Embryo donation in Greece: how embryo adoption works

Embryo donation — also known as ‘embryo adoption’ — is often only considered as a last resort, after several failed attempts, when both egg and sperm donation are required. It is sometimes worth considering it at an earlier stage. Here is what you need to know before discussing it with a clinic.

What Greek law says

Law 3305/2005 and Article 1459 of the Greek Civil Code authorise the donation of surplus embryos. The embryos come from a couple — or a woman — who have undergone IVF, have had the children they wanted or have decided to stop their treatment, and who have chosen in writing to donate them rather than destroy them or donate them to research. Written consent from both members of the couple is mandatory.

The donation is free of charge: no payment is permitted. It is anonymous by default. Since the enactment of Law 4958/2022, the Greek Civil Code has also provided for the possibility that an adult child may, upon request, obtain the donor’s name and date of birth where the donor has consented to this; in practice, however, most donations remain anonymous. In all cases, there is no legal parent-child relationship with the donors: the woman who gives birth is the mother.

Who is eligible

The same people as for any assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment in Greece: married couples, those in civil partnerships or cohabiting couples, and single women, up to 54 years of age, with authorisation from the National Authority between the ages of 50 and 54 (see the age limit in Greece).

The most common indications:

• a need for both egg and sperm donation (see double donation);
• multiple failed IVF attempts, including those involving egg donation;
• a single woman who can no longer use her own eggs;
• the choice, for some, to give existing embryos a chance.

How embryos are allocated

As with egg donation, you do not choose the donors. The clinic allocates the embryos, taking into account the blood group and physical characteristics of both the donors and the recipients. You will receive non-identifying information: the donors’ age at the time of IVF, blood group, general characteristics, and the quality of the embryos.

One point to bear in mind: availability depends on the clinic’s stock. Unlike with egg donation, where a donor can be stimulated specifically for you, in this case compatible embryos must already exist. Depending on the clinic, this can take from a few weeks to several months.

The procedure

This is a standard frozen embryo transfer. The endometrium is prepared, usually with oestrogen followed by progesterone; the embryo is thawed and transferred on the scheduled day. No stimulation, no egg retrieval. The stay in Greece is short, often three to five days, and the pregnancy test is carried out at home. The choice between a natural cycle and a medicated cycle is explained in FET: natural or medicated cycle.

Costs

Embryo donation is generally significantly cheaper than egg donation, as there is no donor stimulation or egg retrieval: the cost is similar to that of a frozen embryo transfer, plus the allocation and screening fees specific to each clinic. Prices vary considerably; ask for a written quote specifying what is included and how many embryos you will be allocated.

What I am asked most often

‘Are the chances good?’ They depend mainly on the woman’s age at the time the embryos were created and on their quality, not on your age. A good-quality blastocyst derived from young eggs yields success rates comparable to those of a standard frozen embryo transfer.

‘Should we tell the child?’ Psychologists recommend telling them early on, using simple words. The child has no genetic link to either parent, and may have genetic siblings in another family. Support prior to the transfer is helpful (see psychological support).

Frequently asked questions

Triada Baloukoudis
Independent IVF patient coordinator in Thessaloniki, with 24 years of experience supporting patients travelling from abroad. More · Contact · Facebook