For single women, there are a few options:
Some patients come to CARE having already found a donor, but if you need help we have a huge list of donors that you can choose from. Once you’ve told us what you’re looking for, we’ll match you with someone who fits your profile as closely as possible. Read more about donor sperm
In a small number of cases, there can be difficult problems with both partners, and in some cases the option of donor embryos might be considered appropriate. These are embryos that have already been created, but are not needed by the couple and have been offered for donation. They are all fully screened. It’s important to know that children born as a result of donation are able to identify the donor if they wish, after the age of 18. Read more about donor embryos
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment that involves placing prepared sperm inside the uterus, close to your eggs. This is timed to coincide with ovulation. The treatment maximises the chances of sperm reaching an egg and for fertilisation to occur. Read more about IUI
If IUI doesn’t work, if you’d prefer to try IVF, or if you have any fertility problems that we’ll need to help you with, we may advise IVF treatment. Read more about IVF
If you’d like to donate some of your eggs to another woman who can only get pregnant through the use of donor eggs, we can offer you a cycle of IVF at a reduced cost, through our egg sharing programme.
To take part in the egg sharing programme, you must be aged between 21-35 years old, and have no serious medical history. Read more about egg sharing
You may want a family in the future but are worried about declining fertility due to your age. If this is the case, you can choose to freeze your eggs now for future use. You can also freeze your eggs if you’re about to undergo medical or surgical treatment which may affect your fertility.
Ideally egg freezing should take place before age 38, as success beyond this time is limited. When you decide to use your eggs, they are thawed, and then fertilised using ICSI (ICSI is when a single sperm is injected directly into each egg). Read more about egg freezing
Depending on your age and test results, we might also recommend additional tests or procedures such as pre-implantation genetic screening or CAREmaps.
As part of our ongoing commitment to give all our patients the best level of support and care during their fertility treatment, we offer a free counselling service. Our counsellors are there to help at all stages of your journey. Many find it helpful to discuss their feelings before, during and after treatment.
Using donor sperm or donor eggs has certain implications for you, your partner and any children you have as a result of your fertility treatment. Our counsellors will discuss this in detail with you and support throughout your journey with us.