Egg donation for patients in Germany, Austria & Switzerland

Egg donation in Austria, Czechia, and Spain for patients from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: process, costs, legal situation, and what to check.

This page covers Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

In egg donation, eggs from a donor are used to make a pregnancy possible for another woman. The donated eggs are fertilized with the partner’s sperm (or donor sperm) through IVF or ICSI and transferred to the recipient as an embryo.

Egg donation is an option for women whose own eggs are no longer sufficient, whether because of early menopause, cancer treatment, repeated IVF failure, or age.

Legal status in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

Legislation on egg donation differs considerably across the German-speaking countries:

Germany

Egg donation is prohibited in Germany. The Embryo Protection Act (Embryonenschutzgesetz) of 1990 forbids the use of eggs from another woman for fertilization. Many German patients therefore go abroad, mainly to Austria, Czechia, and Spain.

Important: Treatment abroad is legal for German patients. There are no criminal consequences for recipients who are treated abroad.

Austria

Egg donation has been legal in Austria since 2015. Austria’s Reproductive Medicine Act (Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz, FMedG) permits both egg donation and sperm donation. Eggs may only be retrieved from the donor between her 18th and 30th birthdays, and the recipient must be younger than 45 at the start of treatment. A maximum of 3 recipient couples is permitted per donor, and payment beyond out-of-pocket expenses is prohibited. Notarial counseling and a notarial deed are also required. Since 2015, children have had the right to learn the donor’s identity from the age of 14.

Switzerland

Egg donation is currently prohibited in Switzerland (Art. 4 of the Swiss Federal Act on Medically Assisted Reproduction, FMedG). In 2022, Parliament adopted a motion to permit it, and in early 2025 the Federal Council adopted key parameters. A consultation procedure is planned for the second quarter of 2027, and until then the ban remains in place. Patients from Switzerland also go abroad.

Who might consider egg donation?

  • Premature ovarian insufficiency: early loss of function of the ovaries
  • Age over 42 or 43: when her own eggs no longer lead to a pregnancy
  • Repeated IVF failure: no implantation despite good embryo quality
  • Genetic conditions: those that cannot be ruled out through PGT
  • After cancer treatment: if none of her own eggs were frozen and the ovaries no longer function
  • Turner syndrome or other chromosomal variations

The egg donation process

1. Consultation and diagnostic testing

At the initial consultation, your medical history and the reasons for egg donation are discussed. You receive comprehensive information about the chances, risks, and psychological aspects. Most clinics also offer psychological counseling.

2. Choosing the donor

The clinic selects a suitable donor based on several criteria:

  • Phenotype matching: similar physical characteristics (hair color, eye color, body build, skin type)
  • Blood type compatibility
  • Age: Donors are usually between 20 and 30 years old
  • Health screening: comprehensive medical and genetic testing

In many European countries, donation is anonymous or semi-anonymous. In Austria, children have the right to know the donor’s identity from age 14.

3. Synchronizing the cycles

The cycles of the donor and the recipient are synchronized with hormones. The donor undergoes ovarian stimulation (as in IVF), while the recipient builds up the uterine lining with estrogen and progesterone medications.

4. Egg retrieval and fertilization

The donor’s eggs are retrieved by puncture and fertilized in the lab by ICSI with the partner’s sperm (or donor sperm).

5. Embryo transfer

One or two embryos are transferred to the recipient’s uterus. Depending on the applicable legislation, surplus embryos can be cryopreserved.

Success rates

Success rates for egg donation are higher than average because the eggs come from young, healthy donors. European registry data (ESHRE, treatment year 2019):

Criterion Pregnancy rate per transfer
Freshly donated eggs 50.5%
Thawed (vitrified) eggs 44.8%

The values vary widely between countries. According to ESHRE, the recipient’s age plays hardly any role in the outcome. What matters is the quality of the donated eggs. Women over 40 or 45 also have good chances with donor eggs, as long as their health allows a pregnancy.

Costs

Austria

  • Treatment costs: €5,000 to €8,000 (including donor costs)
  • Medication (recipient): €500 to €1,000
  • No funding from the IVF Fund (IVF-Fonds) for the egg donation portion; if one partner has an indication that qualifies for the Fund, however, the IVF/ICSI can be covered in part

Czechia

One of the most popular destinations for patients from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland:

  • Treatment costs: €4,000 to €6,000 (all-inclusive)
  • High quality: many clinics specialize in international patients
  • No waiting times: large pool of donors

Spain

Traditionally the European center for egg donation:

  • Treatment costs: €6,000 to €9,000
  • Strict anonymity: the donor’s identity remains unknown
  • Extensive experience: Spain reports the most egg donation cycles in Europe, ahead of Czechia and Russia

Additional costs of treatment abroad

  • Travel and accommodation: €500 to €1,500 (depending on the destination country and length of stay)
  • Multiple trips possible: Usually 2 to 3 stays (consultation, transfer, follow-up care if needed)
  • Follow-up care in Germany: Your gynecologist at home can take over prenatal care

Psychological aspects

Egg donation is not just a medical procedure, and its emotional dimension is significant. Common themes:

  • Genetic connection: The recipient is not genetically related to the child (the partner is, however, if the partner’s sperm is used). Studies show, though, that the mother-child relationship can be just as close: In a British study, 5-year-old children born through egg donation described their relationship with their mother as even warmer than children born after IVF with their mother’s own eggs did (Imrie et al., 2021).
  • Epigenetics: The environment in the uterus influences the embryo’s gene expression. So the recipient does play a part in the biological development.
  • Telling the child: Most experts recommend telling the child about how they came to be, in an age-appropriate way.

Many clinics offer psychological counseling alongside treatment. Take advantage of this service.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Under the Embryo Protection Act, neither the donor nor the recipient faces criminal liability; only carrying out the procedure in Germany is punishable. However, the costs of egg donation abroad are not tax deductible (Federal Fiscal Court [Bundesfinanzhof], 2022).

Who is listed on the birth certificate?

The woman who carries and gives birth to the child is the legal mother, regardless of whose egg was used. This applies equally in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Is there an age limit?

Legally defined age limits for recipients exist in Austria: The woman must be younger than 45 at the start of treatment. Most clinics in Czechia and Spain have internal limits of 50 or 51 years. What matters is that a pregnancy is medically justifiable.

Can you have a say in the donor’s phenotype?

Yes. Clinics routinely match donors and recipients by physical characteristics (hair color, eye color, skin type, body build). You can state your preferences, but the clinic makes the final match.

How long are the waiting times?

In Austria: a few weeks to a few months. In Czechia: often immediate or with a short wait. In Spain: 1 to 3 months, depending on the clinic and phenotype.

Conclusion

Egg donation offers good chances for women whose own eggs are no longer sufficient. It is prohibited in Germany and Switzerland and permitted in Austria under strict conditions. Many couples therefore have the treatment done abroad and should compare the countries’ costs, anonymity rules, and waiting times. Psychological support can help you think the decision through carefully.

Sources

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