Waiting lists for eggs at a Northampton fertility clinic have been satisfied for the first time after donors’ expenses were increased.
The fertility regulator decided to increase payments to egg donors to £750 in April after concerns unrealistic expenses were deterring women, as they could be left out of pocket by donating.
After a resulting publicity campaign by Care Fertility in Northampton, all their women who were unable to conceive naturally have now been allocated eggs.
Charlotte Dyson, aged 30, from Daventry, began donating before the payments ruling, but believed that the change was a turning point for many others.
She said: “I don’t think the £250 that used to be offered would cover all the time off and travelling for appointments. The £750 is more realistic.
“But I don’t think for a second anyone would be a donor to earn money because there is still the hassle and discomfort.
“If you didn’t already want to do it for the right reasons, you’d be foolish to try to donate for the money.”
Charlotte decided to donate after a friend had to use another woman’s eggs to have a baby.
She said: “She got two little girls out of it and she’s totally in awe of what I’ve done.
“I’m just happy to be able to help other women.”
Egg donor Charlotte Dyson knows the day may come when a familiar looking teen comes knocking on her door . . . or more than one.
She said: “I’ve donated three times now and I know there have been five pregnancies, including twins. When they are 18 they can find out about me if they like, but it doesn’t bother me, I’m fascinated by it. To me, my egg is just an ingredient in a baby, which would have gone to waste.”
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