The Egg Donation Process in Greece: A Step-by-Step Guide for UK Patients

If you live in the UK and are thinking about donor eggs in Athens, the first questions are usually practical ones. How much of this can I do from home, and how long will I actually need to be in Greece? This guide answers both by walking through the egg donation process in Greece one step at a time, from checking that you are eligible to the pregnancy test.

For women whose own eggs are no longer viable, egg donation is a real route to motherhood. Greece has become one of Europe's leading destinations for egg donation IVF, thanks to progressive legislation and experienced fertility specialists.

Each stage below is marked as happening at home, in Athens, or both. Your own plan will be confirmed with your doctor.

Is egg donation in Greece open to me?

You may be a candidate for egg donation IVF under Greek law if:

• your ovarian reserve is low or depleted, whether because of age, premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or earlier treatment such as chemotherapy
• previous IVF cycles with your own eggs have not worked, particularly where embryo quality was a recurring problem
• you carry a genetic condition you do not want to pass on, and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) on your own embryos is not a suitable option
• you are a single woman, or part of a couple, married or not

Under Law 3305/2005, as amended by Law 4958/2022, assisted reproduction (including egg donation) is available to women up to the age of 54. Women aged 50 to 54 need a special permit from the National Authority for Medically Assisted Reproduction, which assesses health and suitability.

There is no residency requirement. International patients receive the same standard of care and the same legal protection as Greek nationals.

Two legal points are worth knowing early. Article 1455 of the Greek Civil Code requires a medical indication for assisted reproduction. And if you are single or in an unmarried couple, a notarial deed (a notarised consent document) must be in place before treatment begins. Your clinic will guide you through it, but build it into your timeline from the start. If you are weighing up treatment on your own, our guide to IVF in Greece for single women from the UK covers this in more detail.

Step 1: Your consultation (from home)

Your journey starts with a conversation, not a flight. You talk through your history, ask your questions and hear which type of egg donation cycle your doctor would recommend. It is also the time to raise previous IVF results, any known genetic condition, whether you will use partner or donor sperm, and any preference about donor anonymity.

Step 2: How your donor is chosen (handled in Greece)

Donor selection is carried out by the medical team in Greece, and you do not need to travel for it.

Anonymity under the updated Greek law

The rules differ from home here. In the UK, donors registered since 1 April 2005 are identifiable, meaning donor-conceived people can request identifying information when they reach 18.

Under the updated Greek law (Law 4958/2022), egg donation is no longer strictly anonymous. A donor can choose to stay fully anonymous, to be a named (known) donor, or to allow her identity to be disclosed to the child once they turn 18. Recipients can also say whether they would prefer anonymous or known donation. If you choose known or open donation, the process and level of contact are agreed with your medical team in advance. For a fuller comparison, see our guide to Greece vs UK fertility law.

What the matching involves

At Pelargos IVF, donor selection follows four stages:

1. Medical screening. Every potential donor has thorough health checks, including hormone tests, genetic carrier screening, infectious disease testing and a psychological evaluation.
2. Phenotype matching. The team matches the donor to you on physical characteristics such as blood type, eye colour, hair colour, skin tone, height and build, aiming for a natural resemblance.
3. Medical history review. The donor's personal and family medical history is carefully assessed for hereditary conditions.
4. Age range. Donors are typically aged 18 to 35, which supports good egg quality.

With anonymous donation you will not see photographs or meet the donor, but the matching puts medical safety and physical compatibility first.

Step 3: Choosing a fresh or frozen egg cycle

Your specialist will recommend one of two approaches based on your medical profile and travel circumstances. For UK patients, this choice has the biggest effect on how long you stay in Athens.

Fresh (synchronised) cycle

In a synchronised cycle, the donor's ovarian stimulation and the preparation of your womb lining happen at the same time. The donor's eggs are collected and fertilised with your partner's (or donor) sperm on the same day, and the embryos are transferred to you a few days later.

Because the eggs are fresh, nothing needs to be frozen and thawed. From stimulation to transfer the process typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. The trade-off is scheduling: your cycle and the donor's have to be carefully coordinated, and you may need to be in Athens for approximately 7 to 10 days around the transfer window.

Frozen egg (vitrified oocyte) cycle

Here, eggs from a pre-screened donor are already stored in the clinic's egg bank. They are thawed, fertilised and transferred on your timetable, so there is no need to synchronise with a donor's cycle, and a shorter visit to Athens may be possible.

Survival rates after thawing are very high with modern vitrification, although fresh eggs may have a slight edge in some cases.

Step 4: Preparing your womb lining (at home and in Athens)

In the days leading up to the transfer, you take oestrogen and progesterone to build a receptive lining in the uterus. Your doctor monitors its thickness and pattern by ultrasound.

Your medication and scan schedule are agreed in advance, and how much of this stage can be done before you fly depends on your plan. Ask your doctor at consultation which scans can happen in the UK and which in Athens.

Step 5: Fertilisation and embryo development (in Athens)

Once the donor eggs are ready, fresh on collection day or thawed from the egg bank, the laboratory work begins.

1. Sperm preparation. Your partner provides a semen sample on the day of egg collection, or a previously frozen sample is thawed. Donor sperm is prepared in the same way.
2. ICSI. In most egg donation cases, intracytoplasmic sperm injection is the preferred method. A single healthy sperm is injected directly into each mature egg to give fertilisation the best chance.
3. Embryo culture. The fertilised eggs are cultured for 3 to 5 days. The embryology team checks them daily for healthy cell division and progress to the blastocyst stage on day 5.
4. Optional PGT-A. If preimplantation genetic testing has been recommended, a small biopsy is taken from each blastocyst and analysed before transfer.

The Pelargos IVF laboratory follows strict European standards for embryo culture, with continuous monitoring systems and quality controls.

Step 6: The embryo transfer (in Athens)

The transfer itself is brief, usually no more than 10 to 15 minutes, and does not need anaesthesia. The embryology team selects the best-quality embryo (or embryos, depending on your plan). A thin, soft catheter is then guided through the cervix under ultrasound and the embryo is placed gently in the uterus.

Most patients describe it as painless or mildly uncomfortable, like a routine gynaecological examination. Any good-quality embryos that are not transferred can be frozen for future use. Afterwards you rest briefly at the clinic before going back to your accommodation.

Step 7: Flying home and the two-week wait (back in the UK)

Most patients can fly home 1 to 2 days after the transfer, and your Pelargos IVF coordinator will advise on the safest timing. Direct flights from several UK airports take roughly 3.5 to 4 hours, so most of the two-week wait can be spent at home. Our travel guide for IVF abroad has practical tips for the trip.

The wait for your pregnancy test is understandably anxious. A few guidelines help:

• Medication. Keep taking your progesterone and oestrogen exactly as prescribed. Do not stop or change doses without speaking to your doctor.
• Activity. There is no medical evidence that strict bed rest improves results. Light, normal daily activity is fine, but avoid intense exercise, heavy lifting, hot baths and saunas.
• Symptoms. Mild bloating, breast tenderness or light spotting can be normal. Contact the clinic if you have severe pain, heavy bleeding or signs of ovarian hyperstimulation (rare in recipients, but worth knowing about).

Step 8: Your pregnancy test and next steps (at home)

A blood beta-hCG test is typically scheduled 10 to 14 days after the transfer. It is more reliable than a home urine test, and it can be arranged with your local lab, or at Pelargos if you are still in Athens.

If the result is positive, ongoing monitoring (early ultrasound scans and hormone levels) is coordinated between Pelargos IVF and your local obstetrician. As a UK patient, remember that the HFEA regulates UK clinics but not clinics abroad, so ask how your care will be coordinated once you are home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the egg donor chosen in Greece?

The medical team selects your donor after comprehensive health screening, genetic carrier testing, a psychological evaluation and a review of her personal and family medical history. She is then matched to you on physical characteristics such as blood type, eye colour, hair colour, skin tone, height and build. Donors are typically aged 18 to 35. If you choose anonymous donation you will not see photographs, but the match prioritises medical safety and physical compatibility.

How long does the egg donation process take?

From your first consultation to embryo transfer, a fresh (synchronised) cycle typically takes 6 to 10 weeks. Within that, the stretch from the donor's stimulation to the transfer is usually 4 to 6 weeks. A frozen egg cycle is more flexible, because timing depends on the preparation of your womb lining rather than on a donor's cycle. Your doctor will give you a personal timeline.

How long will I need to stay in Athens?

The embryo transfer visit usually takes 5 to 10 days, depending on your plan. With a fresh, synchronised cycle you may need to be in Athens for approximately 7 to 10 days around the transfer window. A frozen egg cycle may allow a shorter visit. Most patients can fly home 1 to 2 days after the transfer, and your coordinator will advise on the safest timing.

Is egg donation in Greece anonymous?

Not necessarily. Under Law 4958/2022, a donor can remain fully anonymous, be a named (known) donor, or allow her identity to be disclosed to the child at 18. Recipients can also express a preference for anonymous or known donation. If you opt for known or open donation, the process and the level of contact are discussed with your medical team before treatment.

Ready to take the first step?

Whether you are just starting to read about donor eggs or ready to plan dates, the Pelargos IVF team can explain your options and help you work out which steps you can manage from home.

You can book a free online consultation whenever you feel ready, or read more about our egg donation programme first. There is no pressure either way.

Adapted for UK patients from the Pelargos IVF guide "Egg Donation Process in Greece: What to Expect Step by Step" (https://pelargosivf.com/2026/02/10/egg-donation-process/).