Egg Donation Program For Recipients

Married or single women with premature ovarian failure, malfunction of the reproductive organs, chromosomal abnormalities, genetic disorders, removal of the ovaries or radiation to the ovaries are candidates for IVF with donated eggs. Previous IVF patients who have had a poor response to ovarian stimulation or poor quality eggs may also be candidates.

American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines include screening for sexually transmitted diseases, infectious diseases such as Hepatitis and HIV, antisperm antibodies and hormonal evaluations, among others. The uterine cavity will be evaluated using several methods to ensure its receptivity at the time of embryo transfer. One such method is a Preparatory Cycle (Prep Cycle) that hormonally mimics a natural menstrual cycle. Since pregnancy puts added stress on a woman's body, if you are 44 or older, you will need to obtain medical clearance before starting in our program and may need to do some additional testing.

Donors can be either known (a relative or friend) or anonymous. There may be a waiting period, according to the waiting list and your donor requirements. Donors are offered to recipients who have completed their screening tests or are near completion. If you are offered a donor with whom you do not feel appropriately matched, you may refuse that donor and wait for the next available one without compromising your position on the waiting list. The donor you rejected will be offered to the next couple on our list. Any special requests you may have for a donor should be noted on your history form and should be brought to the attention of the nurse coordinator.

Donors must undergo extensive physical testing before they are accepted into our program. Anonymous donors must be 19-31 years of age while known donors may be 19-36 years of age. It is important to note that known donors, regardless of their age, must have sufficient ovarian function to respond adequately to stimulation. A woman may donate a maximum of 4 times. If you choose to use an anonymous donor you will be given a complete medical history of the donor and her family as well as a thorough description of her physical characteristics.

Yes, if you are between the ages of 19 and 36, and have sufficient ovarian function. You must also undergo the same medical screening tests as an anonymous donor, such as HIV, and hepatitis screening.

IVF using donated eggs can be quite expensive. Your costs for will include:

• Blood tests, medications and ultrasounds for both donor and recipient.
• $3,000 compensation to the donor for her time and effort.

Some of these fees may not be covered by your insurance. If not covered by insurance, one cycle of IVF with donor egg can cost from $13,500 to $16,000.

Many different types of women chose to become donors. Often, the donor is a young mother or a full time student who finds donation a way to supplement her income and satisfy her unselfish desires at the same time. All donors undergo thorough screening before being accepted into the program.

Yes, provided that the donor undergoes the same screening that would be required for any other donor.

Initial Consultation

• You will meet with the physician to review your medical history, and possibly have a physical exam, blood testing, ultrasound, pap test and cultures.
• You will also meet with a nurse coordinator to review the program in detail, discuss the required medical screening tests for you and your partner.  In a financial consultation we will review the cycle costs, insurance reimbursement and payment schedules.

Egg Production

• Before beginning the IVF cycle, the donor and recipient's menstrual cycles are synchronized using the medication Lupron.
• The donor will begin taking daily injections of fertility drugs to increase the number of eggs produced. When more eggs are available, more embryos can be fertilized increasing the chances of having healthy embryos to select for implantation.
• During this phase, the donor will be evaluated on a daily basis by blood tests and ultrasound to determine the number and maturity of egg producing follicles on the ovaries.

Preparing for Pregnancy

• During this time, you will take medications to prepare your uterus for an implanting embryo. The lining of the uterus, the endometrium, will be evaluated through blood tests and ultrasounds.
• To prepare for the actual embryo transfer, a "mock transfer" may be performed by inserting a catheter (a very thin, flexible tube) to determine the angle and depth of your cervix and uterus.

Egg Retrieval

• At a time determined by the physician, your donor will undergo the egg retrieval, during which eggs are removed from the ovary while the donor is under IV sedation.

Fertilization and Embryo Transfer

• Your partner will produce a semen sample that will be used to fertilize the eggs.
• The resulting embryos will be held in an incubator for 3 to 5 days.
• Your physician will discuss the number and quality of the embryos with you, and help you decide how many embryos to transfer. If you have extra embryos, you may decide to cryopreserve (freeze) the embryos for future pregnancy.
• The transfer procedure is performed under sterile conditions. The embryos are placed into the uterus through a thin catheter, and the procedure is quick and painless.
• Following the transfer, you will lie down for 30 minutes, and then you may return home to relax for the rest of the day.
• Approximately one week later we will check your progesterone level, and one week after that we will perform a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant we will follow your progress for an additional 4-5 weeks before discharging you to your own obstetrician.