Donor Egg IVF - How Does It Works?

Donor egg IVF is used by more than 70 percent of infertile women above 45 years to conceive. More than 8,000 babies are born in the US to women of all age groups by this method of Assistive Reproductive Technologies (ART). This kind of fertility treatment will become even more popular, in the days to come, because of advances in the egg-freezing technology.

What are donor eggs?

Donor eggs are eggs given by a healthy, fertile woman to an infertile woman for in-vitro fertilisation or IVF.

How does the Donor Egg IVF program work?

Before you start this course of treatment, you must consult your doctor regarding its feasibility and effect on your health. Typically, the process has the following steps;

1. After a donor has been identified, the infertile woman (referred to as ‘you’) and the donor are given medication so that the menstrual cycles of both are synchronised. You are also given medication so that your endometrium lining is ready for womb transfer.
2. After their donation, the eggs are fertilised using the In Vitro Fertilization technique.
3. Since the donor is under 35, not more than three embryos are transferred from her to your womb.
4. Embryos are formed after fertilising donor egg with partner sperm.

In some cases, the embryos may be transferred after they have been fertilised. This line of treatment is undertaken to reduce the stress of this treatment on you.

In cases of men, the following procedures are followed;

1. Unless the sperm belongs to another man, your partner will be required to give a sample of his sperm to check sperm quality.
2. The partner must give another sample on the day the eggs are collected.
3. In the next stage, the eggs and sperm are mixed together and in vitro fertilised.

Chances of success in Donor Egg IVF program

The chances of you conceiving through this program are 60-70%. This strike rate is significantly higher than a conventional IVF line of treatment.

How to start with Donor Egg IVF program?

1. Finding an egg donor is not that difficult these days. You can find a donor through a fertility clinic, an egg bank, an egg donation agency, a family member or a close family friend. Donors coming from a frozen egg bank are usually screened for health and other reasons. Most donors are in the age group of 21-35 years.
2. Make it legal i.e while getting donors is easy, the tricky part is to comply with the various legal issues. Consult your spouse, doctor and your attorney before taking this step.
3. Get counselling i.e. you need expert counselling before you conceive because, let us face it, your baby is not your biological offspring. You and your spouse need to be adequately psychologically prepared for this important development in the family.