Egg donation in Prague: your path to the child you long for
If a pregnancy with your own eggs is no longer achievable, egg donation is often the fastest route to your goal. In Prague it is routine medical practice: clearly regulated, with carefully screened donors and a treatment plan you know from the start.
Anonymous donation: a safe route to parenthood
- Unlike in the United Kingdom, egg donation has been permitted and legal in the Czech Republic for many years. What this means legally for you and your child is answered below in the frequently asked questions.
- At ISCARE, a English-speaking coordinator supports you from your first question to the pregnancy test. The initial consultation is free of charge and takes place online. You travel to Prague only once, for the embryo transfer, and spend 2 to 3 hours with us. Your partner comes once to give a sperm sample, alone or together with you. Everything else you can do at home.
Our benefits
Initial consultation free and online
You travel to Prague only once, stay 2-3 hrs, no overnight stay
Donors aged 18 to 35, thoroughly screened
Embryo guarantee in EXTRA and EXTRA PLUS: 2 embryos graded 3AB or better
Package from EUR 5 400
English-speaking coordinator
Is egg donation the right path for you?
We recommend treatment with donated eggs above all if one of the following applies to you:
- several IVF attempts with your own eggs have been unsuccessful
- your egg reserve is exhausted or your ovaries have stopped working prematurely
- your ovaries are absent or were irreversibly damaged during surgery
- you have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- there is a risk of passing on a serious hereditary disease
- the quality of your eggs is severely reduced due to age
• you come as a couple (woman and man) and both sign a joint consent • treatment is possible until you reach the age of 49; your age on the day of the embryo transfer is decisive • before treatment begins, we assess the medical suitability of both partners
What happens at home, what in Prague
Most of the preparation takes place at home. The initial consultation is free of charge and takes place online. You travel to Prague only once, for the embryo transfer. Your partner comes once to give a sperm sample, alone or together with you. Nobody needs to stay overnight.
PROCESS
How your treatment works
First contact (from home)
You write or call, our English-speaking coordinator gets in touch and sends you a list of the findings and hormone tests we need.
Initial consultation (online, free, no travel)
Video consultation with a doctor, medical history, review of your findings, treatment plan. You do not need a referral.
Preliminary tests (in UK)
Ultrasound, hormone levels and semen analysis with your own doctors. We accept a semen analysis from UK. We tell you exactly which findings we need.
Choosing the donor (no travel)
We look for a suitable donor and agree the choice with you.
Your partner's visit to Prague (in Prague, 2 to 3 hours)
Your partner gives a sperm sample, which we prepare and freeze. On the same day we take blood for the STD tests that Czech law requires us to carry out in our own laboratory. He can come alone or together with you. If you wish, you can meet your medical team in person.
Fertilisation and culture (in Prague, without you)
Fertilisation by ICSI, extended culture to the blastocyst stage on day 5.
Your trip to Prague: embryo transfer (in Prague, 2 to 3 hours)
The transfer is done fresh or as a frozen embryo transfer. Including preparation and rest you spend 2 to 3 hours with us. The transfer itself takes a few minutes and is painless. You do not need to stay overnight.
After the transfer (at home)
Pregnancy test about 14 days later; your gynaecologist takes over further care. We stay in touch.
How often do I have to travel to Prague?
- 1× You: for the embryo transfer, 2 to 3 hours at the clinic
- 1× Your partner: to give a sperm sample, 2 to 3 hours, alone or with you
What happens during the visits to Prague?
- During your partner's visit we take blood for the STD tests on the same day. Czech law requires us to carry out these tests in our own laboratory, so we cannot use findings from the United Kingdom for them.
- For the embryo transfer you spend 2 to 3 hours with us including preparation and rest, and can then travel home. Prague is a few hours from most UK cities by car, bus or plane; the EXTRA PLUS package includes an airport shuttle.
- You can have the semen analysis done in UK; we accept the result. If you prefer to have it done with us, it costs EUR 100.
Fresh transfer or frozen embryo transfer?
- Both are possible. In a fresh transfer we transfer the embryo on the fifth day after the eggs are retrieved from the donor. In a frozen transfer the embryo is first frozen and transferred later, at a time that suits your cycle and your plans. We decide together which option is right for you when planning the treatment.
How quickly can it happen?
We set the exact schedule together after the initial consultation, so you can plan travel, holidays and work.
- First contact to initial consultation
1 to 2 weeks - Preliminary tests at home
2 to 4 weeks - Search for your donor
Estimate after the initial consultation - Donor stimulation to egg retrieval
About 2 weeks - Fertilisation and embryo culture
5 days - Embryo transfer, fresh or frozen
1 appointment, 2 to 3 hours at the clinic - Pregnancy test
About 14 days after the transfer
DONORS: Our own donor database
experience in reproductive medicine I since 1994
- Thanks to our history and experience in reproductive medicine since 1994, ISCARE has its own donor database that is large enough to meet most of our patients' wishes.
- How long the search for a suitable donor will take in your case is something we can tell you after the initial consultation.
Donors' guarantee
aged between 18 and 35
anonymous by law
Czech citizenship
Czech public health insurance, so we know her medical history
at least completed secondary education, a requirement we strictly observe
All our donors are tested at the time of donation, in line with European legislation on human tissues and cells and the recommendations of ESHRE and the Czech Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics (SLG ČLS JEP). We release a donor for treatment only after she has passed all of the following steps.
Donors' testing
What do we test for every donor ?
- Age
18 to 35 years - Personal interview
Motivation, lifestyle, information about the process and consequences of donation - Family and personal history
Hereditary diseases in the family, previous illnesses, medication, pregnancies - Gynaecological examination
Ultrasound, assessment of the ovaries, antral follicle count - Hormone profile
Including AMH to assess ovarian reserve - Infection serology
HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis. These tests are repeated, most recently at the time of donation. - Substance test
Every donor must pass a test for addictive substances - Karyotype
Examination of the chromosome set - Carrier screening
Genetic test for carrier status of variants in 12 genes, see the list below - Blood group and Rh factor
For matching with you - Psychological interview
Interview with the doctor about the donor's suitability and informed decision
Carrier Screening
Which genes we test in carrier screening?
- ataxia telangiectasia (ATM)
- cystic fibrosis (CFTR)
- Alport syndrome (COL4A5)
- Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD)
- Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (DHCR7)
- non-syndromic hearing loss DFNB1 (GJB2)
- Fabry disease (GLA)
- X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (IL2RG)
- myotubular myopathy (MTM1)
- Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBN)
- ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC)
- spinal muscular atrophy (SMN1)
How we choose your donor
How we choose your donor
- Our donors have a Caucasian, Central European phenotype. For common European phenotypes we can usually find a donor who is close to you: height, weight, eye colour and hair colour. Skin type, build, blood group and Rh factor are also taken into account. We agree the choice with you before the donor is released.
- Because demand is high, we cannot promise a suitable donor for every wish. Whether and how quickly we can meet your expectations is something we discuss openly in the initial consultation.
What you learn about your donor
What you learn about your donor
- that she is between 18 and 35 years old
- phenotypic features: hair colour, eye colour, skin type, build, height
- blood group and Rh factor
- results of the medical and genetic tests
For data protection reasons we tell you your donor's exact age only after a positive pregnancy test. You will not receive her name, photos or contact details; the donation is anonymous. What this means in detail is explained in the frequently asked questions.
GENETICS
Genetic testing of embryos (PGT-A)
In Prague we can offer it to you. More information
What we test
- PGT-A: testing for aneuploidy, i.e. an abnormal number of chromosomes, using the NGS method
- PGT-SR: testing for structural chromosomal abnormalities, also using NGS
- PGT-M: preimplantation diagnosis of monogenic diseases using karyomapping, if a known hereditary disease runs in your family
What this means for you
We choose an embryo with a normal number of chromosomes for the transfer. This lowers the risk of miscarriage and of a chromosomal disorder in the child, and in many cases spares you transfers that would not have led to a pregnancy anyway. Whether PGT-A makes sense in your situation is something we discuss individually: with eggs from young donors, the share of chromosomally abnormal embryos is lower from the outset than with your own eggs.
Current prices are shown in the price list.
OUR ADVANTAGES AND EXPERTISE
You travel to Prague only once
the initial consultation is free and online, you spend 2 to 3 hours with us for the embryo transfer, and your partner comes once to give a sperm sample. Nobody needs to stay overnight, and you do not need several days of leave.
Embryo guarantee in the EXTRA and EXTRA PLUS packages
in IVF treatment with donated eggs we guarantee you 2 high-quality embryos graded 3AB or better on the Gardner scale, provided the medical assessment of sperm quality in the semen analysis is good.
You pay in three steps, not everything in advance
at the start of treatment, after the donor is chosen and on the day of egg retrieval.
Complications on the donor's side
if we have to interrupt treatment for this reason, we offer to continue with a new donor.
The price list, payment plan and cancellation terms
are public and part of your treatment agreement.
English-speaking coordinator
One permanent English-speaking contact person throughout your treatment.
Your English-speaking contact person
- IVF coordinator
Ing. Alena Jeřábková
You have one permanent contact person who speaks English and supports you throughout your treatment: from your first question through scheduling to aftercare. Write to us in English, call us or arrange a call-back. You do not need a referral for the initial consultation.
Monday - Friday:
7:30 - 16:00
COSTS
From EUR 5.400, known in advance
An IVF cycle with egg donation at ISCARE costs from EUR 5.400. All prices apply to patients without Czech public health insurance and are stated in EUR.
LABORATORY AND TECHNOLOGY
- eWitness electronic sample identification: protection against mix-ups at every step
- extended embryo culture to the blastocyst stage
- ICSI as standard in treatment with donated eggs
- time-lapse embryo monitoring in the GERI incubator
- microfluidic chip for sperm selection
- vitrification and our own cryobank
- EmbryoGlue, assisted hatching, PGT-A and PGT-M
Head of Assisted Reproduction ISCARE
MUDr. Diana Garabášová Mlynárová
“For many years I have been caring for couples who wish to have a child. I studied at the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University in Brno and gained my clinical experience at the Institute for the Care of Mother and Child in Prague and then at Sanatorium Pronatal, where I was deputy head physician. In my work I value an individual approach, open communication and trust. I believe every couple deserves care tailored to their situation and sensitive guidance on the path to parenthood.”
“Patients do not remember the medical details or the names of medicines. They remember how they felt in our care.”
EXPERIENCES
Add your own reviewYOUR STORIES
Parents Michelle, Tomas and their Ellen
Thanks to you, we have a beautiful, healthy baby girl
"Words cannot express how much we thank Chief Lacheta for his attitude and support. But we cannot forget the other kind staff, from the reception to the nurses. Thanks to you, we have a beautiful, healthy baby girl, Ellen. Thank you very much," the happy parents wrote to us.
Mummy Olina and her Olinka
We recommend you everywhere
"Thanks to the friendly and empathetic approach of ISCARE nurses and doctors, we have a beautiful little girl at home for a few months now. We recommend you everywhere," wrote the happy mother Olina.
Mother Marcela and her Christopher
We made it and we're Family
"We've waited so long for you. All our journey and all the disappointment was worth it. We made it and we're a family now. Thank you for our little miracle," wrote mom Marcela.
Let's talk about your situation
FAQ: Legal questions
Does my partner have to consent?
Yes. Before each procedure you both sign a joint consent, which must not be older than six months.
Up to what age can I be treated?
Under Czech law, until you reach the age of 49. Your age on the day of the embryo transfer is decisive.
Am I the legal mother of the child?
Yes. The mother of a child is the woman who gave birth to it. This applies regardless of where the egg came from and in which country the treatment took place. Your partner's paternity is established in the usual way.
On what legal basis do you provide treatment in Prague?
Assisted reproduction, including egg donation, is regulated in the Czech Republic by Act No. 373/2011 Coll. We work under the supervision of the Czech Ministry of Health and in line with EU rules on handling human tissues and cells.
Am I committing an offence if I have treatment in Prague?
Under current law, patients who have treatment elsewhere in Europe do not commit an offence. This page is not legal advice. For your personal situation we recommend speaking to a law firm specialising in family law.
FAQ: Donor and anonymity
Will you always find a suitable donor for me?
Thanks to our experience since 1994 we have a donor database that allows us to meet most wishes. Because demand is high, however, we cannot promise a suitable donor for every wish. How long the search will take in your case is something we can tell you after the initial consultation.
To what standards do you test your donors?
All donors are tested at the time of donation, in line with European legislation on human tissues and cells and the recommendations of ESHRE and the Czech Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics (SLG ČLS JEP). The tests for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis are repeated.
How old are your donors and how are they tested?
Between 18 and 35. Every donor goes through a personal interview, medical history, gynaecological and ultrasound examination, hormone tests, infection serology, a substance test, genetic testing and a psychological assessment. Details are given above in the section on our donors.
Can my child later obtain medical information about the donor?
We keep the donor's medical data for 30 years. Should your child later need medically relevant information, it can be requested through the treating doctors without disclosing the donor's identity.
Does the donor learn anything about me? Does she have rights towards the child?
No and no. She learns nothing about you, has no rights or obligations towards the child and cannot ask about the outcome of the treatment.
Can I choose my donor myself?
We make the selection for you: we look for a donor who is as close as possible to your phenotype and agree the choice with you before she is released. A catalogue of donor profiles to choose from is not possible under Czech law, because the donation is anonymous.
What phenotype do your donors have?
Our donors have a Caucasian, Central European phenotype. Within this group we select by height, weight, eye colour, hair colour, skin type, build, blood group and Rh factor to achieve the closest possible match with you.
Will I learn my donor's exact age?
All our donors are between 18 and 35. For data protection reasons we tell you your donor's exact age only after a positive pregnancy test.
What do I learn about the donor?
Her age range, phenotypic features, blood group and Rh factor, and the results of the medical and genetic tests. You will not receive her name, photos or contact details.
Is egg donation anonymous?
Yes. Czech law obliges us to preserve mutual anonymity between the donor and the recipient couple. We do not disclose the donor's identity to you or to your child.
FAQ: Process and travel
Why do the STD tests have to be repeated in Prague?
Because Czech law requires it: tests for sexually transmitted diseases must be carried out in the laboratory of the treating clinic. That is why we take blood during your partner's visit, on the same day as the sperm sample. The test is included in the treatment package.
How do you make sure there is no mix-up?
Our laboratory works with the eWitness electronic identification system. Every sample is clearly labelled and the system checks every step automatically. If anything does not match, it raises an alarm immediately.
Do I need a referral?
No.
Do we have to have the semen analysis done in Prague?
No. We accept a semen analysis from the United Kingdom. If you prefer to have it done with us, it costs EUR 100.
What can I do in the United Kingdom?
The initial consultation takes place online. You can have the ultrasound, hormone levels and semen analysis done by your own doctors. Our coordinator will send you a list of the findings and hormone tests we need.
Is the initial consultation free?
Yes. The initial consultation is free of charge and takes place online by video.
Is the embryo transferred fresh or frozen?
Both are possible. In a fresh transfer we transfer the embryo on the fifth day after egg retrieval from the donor; in a frozen transfer, at a later time that suits your cycle. We decide together which option is right for you.
How long do I stay in Prague for the transfer?
Including preparation and rest you spend 2 to 3 hours with us and can then travel home. You do not need to stay overnight.
How often do I have to travel to Prague?
You yourself only once, for the embryo transfer. Your partner comes once to give a sperm sample, alone or together with you. Each visit takes 2 to 3 hours. The initial consultation is online and costs you no travel.
FAQ: Costs
How much does it cost to freeze embryos?
Vitrification is included in the EXTRA and EXTRA PLUS packages. Otherwise it is charged separately, including one year of storage. Prices are in the price module.
Will my health insurance cover the costs?
Usually not. Please check your personal situation directly with your health insurer.
When do I pay?
In three steps: at the start of treatment, after the donor is chosen and on the day of egg retrieval. The exact amounts are in the price module.
How much does the treatment cost?
An IVF cycle with egg donation costs from EUR 5,400. What is and is not included is listed above in the Costs section; current prices for all packages are in the price module.
FAQ: Genetic testing of embryos
How much does PGT-A cost?
Current prices for the PGT package and for testing each embryo are in the price module.
What does PGT-A actually do for me?
We choose an embryo with a normal number of chromosomes for the transfer. This lowers the risk of miscarriage and of a chromosomal disorder in the child, and spares you transfers that would not have led to a pregnancy anyway. With eggs from young donors the share of abnormal embryos is lower from the outset, so we discuss individually whether PGT-A makes sense for you.
Do you offer PGT-A?
Yes. We test embryos for aneuploidy (PGT-A) and for structural chromosomal abnormalities (PGT-SR) using the NGS method. If a known monogenic disease runs in your family, PGT-M using karyomapping is also possible.
FAQ: If it does not work
What happens if treatment has to be stopped?
If treatment has to be interrupted for serious health reasons, we assess each case individually. If it is stopped because of complications on the donor's side, we offer to continue with a new donor.
What exactly do you guarantee with egg donation?
In the EXTRA and EXTRA PLUS packages we guarantee you 2 high-quality embryos graded 3AB or better on the Gardner scale, provided the medical assessment of sperm quality in the semen analysis is good. The Gardner scale is the international standard for grading blastocysts. This guarantee is not included in the STANDARD package.
What if I do not get pregnant?
A frozen embryo transfer with a frozen embryo is possible; prices are in the price module. Your doctor will discuss the next steps with you.