Egg ( oocyte) donation is an option for women who are unable to use their own eggs to achieve a pregnancy. Couples should discuss this option with their health care provider to see if it is the right choice for them.Who is right for egg donation?
Those who have stopped menstruating due to:
- Advanced maternal age
- Genetic reasons
- Auto immune responses
- Radiation and/or chemotherapy
- Surgical removal of both ovaries
- Produced few or no eggs, or had an elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in a previous in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle
- Did not respond well to fertility drugs in a prior cycle
- Failed to achieve a pregnancy after multiple IVF cycles
- Unexplained infertility
Benefits of Egg Donation
RSC’s experienced donor program is proud to report clinical pregnancy rates of 60 percent with each egg donation cycle.
Egg donation has some advantages over adoption. Though the donor provides half of the genetic make up of the embryo, the recipient controls the prenatal environment, prenatal nutrition and she is able to experience pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
Risks of Egg DonationIn addition to the usual risks of IVF, approximately 15% of these pregnancies will miscarry, and 25% of egg donation pregnancies result in multiple births (twins or triplets). The success rates are better than pregnancy rates in IVF cycles using a woman’s own eggs
How to ProceedIf you feel egg donation may be an option for you contact our office to schedule a consultative appointment with one of our physicians. We will help you determine whether this is a good option for you. Discussion includes the process of egg donor selection, an evaluation cycle, the real cycle, success rates and cost.
Selecting a DonorChoosing a donor is a very serious process. We will help you to find a donor that is right for you. Your egg donor can be someone you know, such as a sister, friend or relative or it can be someone you choose anonymously from RSC’s donor database. If you are unable to find a suitable donor on our database we can provide you with donor Agency referrals.
RSC is proud of their donor database. All of our program donors are pre-screened and ready to go into cycle once they are chosen. Known or Agency donors may require 45-60 days to complete screening.
All donors are screened for:
- Age 20-31
- Comprehensive medical history and physical exam to rule out any possible medical conditions that would prevent them from being able to donate.
- Day 3 bloodtest to evaluate ovarian reserve (FSH / E2)
- Blood type, blood count
- Drug Screen
- Consultation with Genetic Counselor
- Psychological Assessment
- Infectious disease screening
- Genetic Disease Testing – Cystic Fibrosis and Fragile X
- Additional genetic testing as indicated
The cost of using an egg donor can vary depending on how and where you find your donor.
Our financial counselors can provide you with information about cycle costs and financing options.
RSC program donors receive compensation for their time. Compensation varies from $5,000 - $7,000.
How do you prepare for an IVF cycle using a donor?Once you complete a consultative visit with one of our physicians they will develop a treatment plan specialized to your particular needs. We require recipients to complete a series of pre-screening tests that include, but are not limited to, the following:
Male Testing includes:Infectious Disease Screening
Semen analysis
Blood count and hemoglobin testing for certain blood disorders such as thalasscemia
Female Testing includes:
Blood type
Blood count
Other screening blood tests as ordered by your physician
Infectious Disease Screening
Test Cycle
Saline Sonogram
Uterine sounding
Mammogram
Pap Smear
MD clearance note (over 45yrs old)
Cardiac Stress Test (over 45 yrs old)
Both partners are required to attend a session with a psychologist. RSC will provide you with a list of counselors to choose from and then ask that you schedule an appointment session with that counselor.
OK, now what?
Once you have chosen a donor and your precycle testing is complete what happens next?
You and your donor will start birth control pills to coordinate your cycles.
Your Nurse Case Manager will provide you and your donor with a schedule containing your appointments and medication and cycle instructions. Recipients have approximately 3 appointments for blood tests and/or ultrasounds where donors will have 6 or more. As your cycle progresses your medication dose may be adjusted. You will receive instructions after each appointment informing you how to proceed.
Cycles take approximately 5 weeks to complete from start to embryo transfer.
Your donor will be instructed to take her “trigger-shot” 36 hours prior to the egg retrieval. You will receive additional medication instructions, and your partner will be given a time to come in to provide a semen sample on the day of the retrieval,.unless a sample has previously been cryopreserved.
The day of the donor’s retrieval you will be informed how many eggs were retrieved. The day after your retrieval you will be informed how many eggs fertilized and number of embryos. The embryo transfer will take place 3 or 5 days after the retrieval. This is decided by your physician. A blood pregnancy test is done14 days after the retrieval. If your result is positive, you will come in approximately 2 weeks later for an ultrasound. If the pregnancy is progressing normally after 6-8 weeks, you will be released to begin obstetric care with your OB physician but will remain on medications for approximately 8-9 weeks post-transfer. If pregnancy does not occur, you will be asked to schedule a consultation with your physician at RSC.
