Donor Egg

Donor Egg IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is a valuable assisted reproductive technology designed for women who are unable to conceive using their own eggs. This option is particularly beneficial for those facing challenges such as advanced maternal age, diminished ovarian reserve, genetic disorders, or previous unsuccessful IVF attempts with their own eggs. In cases where there are no contraindications to carrying a pregnancy, donor egg IVF can offer a hopeful path to parenthood.

How Donor Egg IVF Works

• Egg Donation:

  • A woman (the egg donor) undergoes ovarian stimulation through hormone therapy to produce multiple eggs. Once the eggs reach maturity, they are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure called transvaginal ultrasound aspiration.

• Fertilization:

  • The retrieved eggs are then fertilized with sperm (from the recipient’s partner or a sperm donor) in a laboratory setting. This process can utilize traditional IVF techniques or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to promote fertilization.

• Embryo Development:

  • The resulting embryos are cultured for several days in the lab. Embryos are typically assessed for quality, and the best quality embryos are selected for transfer.

• Embryo Transfer:

  • One or more healthy embryos are transferred into the recipient’s uterus. This procedure is relatively straightforward and is usually performed without anesthesia.

• Cryopreservation:

  • Any additional viable embryos can be cryopreserved (frozen) for future use if desired.

Benefits of Donor Egg IVF

• Higher Success Rates: For women with reduced egg quality or quantity, using donor eggs often leads to higher pregnancy rates, as the eggs come from younger donors who typically have a higher success rate of implantation and pregnancy.
• Genetic Screening: If desired, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) can be performed on embryos created from donor eggs to screen for genetic disorders before transfer.
• Opportunity for Biological Parenthood: While the child will not be genetically related to the recipient mother, donor egg IVF allows the recipient to experience pregnancy and childbirth.