Egg and Sperm Donation in Nigeria: How to Find a Donor, Costs, Screening & IVF
Introduction
Expert reviewed by Sarah Adekola, BSc Biomedical Science (First Class Honours) - Human Anatomy Major, Certificate in Clinical Embryology and Andrology
Egg and sperm donation is widely used in Nigeria. Many Nigerian IVF clinics run their own donor programmes, and couples can also import screened donor eggs and sperm from abroad. For women with low egg reserve, older women, and couples facing severe male-factor infertility, donation is often the treatment most likely to lead to a baby.
This guide explains how donation works in Nigeria: how to find a donor, what screening a donor should have, what the law says, how much it costs, and how donor material is moved safely between clinics and countries. We are Cryo Medical Logistics, and we coordinate supervised, hand-carried transport of donor eggs, sperm and embryos into and across Nigeria, with offices in Lagos and Abuja.
TL;DR
Is egg and sperm donation legal in Nigeria? Yes. Nigeria has no dedicated IVF law, and donor eggs and sperm are widely used by clinics.
How do I find a donor? Through your IVF clinic's own donor programme, a donor agency, or an international donor bank for imported eggs or sperm.
What screening should a donor have? At minimum: HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, genotype (for sickle cell), blood group and a full medical history. Egg donors also need ovarian reserve testing, and sperm donors a semen analysis.
How much does it cost? Donor egg IVF in Nigeria typically costs several million naira. Imported donor eggs start from around €400 per egg, and donor sperm from around $900 per vial.
Can donor material be shipped to Nigeria? Yes. Frozen donor eggs, sperm and embryos can be hand-carried to Lagos, Abuja and other cities in a −196°C dry shipper.
Is the donor anonymous? Usually yes. Most donation in Nigeria is anonymous, and donors have no legal rights or duties towards the child.
Contact Cryo Medical Logistics today.
📧 Email: transports@cryomedicallogistics.com
📱 WhatsApp - Telegram - Line - WeChat: +44 7585 610211
📞 Phone: +44 2081500059
Why Cryo Medical Logistics leads donor egg and sperm transport in Nigeria
We manage your donor journey end to end, from confirming your clinic will accept donor material to the moment it is logged into storage. We do not simply move a box; we coordinate the donor bank, the clinics, the paperwork, the timing and the courier.
Supervised, hand-carry only. A trained specialist courier stays with donor material for the whole journey. It never travels as unaccompanied cargo.
ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management across every shipment.
FCA-regulated insurance on every transport.
Do Not X-Ray protocol at every airport checkpoint.
−196°C dry shippers for frozen eggs, sperm and embryos, and temperature-controlled 2–8°C bags where a shipment requires it.
Offices in Lagos and Abuja, working with clinics across Nigeria.
Donor anonymity protected in transit. Donor identities are never disclosed on shipping paperwork beyond what the clinics require.
How does egg and sperm donation work in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, donation almost always happens inside an IVF clinic's treatment programme. There are two main routes:
Local donors. Many Nigerian clinics recruit and screen their own egg and sperm donors, or work with donor agencies. Fresh or frozen donor eggs are fertilised with the husband's sperm, and the embryos are transferred to the recipient.
Imported donors. Couples can choose frozen eggs or sperm from international donor banks. This offers a wider choice of donor profiles, including Caucasian and European donors, and detailed screening records. The frozen material is shipped to the Nigerian clinic by specialist courier.
Some clinics also offer egg sharing, where a woman going through IVF donates some of her eggs in exchange for reduced treatment costs.
Local versus imported donors: how do they compare?
Factor | Local donor (Nigeria) | Imported donor (international bank) |
Donor profiles | Mostly Nigerian and West African | Wide choice, including Caucasian, European, Asian and mixed heritage |
Matching | Usually by ethnicity, blood group, genotype and physical features | Detailed online profiles; photos and extended background often available |
Screening records | Varies by clinic | Standardised, documented screening |
Fresh or frozen | Fresh or frozen eggs; frozen sperm | Frozen only |
Waiting time | Depends on donor availability at the clinic | Often immediate, subject to shipping |
Cost | Usually lower for the donation itself | Higher donor cost, plus shipping |
Transport needed | Only if moving between clinics | Yes, international hand-carry to Nigeria |
Neither route is right for everyone. Your fertility doctor can help you weigh matching preferences, budget and timing.
How do I find an egg or sperm donor in Nigeria?
Start with your IVF clinic. Ask whether it runs its own donor programme, how donors are recruited and screened, and how long the wait is.
Consider a donor agency. Agencies recruit and pre-screen donors for several clinics. Ask to see the screening results, not just a profile.
Look at international donor banks. If you want a wider choice of profiles or fully documented screening, choose frozen eggs or sperm from an established bank abroad. Greenplace Healthcare can source these for you.
Agree matching criteria. Most Nigerian couples match on ethnicity, skin tone, height, blood group and, importantly, genotype.
Get your clinic's written agreement to use the donor before any payment or shipment is made.
Avoid informal arrangements through social media or personal contacts. They skip medical screening and leave you without legal or medical protection.
What screening should an egg or sperm donor have?
Test | Egg donor | Sperm donor | Why it matters |
HIV 1 and 2 | Yes | Yes | Prevents transmission of infection |
Hepatitis B and C | Yes | Yes | Prevents transmission of infection |
Syphilis | Yes | Yes | Prevents transmission of infection |
Genotype (haemoglobin electrophoresis) | Yes | Yes | Avoids a child with sickle cell disease; vital in Nigeria |
Blood group and rhesus factor | Yes | Yes | Matching and pregnancy planning |
Genetic carrier screening | Recommended | Recommended | Identifies inherited conditions beyond sickle cell |
Karyotype (chromosome test) | Recommended | Recommended | Detects chromosomal abnormalities |
Ovarian reserve (AMH and scan) | Yes | No | Predicts how many eggs she will produce |
Semen analysis | No | Yes | Confirms sperm quality |
Medical and family history | Yes | Yes | Flags inherited and serious illness |
Psychological assessment | Recommended | Recommended | Ensures informed, voluntary donation |
If your husband is genotype AS, your donor must be AA. Always ask for the donor's genotype result in writing before treatment.
What does the law say about egg and sperm donation in Nigeria?
Nigeria has no dedicated law on IVF or gamete donation. Clinics follow professional guidelines, and practice sets most of the rules.
In practice:
Donation is legal and widely practised, with most donations anonymous.
The woman who gives birth is the child's legal mother, even when donor eggs are used. Within marriage, her husband is treated as the father.
Donors have no legal rights or responsibilities towards the child when donation goes through a clinic, although this rests on practice and contract rather than statute.
Donor compensation is common and is usually set by the clinic or agency.
Because there is no specific statute, a clear written consent and agreement through your clinic is your best protection. Take independent legal advice if anything is unclear.
How much does egg and sperm donation cost in Nigeria?
The total cost depends on whether you use a local or imported donor, and on your clinic's IVF fees.
Treatment or service | Indicative cost | What to know |
Donor egg IVF, local donor (full cycle) | ₦2,500,000–8,000,000] | Usually includes donor screening, compensation and IVF; medication may be extra |
Donor sperm IUI, local donor | ₦500,000–1,200,000] | Lower-cost option when the woman's eggs are healthy |
Donor sperm IVF, local donor | ₦3,000,000–5,500,000] | IVF or ICSI using donor sperm |
Imported donor eggs | From about €450 per egg | Most recipients buy a cohort of several eggs |
Imported donor sperm | From about $1100 per vial | Price varies with donor profile and bank |
IVF cycle using imported eggs or sperm | ₦3,000,000–5,500,000] | Clinic fees on top of the donor material |
Genotype and screening tests for recipients | ₦50,000–200,000] | Before starting donor treatment |
Transport of imported donor material to Nigeria | Custom quote | Depends on origin, material and timing; contact us |
All figures are indicative ranges only and change with exchange rates and clinic pricing. Always confirm the current price with your clinic in writing.
What happens in donor IVF?
Consultation and tests. Your doctor confirms donation is right for you, and you and your husband complete screening.
Donor selection and matching. You choose a local or imported donor and agree matching criteria.
Consent and agreement. You, your husband and the clinic sign donor consent forms.
Donor material is prepared. A local donor goes through egg stimulation and collection, or frozen imported eggs or sperm are shipped to your clinic.
Fertilisation. Donor eggs are fertilised with your husband's sperm, or your eggs with donor sperm, usually by ICSI.
Embryo transfer. The best embryo is transferred to your womb, and any extras can be frozen.
Pregnancy test. About two weeks later.
Need donor eggs or sperm shipped to your clinic in Nigeria? Contact Cryo Medical Logistics today.
📧 Email: transports@cryomedicallogistics.com
📱 WhatsApp - Telegram - Line - WeChat: +44 7585 610211
📞 Phone: +44 2081500059
How are donor eggs and sperm shipped to Nigeria safely?
Imported donor eggs and sperm are frozen and must stay at −196°C from the donor bank to your clinic. The safest method is a supervised, hand-carried courier who stays with the dry shipper for the whole journey. The main risks with other methods are:
Unaccompanied cargo can sit on a hot tarmac or in a warehouse during a delay, with no one checking the temperature.
Airport X-ray and scanning can expose material to radiation. Our Do Not X-Ray protocol ensures shipments are inspected by hand.
Customs delays are more likely when paperwork is incomplete. We prepare everything in advance with the donor bank and your clinic.
Temperature failure is prevented by validated −196°C dry shippers with continuous monitoring and a built-in safety margin.
We also move donor eggs, sperm and embryos between clinics within Nigeria, for example from Lagos to Abuja or Port Harcourt, when couples change clinic or a donor programme is based in another city.
Common routes for donor material
Route | Typical use | Typical door-to-door time |
Europe ↔ Nigeria | Imported donor eggs and sperm from European banks | 2–3 days |
USA ↔ Nigeria | Donor eggs and sperm from US banks | 2–3 days |
UK ↔ Nigeria | Donor material and embryos from UK clinics | 1–2 days |
Lagos ↔ Abuja and other Nigerian cities | Moving donor eggs or embryos between clinics | Same day to 1 day |
Genotype, carrier and DNA testing with London Diagnostics Clinic
Male factors contribute to 40–50% of infertility cases, and genetic compatibility matters just as much in donor treatment. Our sister company, London Diagnostics Clinic, provides fertility and DNA testing for patients in Nigeria and across Africa, including semen analysis, hormone profiles, genetic carrier screening and sperm DNA fragmentation testing.
Testing both partners before choosing a donor helps your clinic make the safest match. www.londondiagnosticsclinic.com
Donor eggs, donor sperm and IVF medication with Greenplace Healthcare
Our partner, Greenplace Healthcare, is a leading source of Caucasian and European donor eggs and sperm, and supplies and ships IVF medication to patients worldwide.
Donor eggs and sperm, fully screened, sourced through Greenplace Healthcare's partner bank network and delivered by our supervised couriers.
IVF medication, sourced at competitive prices and shipped under the correct temperature conditions.
Before ordering donor material, your Nigerian clinic must confirm in writing that it accepts imported donor eggs or sperm. We check this for you as part of our coordination.
Frequently asked questions
Is egg donation legal in Nigeria? Yes. Nigeria has no dedicated IVF law, and egg and sperm donation are widely practised through fertility clinics.
How much do egg donors get paid in Nigeria? Donor compensation is usually set by the clinic or agency and covers time, travel and inconvenience. Ask your clinic for its current rates.
Can I choose a Caucasian or European egg donor in Nigeria? Yes. Imported donor eggs from international banks offer Caucasian, European and other profiles. Greenplace Healthcare can source them, and we ship them to your clinic.
Will the child look like me? Most couples match donors on ethnicity, skin tone, height and blood group. Your clinic or donor bank can help you choose a donor with similar features.
Why does genotype matter when choosing a donor? If both genetic parents carry the sickle cell trait (AS), the child could have sickle cell disease. Always confirm the donor's genotype is compatible with your husband's or your own.
Is the donor anonymous? Usually yes. Most donation in Nigeria is anonymous, and international banks offer both anonymous and identity-release donors.
Who is the legal mother when donor eggs are used? The woman who gives birth is the legal mother. Within marriage, her husband is treated as the father.
Can frozen donor eggs be shipped to Abuja or Port Harcourt, not just Lagos? Yes. We deliver donor material to clinics across Nigeria.
Can I use donor sperm without IVF? Yes. If the woman's eggs and tubes are healthy, donor sperm IUI may be an option at a lower cost.
How far in advance should I arrange shipment of donor material? Ideally three to four weeks, to allow time for the donor bank's release, clinic acceptance and paperwork.
Important information
This guide is for general information only and is not legal or medical advice. Clinic policies and the legal position in Nigeria can change. Always confirm your plans with your clinic and, where needed, a qualified lawyer.
Ready to start your donor journey? Contact Cryo Medical Logistics today.
📧 Email: transports@cryomedicallogistics.com
📱 WhatsApp - Telegram - Line - WeChat: +44 7585 610211
📞 Phone: +44 2081500059
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