Important information for people who have donated eggs, sperm or an embryo in the past. What you need to know

Stories of (possible) contact: Relatives of donors

Contact with donor conceived people: Donor FAQs

HFEA is Disability Confident Committed

Contact stories: Donors

Preparing you and your family for the possibility of contact: Questions to consider

PDF documents must be tagged to ensure accessibility and compliance with digital standards.

## What this means

Tagging in a PDF involves adding hidden metadata that outlines the structure and content of the document. These tags function similarly to HTML tags, describing elements like headings, paragraphs, lists, and tables. They are crucial for screen readers and other assistive technologies to interpret the content correctly.

## Why it matters

1. **Accessibility**: Tagging makes PDFs accessible to individuals with disabilities, allowing assistive technologies to read and navigate the document effectively.
2. **Legal Compliance**: Various laws and regulations require digital content, including PDFs, to be accessible. Failure to comply can lead to legal complications.
3. **Usability**: Tagged PDFs are more user-friendly, providing better navigation and search capabilities for all users.

## How to fix

1. **Use Tag-enabled PDF Creators**: Create or convert documents using software that supports tagging, like Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word.
2. **Manually Add Tags**: If your PDF isn't tagged, use a PDF editor's accessibility tools to add tags. This includes setting a logical reading order and adding alternative text for images.
3. **Consult Guidelines**: Follow best practices outlined in WCAG or similar guidelines for effective tagging.

## Testing Methodology

Silktide looks at the PDF and flags it if it doesn't contain tags.

## Further Reading

- [Adobe's Guide to PDF Accessibility](https://www.adobe.com/accessibility/pdf/pdf-accessibility-overview.html)

pdf-must-be-tagged

January 2026

December 2025

Human Fertilisation and Eymbryology Authority

Title / URL	Issues
Important information for people who have donated eggs, sperm or an embryo in the past. What you need to knowwww.hfea.gov.uk/media/ychhrj3z/important-information-for-people-who-have-donated-eggs-sperm-or-an-embryo-in-the-past.pdf	1
Stories of (possible) contact: Relatives of donorswww.hfea.gov.uk/media/2opfpcib/stories-of-possible-contact.pdf	1
Contact with donor conceived people: Donor FAQswww.hfea.gov.uk/media/5lteb5kf/contact-with-donor-conceived-people-donor-faqs.pdf	1
HFEA is Disability Confident Committedwww.hfea.gov.uk/media/ytjdnnsk/hfea-is-disability-confident-committed.pdf	1
Contact stories: Donorswww.hfea.gov.uk/media/vl5b3m2h/contact-stories-donors.pdf	1
Preparing you and your family for the possibility of contact: Questions to considerwww.hfea.gov.uk/media/izhfulux/preparing-you-and-your-family-for-the-possibility-of-contact.pdf	1

Tag all PDFs

Human Fertilisation and Eymbryology Authority

Where this issue has occurred