Fertility - Whole blood and components

Essential information

Includes

Infertility

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

  1. Under investigation for infertility.
  2. Any underlying cause or reason for fertility treatment precludes donation.
  3. Undergoing current fertility treatment and monitoring for pregnancy.
  4. Has ever been given human gonadotrophin of pituitary origin.
  5. The donor knows that they have ever been treated with Metrodin HP®.
Discretionary
  1. If the donor:
    1. Is not undergoing fertility investigation or treatment, and
    2. Is fully recovered from any fertility-related procedure as applicable, and
    3. Is not being monitored for pregnancy, and
    4. Does not have any underlying or associated condition that precludes donation, and
    5. Has never received treatment with human gonadotrophin of pituitary origin, and
    6. Has never received any other treatment that precludes donation, accept.
  2. If a recipient of donated egg(s), embryo(s) and/or sperm is otherwise eligible in regard to fertility investigation and treatment and any underlying or associated condition, accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant
Additional information

The use of human gonadotrophin of pituitary origin (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH]) had stopped in the UK by 1986. The situation in other countries varied so specific dates cannot be given.

Metrodin HP® was withdrawn by the Committee on Safety of Medicines in 2003 and, following advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the precautionary principle has been applied to withdraw donors who have been treated with this product. Donors treated for infertility after 2003 in the UK will not have been treated with this product. There is no need to confirm that the donor was not treated with Metrodin HP®. Donors may have received other non-pituitary derived gonadotrophins which are acceptable.

Recipients of donated eggs, embryos and sperm are eligible to donate. This is in accordance with the SaBTO microbiological safety guidelines.

Donors who have undergone egg donation, egg collection for fertility preservation, and surgical sperm retrieval should be assessed regarding any hormone treatment they have received and using the Surgery entry.

Fertility preservation is available for:

  • individuals undergoing treatment (for cancer but also for some benign conditions) that puts them at risk of becoming infertile
  • idividuals considering gender transitioning
  • elective social egg freezing, for individuals who wish to delay fertility

Reasons that donors may be undergoing treatments and procedures for fertility include polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, testicular problems and genetic conditions. For 1 in 4 individuals, the cause of their fertility problems may not be known. Sensitive questioning may be needed to establish any underlying cause or associations that may be relevant to the donor’s health and eligibility.

Donors with inherited conditions (e.g. mitochondrial disease) may undergo fertility-related diagnostic and assistance treatments and procedures. Unaffected carriers may be eligible to donate if they otherwise fulfil the criteria.

Reason for change:
The new name ‘polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome’ (previously ‘polycystic ovary syndrome’) has been added.
Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 82 (17 September 2026)