Embryo donation in the UK and embryo storage
Find out more about embryo donation in the UK and the laws and regulations around embryo storage as well as developments in this area.
Browse our articles and media highlights around donation and storage related topics.
Cracking the Register open – what does the legal change mean for donor-conceived people?
In 2005, UK law changed to require any donors donating their eggs or sperm (gametes) in UK licensed clinics to be ‘ID-release’. This was a significant pivot from the law pre-2005, under which gamete donors were anonymous. Donor-conceived people born following the 2005 law change, who have the legal right to find out the identity of their donor once they are adults, have now begun to reach the age of 18 from around November 2023.
Exporting embryos and gametes from the UK: practicalities and the law
Here is a brief guide to what you need to know if you are considering exporting your frozen gametes (sperm or eggs) or embryos from the UK to overseas.
British Fertility Society proposals for reform of UK fertility law
The British Fertility Society has now published its proposals on how it thinks UK fertility law need to be modernised.
Fertility Network UK to run 6-week course on LGBTQ+ Pathways to Parenthood
NGA Law is delighted to be part of an educational course being run for intended LGBT+ parents by national fertility charity Fertility Network UK. Run online on Thursday evenings in August and September, the course offers free digital access to expert opinion and...
HFEA changes surrogacy rules on exporting sperm, eggs and embryos from the UK to overseas
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has updated its guidance on exporting gametes and embryos for surrogacy, in a move which will help intended parents through international surrogacy. NGA Law and our sister organisation Brilliant Beginnings have...
Natalie speaks at Progress Educational Trust event on known donation
Natalie Gamble was part of the panel of speakers discussing known donation at the Progress Educational Trust’s event: ‘Known unknowns: the pros, cons and consequences of known donation’. The event, attended by more than 200 people and covered in a feature on Woman’s...
Managing issues for fertility patients who are separating or getting divorced – Article published in the British Infertility Counselling Association journal
We have written an article for the British Infertility Counselling Association about managing the legal issues for fertility patients who are separating or getting divorced. In the UK, no one legally ‘owns’ embryos and they are stored with both gamete providers...
Government launches consultation on egg, sperm & embryo storage limits – Article published in Bionews
Natalie has written a comment piece for this week’s Bionews in support of law reform for egg, sperm and embryo storage limits. The government is, until 5 May 2020, consulting on whether the UK’s laws on embryo and gamete storage should be reviewed. The current law...
Storage periods for gametes and embryos and its challenges – Article published in the British Infertility Counselling Association journal
The British Infertility Counselling Association Winter 2019 journal includes an article by Natalie about the law around storing eggs, sperm and embryos. The basic storage period set by UK law is ten years, but since there are also options to export or to extend...
NGA quoted in The Sun – I fulfilled a stranger’s dying wish by using his frozen sperm
The Sun has reported the case of single mum Liat Malka who conceived her daughter with frozen sperm from a deceased donor, after meeting his parents who desperately wanted to have a grandchild. Quoting NGA as leading experts in UK fertility law, the article says: "As...
Considering surrogacy and need practical help as well as legal advice?
Our sibling organisation, Brilliant Beginnings, is a non-profit surrogacy agency, founded by the NGA Law directors in 2013 to support safe ethical surrogacy.
Brilliant Beginnings offers personal advice consultations as well as managed surrogacy pathways in the UK and USA which include full legal support from NGA Law.
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