Egg and Embryo Donation

Since the first successful egg donation was performed in 1983, the practice has gained in popularity. In 2000, a donor egg or embryo was used in just over 10% of all ART treatments. However, the majority of women who use a donor egg or embryo tend to be over the age of 39; nearly 70% of women over the age of 46 use a donor egg or embryo in their fertility treatments.

Who Is A Candidate?

Originally used in women who had premature ovarian failure (POF), nowadays a wide variety of women decide to use a donor egg. These people include women who a carry a genetic disorder, have suffered multiple miscarriages or have premature menopause. Because the quality of a woman's egg significantly begins to decrease after the age of 35, older women especially tend to take advantage of this technology. However, most clinics will not perform this procedure on women over the age of 55. Women whose partners have especially poor sperm quality may choose to use a donor embryo.

How Is It Done?

The procedure is basically that of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The main difference, though, is that the woman donating her eggs receives the fertility medication to stimulate her egg follicles. Simultaneously, the recipient takes estrogen and progesterone supplements to prepare her uterine lining for implantation. It is extremely important to time these processes correctly so that they are in sync with each other. This will help to ensure the best results.

Once the donor's eggs have been harvested, they are then combined with your partner's sperm or with donor sperm. After two to five days, the fertilized eggs are then transferred into your uterus. Because several eggs are retrieved, anywhere from one to four eggs may be placed in your uterus. Two weeks later, you will take a pregnancy test to see if the procedure was successful.

You will also need to keep taking your estrogen and progesterone supplements, even once you become pregnant. This is done to help ensure that the womb maintains the ideal conditions for a successful pregnancy. Once blood tests have shown that the placenta is able to support the pregnancy, you can discontinue the estrogen and progesterone treatments.

Finding A Donor

Finding just the right donor is a big job and is one that should not be rushed. There are different routes you can take find a donor. First, you and your partner should discuss whether or not you would like to use an anonymous donor or ask someone you know.

If you decide to go with a friend or family member, ideally she should be under the age of 35. She will need to undergo a thorough medical check which will include screening tests for diseases, infections, and genetic disorders. It is also a good idea to evaluate her ovarian reserves and make sure there are no fertility problems present.