egg donation

The process where a fertile woman donates her eggs to another to help her conceive is called egg donation. This service is among the services offered at some IVF clinics based on the law of the country where the clinic is located.

Egg donation treatment process

• For fresh embryo transfer the cycles of recipient and donor have to be synchronized, generally with a birth control pill, so that the recipient’s uterine lining (or endometrium) is developed by the time the donor’s eggs are retrieved and fertilized with IVF.
• After the cycles are synchronized, the egg donor has to take hormone medications to stimulate growth of follicles and maturation of eggs contained within the follicles. The egg donor must be monitored using ultrasound scans and blood tests for 10 to 14 days before the eggs are retrieved.
• Hormone medications such as oestrogen and progesterone are prescribed to the recipient to prepare her uterine lining for embryo implantation.
• The egg retrieval is scheduled when the donor’s follicles reach a size greater than 17-18mm. If the sperm has not been previously frozen the partner or sperm donor will provide the sperm sample on the same day for insemination.
• The embryos are transferred 3 to 5 days after fertilization to the recipient’s uterus.
• The first step is to find the egg donor who can be someone known or unknown to the recipient and also identified or anonymous based on the laws of the country where the treatment is performed.
• The menstrual cycles of donor and recipient do not need to be synchronized for frozen embryo transfer but the recipient still has to take hormone medicines to prepare their endometrium for the embryo transfer.

Assessment of egg recipient

• The medical, surgical, reproductive and mental histories of the recipient are thoroughly reviewed.
• Laboratory tests are carried out on the recipient including antibody screening, blood type, thyroid functions and testing for diseases like Cytomegalovirus(CMV), HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
• The recipient and their partner have to receive implications counseling by a fertility expert.
• A more thorough assessment has to be done of the recipient if their age is over 45 years. This includes evaluation of heart, liver and kidney functions and the risk of pregnancy related diseases. They may also be referred to pre- conception clinic run by an obstetric expert.
• The sperm of the male partner has to be evaluated and, based on their history and ethnic background, proper screening should be obtained.
• Tests for blood type and diseases like HIV, Chlamydia, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Cytomegalovirus(CMV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C should be done on the male partner as well.

How is the egg donor selected?

• Egg donation can be done with known or unknown donors.
• The egg donor must be of legal age in their country and preferably between the age of 21 to 35 years.
• Egg donation programs or frozen egg banks provide anonymous donors who are not known to the recipient.
• Known donor is usually a relative or close friend of the recipient.
• Recipients are also given donor profiles to choose from which include physical characteristics, ethnicity, career, education, blood group and fertility history.