Egg donation and surrogacy news in 2024 (and the information day you won’t want to miss this April)

With Growing Families’ annual Surrogacy & Donor Information Day coming up in London on 21 April 2024, we caught up with event organiser Sam Everingham for a sneak peak into what will be discussed.

This fantastic, once-yearly event will take place at the Wellcome Collection, Euston, 9.30 – 16.30 BST. And, if you’re looking into egg donation and surrogacy to build your family, and are keen to make sure you’re up to speed – you won’t want to miss it.

Got your tickets yet? Book yours here. We love that one-to-one consultations are included with your ticket, with the opportunity to arrange meetings with as many experts from the seminars as you like.

Now, over to Sam.

More and more of us are turning to egg donation and international surrogacy to build our families

When Anita first engaged in surrogacy after years of failed IVF transfers, she never envisaged that the Ukrainian surrogate who she matched with would go on to become close friends. 

Not only that, but after one successful surrogacy journey, her Ukrainian surrogate offered to carry a second child, this time in the UK.

Egg donation and surrogacy in 2024 – what’s the latest? 

Many countries, including Greece and Spain, have thriving Donor IVF programs, but these are all anonymous, without the ability to even view images of the donor. 

So providers in less restrictive countries (think the US, Canada, Georgia and even Ukraine) have increasingly stepped in to provide known or identity release donors, to meet the growing demand for transparency.

When it comes to surrogacy options for UK and European nationals, the ongoing war against Ukraine has caused huge problems for that country’s surrogacy programs. 

However, Georgia, which had been planning to close its programs in early 2024, has put a hold on such plans, leaving this as a viable option for some heterosexual couples looking for affordability. 

Greece also has surrogacy available for foreigners, but like North Cyprus, prices have increased dramatically and surrogates are nearly always brought in from elsewhere, leading to serious ethical concerns. 

What does this mean for intended parents? 

This means established locations like Canada and the US are in high demand. There is also increasing interest in less known alternatives like Argentina and Ghana, given surrogates are all local and these countries have amenable laws.

The Growing Families Egg Donation & Surrogacy Information Day will have experts available from each of these destinations and there will be ample opportunity to ask the hard questions and learn from parents who have walked in your shoes.

Surrogacy news, and more – the talks to earmark, at the Surrogacy & Donor Information Day

Designed to give you realistic expectations and help you navigate the options, the day is a chance to come together to support journeys to parenthood, focusing particularly on donor options, as well as surrogacy. 

Don’t miss these key updates.

1. Selecting, matching and getting started

If you’re at the very beginning of your family-building journey, you’ll be in good hands. Hear about differences in timelines with surrogacy and egg donation, all about donor and surrogate screening and matching, especially across borders, using repeat vs. first-time surrogates, and more.

Be sure to attend:

• Considerations in Where to Engage – 9.30 – 9.50
• Considerations in Selecting a Donor – 9.50 – 10.10
• Considerations in Surrogate Matching – 10.10 – 10.30

2. Surrogacy news and latest developments globally 

Get clued up on the latest surrogacy news to know, with expert advice from doctors and surrogates, as well as hearing from a panel of recent parents like Anita, who engaged in international surrogacy – in the US, Canada, Georgia or Northern Cyprus.

Be sure to attend: 

• Surrogacy & Donor IVF in Greece, Georgia, Ghana & Argentina – 10.30 – 11.10
• Parent Panel – 14.30 – 15.10
• Surrogate Panel – 16.05 – 16.40

3. Egg donor updates 

If you’re looking at building your family with donor eggs, you’ll be able to hear about egg and embryo donation options in 2024 as well as dive into the ins and outs of known vs ID release donors, ethnicity considerations, shipping donor eggs for surrogacy, and more.

Be sure to attend: 

• Donor Egg & Donor Embryo Options – 12.05 – 12.25
• Disclosure to Donor/Surrogacy-conceived – 16.40 – 17.00

4. Legal ins and outs, in Europe and beyond

Something that can feel particularly daunting if we’re thinking about egg donation IVF and surrogacy are the legal frameworks – especially if we’re looking to go abroad. Specialist lawyers will discuss how their nationals can have newborns via surrogacy recognised, and outline what should be on your legal checklist.

Be sure to attend: 

• Obtaining Passports for Newborns/Country Exit Processes – 14.00 – 14.15
• Obtaining Parental Orders in the UK Post-surrogacy – 14.15 – 14.30
• Surrogate and Newborn Insurance in foreign jurisdictions – 15.40 – 16.05 (Room 1)
• Legal Processes for other European Countries – 15.40 – 16.05 (Room 2)

Access peer and expert support for family building in London, this April

There have been huge changes in costs, availability and other issues in the last year alone, around the globe, impacting surrogacy and egg donation alike.

So whether you are part way along, or still considering your options, don’t miss this once-yearly opportunity to chat with experts, and get in the know. 

You can find full information about the Growing Families Egg Donation & Surrogacy Information Day here, and book your tickets to reserve your spot here.

Can’t join in person? If you are unable to attend the seminar, opt for the 1-hour highlights reel and receive insights from keynote speakers available through a download link sent to you a week after the event.