies in a global reproductive marketplace? How can a comparison of contrasting policy and practice contexts facilitate improvements in egg donation?
The study is largely qualitative and uses multiple methods of data collection, organised across five phases, to achieve its objectives. Phase one is a context-setting phase which will involve: reviewing the small number of existing studies; a detailed analysis of relevant policies and regulations about donation; and 12 interviews with key European and country-level stakeholders. Phase two will involve analysis of donor recruitment and marketing campaigns to explore how donation is represented and to gain insight into recruitment practices. Phase three comprises detailed interviews with 75 women who have provided their eggs (25 in each country) as well as 45 interviews with professionals involved in donation (15 in each country). It will explore the experiences, motivations and ethical decision-making of women who provide their eggs as well as generating evidence about the practical, political and economic organisation of donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain. The objective of Phase four is to synthesise the findings from the previous phases for discussion at two workshops held in collaboration with key stakeholders and designed to help us develop recommendations from the study. Phase five will include an end of project conference and further dissemination. Stakeholders will be engaged throughout, via a specially convened advisory group. As well as developing theories about the provision and commercialization of human tissue, the findings will be used to directly inform policy and practice in the UK and Europe. Beneficiaries therefore include policy makers, infertility clinicians, egg providers and related advocacy organisations.
The growing use of egg donation treatment is the subject of fierce political and ethical debate and presents a number of dilemmas for practice professionals and policy makers. While the selling of human eggs in Europe is formally prohibited according to EU legislation ('reasonable compensation' for egg providers is permitted), there is considerable variation in the interpretation of relevant regulations between countries, resulting in significant differences in practice. The UK, Belgium and Spain represent three countries at the cutting edge of technological developments in the infertility field but which have developed differing practices relating to how egg donation is practiced and governed.
The overall aim of this study is to explore the social, political, economic and moral configuration of egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain. Our research questions are: How are egg donation practices shaped by national economic, political, cultural and moral contexts? How do new reproductive subjectivities emerge as a result of (gendered) socio-technical processes such as egg donation? How do egg providers understand and frame egg donation in the context of infertility treatment and how is their moral reasoning shaped by a neo-liberal, bio-economic context? What is the role of professional rationalities and commercial choreographies in a global reproductive marketplace? How can a comparison of contrasting policy and practice contexts facilitate improvements in egg donation?
The study is largely qualitative and uses multiple methods of data collection, organised across five phases, to achieve its objectives. Phase one is a context-setting phase which will involve: reviewing the small number of existing studies; a detailed analysis of relevant policies and regulations about donation; and 12 interviews with key European and country-level stakeholders. Phase two will involve analysis of donor recruitment and marketing campaigns to explore how donation is represented and to gain insight into recruitment practices. Phase three comprises detailed interviews with 75 women who have provided their eggs (25 in each country) as well as 45 interviews with professionals involved in donation (15 in each country). It will explore the experiences, motivations and ethical decision-making of women who provide their eggs as well as generating evidence about the practical, political and economic organisation of donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain. The objective of Phase four is to synthesise the findings from the previous phases for discussion at two workshops held in collaboration with key stakeholders and designed to help us develop recommendations from the study. Phase five will include an end of project conference and further dissemination. Stakeholders will be engaged throughout, via a specially convened advisory group. As well as developing theories about the provision and commercialization of human tissue, the findings will be used to directly inform policy and practice in the UK and Europe. Beneficiaries therefore include policy makers, infertility clinicians, egg providers and related advocacy organisations.
Planned Impact
The existing empirical data about egg donation as a practice makes it difficult to know how to proceed in relation to ethical, policy and legal concerns, especially in the light of a lack of public consensus and the polarisation of attitudes that exists in some countries. Comparative qualitative work on the experience of egg donation would add an invaluable perspective for policy and legislative work in this area. The project will have a number of impacts for UK and European non-academic beneficiaries.
1.Policy (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE))
The study intends to impact the development of policy and professional guidance in the UK and Europe. This will be achieved via two main routes: the HFEA's Donor Strategy Group, whose objective is to improve the 'customer service' that egg providers receive in the UK; and ESHRE's Special Interest Group on Ethics and Law, the professional special interest group within Europe responsible for current pan-European guidance on the care and support of egg providers. Policy briefings will be prepared for these bodies and will permit evidence-based decisions about UK and European policy and allow updates to current donation guidance. Representatives from these organisations have contributed to the development of this application and will participate in the stakeholder advisory group. Relevant European-level professional bodies (European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, International Infertility Counselling Organisation), as well as key national professional bodies in UK, Belgium and Spain (British Fertility Society, Sociedad Espanola de Fertilidad, Comision Nacionel de Reproduccion Humana Asistada, Belgian Society for Reproductive Medicine) will benefit from specific country-level policy recommendations, developed to improve care and support for egg providers.
2. Professionals (clinicians, nurses, counselors, embryologists, donor co-ordinators)
UK professionals working with egg providers will benefit from increased knowledge and insight regarding the egg donation experience in the UK as well as from other national contexts. This evidence will improve the ways clinics organise the care, support and information given to women who provide their eggs for use in fertility treatment. Professionals will be directly targeted via the National Gamete Donation Trust's (NGDT) newly developed 'Donor Centre of Excellence' initiative, which is designed to reward UK clinics that reach a gold standard in donor care. Findings and recommendations from the study will be provided to the NGDT (a study partner) to directly inform the way in which clinics are assessed and accredited under this scheme. In addition, UK fertility clinics will be provided with a summary of the study, which will include specific recommendations for practice as well as information about the NGDT scheme. Whilst the main focus of this impact will be for UK beneficiaries, practice recommendations will also be tailored for audiences in Belgium, Spain and Europe and are intended to have impacts in those contexts.
3. Donors and organisations
Organisations which facilitate networking, support and information for women who act as, or who are considering becoming egg providers (Brilliant Beginnings, NGDT, Altrui, We Are Egg Donors, Nosotras Somos Vida) will benefit from the findings from this research, which can be used to inform support and information provision. Representatives from these organisations have been involved in the development of and are supportive of this research. Their involvement will enhance the validity of the research as well as ensuring that recommendations are relevant to users and embedded in the wider context. This will improve the ways in which egg donation is understood amongst women who provide their eggs for use in fertility treatment, contributing to the well-being of this group.
1.Policy (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE))
The study intends to impact the development of policy and professional guidance in the UK and Europe. This will be achieved via two main routes: the HFEA's Donor Strategy Group, whose objective is to improve the 'customer service' that egg providers receive in the UK; and ESHRE's Special Interest Group on Ethics and Law, the professional special interest group within Europe responsible for current pan-European guidance on the care and support of egg providers. Policy briefings will be prepared for these bodies and will permit evidence-based decisions about UK and European policy and allow updates to current donation guidance. Representatives from these organisations have contributed to the development of this application and will participate in the stakeholder advisory group. Relevant European-level professional bodies (European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, International Infertility Counselling Organisation), as well as key national professional bodies in UK, Belgium and Spain (British Fertility Society, Sociedad Espanola de Fertilidad, Comision Nacionel de Reproduccion Humana Asistada, Belgian Society for Reproductive Medicine) will benefit from specific country-level policy recommendations, developed to improve care and support for egg providers.
2. Professionals (clinicians, nurses, counselors, embryologists, donor co-ordinators)
UK professionals working with egg providers will benefit from increased knowledge and insight regarding the egg donation experience in the UK as well as from other national contexts. This evidence will improve the ways clinics organise the care, support and information given to women who provide their eggs for use in fertility treatment. Professionals will be directly targeted via the National Gamete Donation Trust's (NGDT) newly developed 'Donor Centre of Excellence' initiative, which is designed to reward UK clinics that reach a gold standard in donor care. Findings and recommendations from the study will be provided to the NGDT (a study partner) to directly inform the way in which clinics are assessed and accredited under this scheme. In addition, UK fertility clinics will be provided with a summary of the study, which will include specific recommendations for practice as well as information about the NGDT scheme. Whilst the main focus of this impact will be for UK beneficiaries, practice recommendations will also be tailored for audiences in Belgium, Spain and Europe and are intended to have impacts in those contexts.
3. Donors and organisations
Organisations which facilitate networking, support and information for women who act as, or who are considering becoming egg providers (Brilliant Beginnings, NGDT, Altrui, We Are Egg Donors, Nosotras Somos Vida) will benefit from the findings from this research, which can be used to inform support and information provision. Representatives from these organisations have been involved in the development of and are supportive of this research. Their involvement will enhance the validity of the research as well as ensuring that recommendations are relevant to users and embedded in the wider context. This will improve the ways in which egg donation is understood amongst women who provide their eggs for use in fertility treatment, contributing to the well-being of this group.
Publications
| Description | New knowledge Our work demonstrates how several key socio-technical changes are reconfiguring egg donation within Europe and globally. These include: the growing numbers of users of third-party eggs; changes in the ways eggs are frozen (vitrified), stored and commercialised; growth in numbers and types of intermediaries such as egg banks, agencies and brokers; new methods of screening; and expansion of novel related technologies (e.g. mitochondrial donation). The emergence of vitrification (freezing) methods has been especially transformative, allowing eggs to be stored for later use or shipped to clinics within and between countries. These changes, along with other broader shifts, are indicative of an increasingly commercial landscape; giving rise to a number of policy 'blind spots' in the UK/EU. Focussing on three cases (UK, Belgium, Spain) allowed us to explore how country level regulations, cultural and economic contexts interact to give rise to what we refer to as egg donation 'recruitment regimes'. These regimes produce and reinforce different versions of egg donation, representing a multiplicity of practices, varying moral frames and distinct economic regimes, and raising questions about the homogeneity of the phenomenon of 'egg donation'. Our work also considered how new reproductive subjectivities emerge from the particularities of the (national and supra-national) structuring and organisation of egg donation, and related to this, how egg providers understand and frame their actions within such contexts. Our work illustrates the need to move away from individual rationalities that situate motives as part of the individual giver, instead thinking of them as part of a wider collective knowing about egg donation and what it means within a particular social, moral and economic context. As well as highlighting national differences, our findings illustrate that collective imaginaries of femininity, gendered giving and embodied labour inform donor subjectivities across national settings. This included, for example, the perception that egg donation was about 'helping' other women and 'doing a good job'. Commonalities also exist in relation to the sometimes physically and emotionally challenging nature of egg donation and to the ways clinics provide appropriate care, support and information (or not) to egg providers. Our findings demonstrate the need to consider not only the embodied and relational aspects of gamete donation, but also the social and cultural systems and infrastructures in which donation practices are embedded and the implications these broader systems have for the framing of donation as a culturally normative practice. New or improved research methods developed We developed new interdisciplinary methods which allowed us to integrate disciplinary questions and concepts. We used insights from moral philosophy, medical sociology and political economy to design two new elicitation tools for use in interviews with egg providers and professionals. New networks and collaborations We organised two conference panels to network with international scholars and plan to submit a further proposal to support the development of an international network on egg donation. In addition to our partner, the SEED Trust, we created new collaborations (and associated outputs) with advocacy organisations, the Donor Conception Network, Fertility Network UK and Pride Angel. |
| Exploitation Route | Academic: our findings and tools will assist scholars working in a comparative and interdisciplinary context. They will also be valuable for academics working on other forms of bodily exchange including surrogacy and organ donation. Policy: We identify several policy 'blind spots' relating to egg donation in the UK and Europe. These findings are of value to regulators in the UK and Europe for drafting and updating regulatory guidance. Practice: the findings could inform professional guidelines produced by the British Fertility Society, the British Infertility Counselling Association, and the Royal College of Nursing in the UK; and the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology in Europe. The podcast, films, webinar and known donor resources will also enhance the work of practitioners. Advocacy organisations: several support needs were identified amongst egg providers, including for information and peer support. These findings are of benefit to organisations supporting egg providers, including the SEED Trust, Donor Conception Network, Fertility UK, Pride Angel, Brilliant Beginnings and We Are Egg Donors. Egg providers: we have worked with the SEED Trust and egg providers to produce independent resources to inform decision-making, including a series of short films, a webinar, a podcast and a resource about known donation. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | The EDNA study has had impact on empirical understandings of the ways in which egg donation is shaped in different social, cultural, moral and economic contexts. Our findings also demonstrate how several key socio-technical changes are reconfiguring egg donation within Europe and globally. It was the first large scale comparative study of egg donation in Europe and was the first to explore egg donation in this context in a multi-sited, interdisciplinary context. The study has had a range of non-academic impacts which are on-going. As stated in our pathways to impact document, we intended to have impacts on three main groups: policy/makers, practitioners and donors/donor organisations. These impacts are at varying stages of maturity and are on-going. A major route for this impact was via the establishment up of an advisory group during the project involving project partners (SEED Trust) and key stakeholders such as representatives of the HFEA, BICA, Altrui, Brilliant Beginnings and clinicians. Team members have also been invited to contribute to significant policy initiatives in the field (e.g. membership of the NICE Guideline committee on Fertility in the UK and membership of the Belgian Advisory Committee on Bioethics- Report on gamete donor anonymity) and as well as to speak at major national and international practitioner events. Donors and donor advocacy organisations We have improved the support that donors receive via donor advocacy organisations and fertility charities by building capacity within those organisations and by collaboratively developing novel resources for donors. Through our project, we directly supported the on-going existence of our project partner, the SEED (Sperm Egg and Embryo) Trust. During the course of the research, the charity (formerly, the National Gamete Donation Trust), was faced with closure after the loss of core funding and in light of a challenging fund-raising period. We applied for and secured additional project funding for impact work via DMU's HEIF fund in order to collaboratively create films based on our findings with the Trust in order for them to generate awareness and impact amongst new audiences. The films (about donor experiences) were utilised as part of the re-launch of the charity in 2019 (re-naming from from NGDT to SEED Trust) and involved a number of newly appointed Trustees. The films draw on our findings about the experience and motivations of egg donors and have added to what is known about why women donate their eggs. They been embedded in the Trust's online information offering. This work led to a further collaboration with additional partner organisations: Fertility Network UK and Donor Conception Network, two major UK charities who have also used the films in their support for donors and recipients. The films were promoted by all organisations during Fertility Awareness week in 2021. Promotion of the films is on-going and we are in the process of relaunching them in preparation for the coming changes to the regulation around the contact between donors and donor-conceived adults in the UK in 2023. We have also impacted the support that those entering into known egg donation arrangements (i.e. where the donor and recipient are already known to one another at the time of treatment) receive from donor organisations with the production of an information resource based on our interviews with egg donors. The SEED Trust, Pride Angel, DCN and Fertility Network UK collaborated on this resource; have made it available via their websites; and have shared it via social media. We have raised awareness of the changing landscape of egg donation directly amongst donors via a dedicated online workshop presenting the study findings (July 2021, 65 attendees, 321 views) and via a summary of the findings on the project blog. The event for donors received very positive feedback and attendees reported that they had heard new perspectives on the topic. Our findings have also been used to inform the work of organisations working with recipients of donor eggs. The organisation, 'Paths to Parenthood' have used our findings to create digital content (two recorded webinars) for their members who are thinking about or who have used donated eggs to conceive. Practitioners Our findings on the emergence of commercial practices and intermediaries in egg donation and the impact of vitrification (freezing) methods on the landscape of egg donation have been used to raise awareness amongst fertility professionals in the UK, Belgium and Europe. This has arisen via a range of talks and invitations to address practitioner audiences, including to the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (two invited talks) and the British Fertility Society (invited talk). Policy Our findings on the organisation and regulation of donation in the UK is shaping the work of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (UK regulator). We produced a podcast for their website based on the study findings. We are using the findings to respond to their current consultation on amending the HFE Act (April 2023). We presented preliminary findings to them in 2019 and will return in 2023 to present our recommendations. Our findings are also beginning to shape the public and policy conversation in Spain on egg donation: we were invited to speak at the Social Implications of Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) workshop at the European Commission (EC) in Seville (Spain). Public debate We have contributed to debates about the commercialisation of egg donation which has been achieved by contributions to major news outlets in the field (two pieces for Bionews), as well as an invitation to a panel discussion at the Fertility Fest in London, 2018, a major arts festival dedicated to the topic of infertility. Our findings have also shaped the work of key social influencers in the field, including blogs by Louisa Gheveart Associates and by the journalist Alison Motluk on her website/blog HeyReprotech. The BBC Radio Leicester Breakfast Show covered the project and its findings in 2019 and the PI and a Trustee from the SEED Trust were invited to join the live discussion. Challenges The Covid 19 pandemic caused delays and barriers to the development of some lines of impact, following a delay to the finalisation of data collection and analysis. The entire fertility sector closed its doors in 2020 and a considerable amount of time passed before we were in a position to re-engage with clinics and partners. We are now making excellent progress in developing impact from the study. New research areas developed We enabled the development of new areas of research related to the findings of the study. Team members have secured two new ESRC awards on expanded carrier screening in fertility (based on a direct finding from the EDNA study) and a study on direct-to-consumer DNA testing in donor conception (Reproduction in the age of genomic medicine: the emergence, commercialisation and implications of preconception expanded carrier screening. Herbrand (PI), Hudson (CI), Parry, Borry, Miedzybrodzka. ESRC £595,322.74. 01/02/23 - 31/01/26 and Direct to consumer genetic testing and donor conception: support and governance in emerging digital systems. ESRC £766, 670. Frith (PI), Hudson (CI), Fox, Nordqvist, McCallum, Kirkman-Brown. Feb 2021-Jan 2024) |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Membership of the British Fertility Society's Law, Policy and Ethics Special Interest Group |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Direct-to-consumer genetic testing and donor-conception: support and governance in emerging digital systems |
| Amount | £613,336 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ES/V002430/1 |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2021 |
| End | 10/2021 |
| Description | Reproduction in the age of genomic medicine: the emergence, commercialisation and implications of preconception expanded carrier screening |
| Amount | £482,621 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ES/W012456/1 |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 01/2026 |
| Title | Qualitative Data Sets for EDNA Project, 2017-2020 |
| Description | Phase 1 stakeholder interview summary - Summary of 18 interviews carried out with stakeholders in the UK, Belgium and Spain, including meta-data. Format: MS Word docx Phase 1 Table of policies and guidelines for egg donation - Table of policies and guidelines around egg donation, including organisation details, policy titles and key points. Format: MS Word docx Phase 1 Regulation of egg donation in UK, Belgium and Spain - Comparison table of the regulation of donor eggs in UK, Spain and Belgium. Format: MS Word docx Phase 1 Stakeholder interview guide (English version) - Interview guide used for the Phase 1 stakeholder interviews. Format: MS Word docx Phase 1 Blank consent form (English version) - Blank consent form used for the Phase 1 stakeholder interviews. Format: MS Word docx Phase 1 Participant information sheet (English version) - Information sheet given to stakeholders with details about the project and the interview. Format: MS Word docx Phase 2 UK Codebook - Table of nodes (codebook) for UK Phase 2 data analysis including examples. Format: MS Word docx Phase 2 Spain Codebook - Table of nodes (codebook) for Spain Phase 2 data analysis including translated examples. Format: MS Word docx Phase 2 Belgium Codebook - Table of nodes (codebook) for Belgium Phase 2 data analysis including translated examples. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 UK egg provider interview summaries - Summaries of 29 interviews carried out with egg providers in the UK, including meta data. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Spain egg provider interview summaries - Summaries of 22 interviews carried out with egg providers in Spain, including meta data. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Belgium egg provider interview summaries - Summaries of 21 interviews carried out with egg providers in Belgium, including meta data. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 UK professional interview summaries - Summaries of X interviews carried out with professionals in the UK, including meta data. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Spain professional interview summaries - Summaries of 13 interviews carried out with professionals in Spain, including meta data. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Belgium professional interview summaries - Summaries of 9 interviews carried out with professionals in Belgium, including meta data. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Egg provider interview guide (English version) - Interview guide used for the Phase 3 egg provider interviews. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Egg provider interview guide for participants who did not donate (English version) - Interview guide used for the Phase 3 egg provider interviews with women who did not donate any eggs. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Egg provider blank consent form (English version) - Blank consent form used for the Phase 3 egg provider interviews. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Egg provider participant information sheet (English version) - Information sheet given to egg providers with details about the project and the interview. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Egg provider demographic questionnaire (English version) - Questionnaire used to collect demographic information from egg providers in Phase 3 interview. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Professional interview guide (English version) - Interview guide used for the Phase 3 professional interviews. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Professional blank consent form (English version) - Blank consent form used for the Phase 3 professional interviews. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 Professional participant information sheet (English version) - Information sheet given to professionals with details about the project and the interview. Format: MS Word docx Phase 3 data list for egg provider interviews - Data list for all egg provider interviews including meta data. Format: MS Excel .xlsx. Phase 3 data list for professional interviews - Data list for all professional interviews including meta data. Format: MS Excel .xlsx. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Hudson, N., Culley, L., Herbrand, C., Pavone, V., Pennings, G., Provoost, V., Coveney, C & Funes, S. L. (2020). Reframing egg donation in Europe: new regulatory challenges for a shifting landscape. Health Policy and Technology, 9(3), 308-313. Coveney, C., Hudson, N., Lafuente- Funes, S., Jacxsens, L., & Provoost, P. (2022). From scarcity to sisterhood: The framing of egg donation on fertility clinic websites in the UK, Belgium and Spain. Social Science & Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114785 Funes, S.L., Weis, C., Hudson, N & Provoost, V. (2023). Egg donation in the age of vitrification: A study of egg providers' perceptions and experiences in the UK, Belgium and Spain. Sociology of Health and Illness, 45(2), 259-278. Loyal, S., Culley, L., Hudson, N., Weis (2023) The experience of counselling for UK egg providers. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12613 |
| URL | https://beta.ukdataservice.ac.uk/datacatalogue/studies/study?id=855467 |
| Description | EDNA egg donor films |
| Organisation | Donor Conception Network |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This project was a spin-out from the ESRC funded study 'Egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain: an interdisciplinary study (EDNA)' hosted by De Montfort University (PI: Professor Nicky Hudson). Through interviews carried out with egg providers by the DMU research team, the findings highlighted the need for up to date independent information; especially reflecting the personal experiences of egg donation. The research team have had a central contribution to this project by working with stakeholders and project partners to decide what themes the films should cover, inviting egg providers to take part in the films, and working with the filmmaker to arrange the filming day and edit the films. The research team have also disseminated the films through the CRR blog and social media pages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have collaborated with 3 national fertility charities in the UK (SEED Trust, Fertility Network UK and Donor Conception Network) and a filmmaker (Mutual Shoots Ltd.) to create 8 short films. The films include the accounts of 6 egg providers who shared their experiences of egg donation. The collaborators have a vested interest in supporting women who are thinking about or undergoing egg donation and their organisations actively provide information and support to women around egg donation on their websites. The films are hosted on the charities websites. The SEED Trust have contributed to this project by providing consultancy for the project, offering advice about the topics covered in the films and having involvement in the design and editing of the films. The SEED Trust were also an official project partner. Fertility Network UK and Donor Conception Network have contributed to this project by hosting the films on their websites and disseminating the films to a relevant and wider audience. |
| Impact | 8 short films that are currently hosted on the support pages of the collaborating organisations websites. The films are available at: https://seedtrust.org.uk/donor-experiences/egg-donor-films/ These films were first screened at the re-launch of the NGDT as the SEED Trust on May 3rd 2019 at the end of the Big Fat Festival Day of the annual Fertility Fest in London. They will be relaunched by our new collaborators in 2022. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | EDNA egg donor films |
| Organisation | Fertility Network UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This project was a spin-out from the ESRC funded study 'Egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain: an interdisciplinary study (EDNA)' hosted by De Montfort University (PI: Professor Nicky Hudson). Through interviews carried out with egg providers by the DMU research team, the findings highlighted the need for up to date independent information; especially reflecting the personal experiences of egg donation. The research team have had a central contribution to this project by working with stakeholders and project partners to decide what themes the films should cover, inviting egg providers to take part in the films, and working with the filmmaker to arrange the filming day and edit the films. The research team have also disseminated the films through the CRR blog and social media pages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have collaborated with 3 national fertility charities in the UK (SEED Trust, Fertility Network UK and Donor Conception Network) and a filmmaker (Mutual Shoots Ltd.) to create 8 short films. The films include the accounts of 6 egg providers who shared their experiences of egg donation. The collaborators have a vested interest in supporting women who are thinking about or undergoing egg donation and their organisations actively provide information and support to women around egg donation on their websites. The films are hosted on the charities websites. The SEED Trust have contributed to this project by providing consultancy for the project, offering advice about the topics covered in the films and having involvement in the design and editing of the films. The SEED Trust were also an official project partner. Fertility Network UK and Donor Conception Network have contributed to this project by hosting the films on their websites and disseminating the films to a relevant and wider audience. |
| Impact | 8 short films that are currently hosted on the support pages of the collaborating organisations websites. The films are available at: https://seedtrust.org.uk/donor-experiences/egg-donor-films/ These films were first screened at the re-launch of the NGDT as the SEED Trust on May 3rd 2019 at the end of the Big Fat Festival Day of the annual Fertility Fest in London. They will be relaunched by our new collaborators in 2022. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | EDNA known donor resources |
| Organisation | Donor Conception Network |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This project was a spin-out from the ESRC funded study 'Egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain: an interdisciplinary study (EDNA)' hosted by De Montfort University (PI: Professor Nicky Hudson). Through interviews carried out with known egg providers by the DMU research team, the findings highlighted the need for support resources designed specifically for women who are thinking about donating to someone that they know. The research team have had a central contribution to this project by inviting known egg donors to take part in the study and collecting the data that the resource is based on through an online survey and individual interviews, working with stakeholders and project partners to decide what content to include in the resource and designing the resource. The research team have also disseminated the resource through the CRR blog and social media pages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have collaborated with 4 national fertility charities and industry partners in the UK (SEED Trust, Fertility Network UK, Donor Conception Network and Pride Angel) to create a resource that is based on the advice given by women who have acted as a known egg donor. The collaborators have a vested interest in supporting women who are thinking about or undergoing known egg donation and their organisations actively provide information and support around egg donation on their websites. The resources are hosted on the partner websites. Pride Angel have contributed to this project by providing consultancy and expertise around the topic of known egg donation and offering advice about the topics covered in the resource and are hosting the resource online. The SEED Trust, Fertility Network UK and Donor Conception Network have contributed to this project by hosting the resource on their websites and disseminating the resource to a wider audience. |
| Impact | A downloadable resource that is available on the charity websites. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | EDNA known donor resources |
| Organisation | Fertility Network UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This project was a spin-out from the ESRC funded study 'Egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain: an interdisciplinary study (EDNA)' hosted by De Montfort University (PI: Professor Nicky Hudson). Through interviews carried out with known egg providers by the DMU research team, the findings highlighted the need for support resources designed specifically for women who are thinking about donating to someone that they know. The research team have had a central contribution to this project by inviting known egg donors to take part in the study and collecting the data that the resource is based on through an online survey and individual interviews, working with stakeholders and project partners to decide what content to include in the resource and designing the resource. The research team have also disseminated the resource through the CRR blog and social media pages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have collaborated with 4 national fertility charities and industry partners in the UK (SEED Trust, Fertility Network UK, Donor Conception Network and Pride Angel) to create a resource that is based on the advice given by women who have acted as a known egg donor. The collaborators have a vested interest in supporting women who are thinking about or undergoing known egg donation and their organisations actively provide information and support around egg donation on their websites. The resources are hosted on the partner websites. Pride Angel have contributed to this project by providing consultancy and expertise around the topic of known egg donation and offering advice about the topics covered in the resource and are hosting the resource online. The SEED Trust, Fertility Network UK and Donor Conception Network have contributed to this project by hosting the resource on their websites and disseminating the resource to a wider audience. |
| Impact | A downloadable resource that is available on the charity websites. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Title | EDNA Egg Donor Films |
| Description | (As per the collaborations and partnerships section) We have collaborated with 3 national fertility charities in the UK (SEED Trust, Fertility Network UK and Donor Conception Network) and a filmmaker (Mutual Shoots Ltd.) to create 8 short films. The films include the accounts of 6 egg providers who shared their experiences of egg donation. The collaborators have a vested interest in supporting women who are thinking about or undergoing egg donation and their organisations actively provide information and support to women around egg donation on their websites. The films are hosted on the charities websites. The SEED Trust have contributed to this project by providing consultancy for the project, offering advice about the topics covered in the films and having involvement in the design and editing of the films. The SEED Trust were also an official project partner. Fertility Network UK and Donor Conception Network have contributed to this project by hosting the films on their websites and disseminating the films to a relevant and wider audience. |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Trade Mark |
| Year Protection Granted | 2021 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | No impact yet. |
| Title | EDNA Known Donor Resource |
| Description | (As per the Collaborations and Partnerships section) We have collaborated with 4 national fertility charities and industry partners in the UK (SEED Trust, Fertility Network UK, Donor Conception Network and Pride Angel) to create a resource that is based on the advice given by women who have acted as a known egg donor. The collaborators have a vested interest in supporting women who are thinking about or undergoing known egg donation and their organisations actively provide information and support around egg donation on their websites. The resources are hosted on the partner websites. Pride Angel have contributed to this project by providing consultancy and expertise around the topic of known egg donation and offering advice about the topics covered in the resource and are hosting the resource online. The SEED Trust, Fertility Network UK and Donor Conception Network have contributed to this project by hosting the resource on their websites and disseminating the resource to a wider audience. |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Trade Mark |
| Year Protection Granted | 2021 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | No impact yet. |
| Description | BBC Leicester live interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The PI, Nicky Hudson, was interviewed live on BBC radio Leicester about the films made via the EDNA project collaboration with the SEED Trust. Anupa Roper, Trustee of the SEED charity was also interviewed. The piece raised awareness in the region about egg donation and what is involves. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Documentary interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Nicky Hudson was interviewed for the documentary 'Cracked,' which will explore egg donation from an international perspective. In process. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | EDNA Study End Of Project Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On 10th May the research team hosted a webinar to mark the end of four and a half years of research exploring the social, political, economic and moral constitution of egg donation in Europe. The event gave us the opportunity to share some of the findings from the EDNA study, which was designed to provide holistic insights into the changing landscape of egg donation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://ednaprojectblog.wordpress.com/2022/05/23/watch-again-from-scarcity-to-sisterhood-exploring-e... |
| Description | EDNA stakeholder workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On February 11, 2020, we hosted our main project stakeholder workshop hosted at De Montfort University in Leicester. This event was an international knowledge exchange workshop. Attendees included egg providers, fertility service providers and professional and academic experts from the UK, Belgium and Spain. Our key findings from Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3, were presented and emerging policy recommendations were discussed. Outputs and developments from this event are on-going. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Egg Donation Law, Policy and Practice (Blog posted by Louisa Gheveart Associates) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A commentary on egg donation, law, policy and practice |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain: an interdisciplinary study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Nicky Hudson (PI) delivered a talk to members of the HFEA about the study and its early findings and potential future policy impacts. A plan was made to return with more detailed findings and to tailor future policy briefings around up-coming HFEA strategy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Known Donor Resource |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A downloadable resource was co-produced by De Montfort University, SEED Trust, Fertility Network UK, Pride Angel, Donor Conception Network, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Ghent University. It is based on the advice of women who have acted as a known egg donor and is intended to be of use primarily by those considering providing eggs in a known arrangement, recipients of donors eggs and professional supporting those families. The resource is based around themes that are raised in the study, including: taking your time deciding to donate; get to know one another; be clear about what you want; consider drawing up a donor agreement; think about what to tell your own children; anticipate future changes; get support from other donors; make the most out of counselling and enjoy the process. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/known-egg-donation-guide/ |
| Description | Known Donor Resource (Instagram Live with Pride Angel) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The research team took part in an Instagram Live with Pride Angel, a stakeholder organisation in the development of the Known Donor Resource. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Panel debate at UK Fertility Fest |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Nicky Hudson (PI) participated in a panel discussion on egg donation at the UK Fertility Fest, Bush Theatre London, 8th-13th May 2018. The discussion focused around the challenges and implications of egg donation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/festival/fertility-fest-2018/#anchor-festival-events |
| Description | Podcast on egg donor experiences for the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) Website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Findings from the EDNA project highlighted the need for up-to-date independent information on egg donation, especially reflecting the personal experiences of egg donation. The podcast is therefore designed to raise awareness about the experiences of egg donors amongst a range of audiences including donors, recipients and fertility professionals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | SEED Films and Infographic |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A series of eight films and an infographic were co-produced by De Montfort University, SEED Trust, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Ghent University. The eight short films include accounts from six egg providers who very generously shared and reflected on their experiences. The films are based around themes raised by interviewees in the study and are therefore carefully designed to ensure the content directly addresses questions that potential egg providers might have prior to engaging with the process. These include: motivations to become a donor; the physical aspects of donation; compensation; talking to others about becoming and being a donor; writing letters; reflections and advice for other women. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | The EDNA Project Blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The EDNA Project Blog has published 30 blog entries related to the EDNA study including project information, calls for participants and papers, publications and conference proceedings, and commentaries on theory, egg donation, egg freezing, egg sharing and policy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022 |
| Description | The EDNA Project Twitter Account (@edna_project) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The EDNA Project Twitter Account shares details of the project with a wide audience and raises awareness of the study specifically and egg donation more broadly. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022 |
| Description | The changing landscape of egg donation in Europe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Nicky Hudson was an invited speaker at the annual Fertility Conference hosted by the Association of Reproductive & Clinical Scientists, the British Fertility Society and the Society for Reproduction and Fertility, the theme for 2023 was Reproduction in an ageing world. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | The changing landscape of egg donation in Europe: findings from the UK, Belgium and Spain (article published in BioNews) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A commentary on the practice of egg donation in Europe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | The new landscape of egg donation: Egg donors give their views A panel event to discuss UK policy and practice of egg donation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This online event was designed to disseminate the findings of the study directly to egg donors and others with an interest in the themes covered in the event. It was attended by 65 people online. It was hosted by the study team and included an overview of the aims and key findings from the EDNA project. This was followed by a panel discussion with egg donors who discussed key issues for policy arising from the study findings. Egg donors shared their views on contemporary issues in the field of egg donation. The panel focused on screening practices, egg storage and banking and information provision after egg donation. The audience were invited to ask questions to the panel speakers during the discussions. Feedback included: "I attended the Egg Donation event last night and I thought it was absolutely brilliant. Thank you! It explored so many issues and from a variety of angles with different experiences. You even managed to cover some of the trickier ground and all very sensitively and thoughtfully. I hope there is a recording that we can direct people to? I also wonder whether some of it could be edited into slightly shorter sections as there was so much valuable stuff in there. Anyway, mainly I wanted to congratulate you and the speakers and everyone who put this together. You all did a fantastic job." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGryaT_xM9M&t=4737s |
| Description | Vitrification has changed egg donation and some donors are not pleased (Blog posted by HeyReprotech) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A commentary on egg donation and vitrification. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Walking on eggshells? The morally complex practice of egg sharing (article published in BioNews) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A commentary on the practice of egg sharing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |