Erika Rubant, NP, Donor Egg Coordinator, Georgia Reproductive Specialists
Some women are unable to conceive for a variety of reasons including poor egg quality or ovarian function, surgical removal of ovaries due to chemotherapy, or genetic issues. For these women, the use of donor eggs becomes a possible option when exploring treatments that will lead to the conception of a child.
Egg donation has been offered in the United States since 1986 and as it becomes more widely accepted and available, more women are choosing it as a fertility treatment option. Often times, the IVF pregnancy success rates using egg donors surpass the traditional IVF pregnancy rates because the results reflect outcomes of using healthy eggs donated by young women, overcoming the cause of infertility in the recipient. To be considered as a recipient for donor eggs, you must have a normal uterus and be 50 years of age or younger.
The goal of donor programs across the country is to match a recipient with the donor who meets her specific qualifications. There are two categories of egg donors - anonymous and known. Anonymous donors are not permitted to meet the recipient and cannot know whether or not a pregnancy occurred from the cycle. Known donors are often related to the recipient, most often a sister, or are a compassionate friend of the couple. In known donor situations, it is suggested that all parties involved sign a legal contract outlining details of the egg donation. Donor Qualifications The qualifications for egg donors vary at programs across the country.
At Georgia Reproductive Specialists, we offer a very selective pool of donors for our recipient couples, guaranteeing that they are being matched with the best possible donor available. Our potential donors go through a comprehensive preliminary screening process before being chosen for the program including the following: Detailed medical history including general health, surgical/gynecological history and family medical history Interview with the Donor Egg Coordinator Gynecological exam Psychological evaluation with a clinical psychologist Genetic testing.
Screening for Recipients During the initial consultation, all aspects of the egg donation program will be discussed with the potential recipient and her partner. All relevant medical records will be reviewed to determine whether or not the patient is a candidate for donor eggs. The decision to conceive a child through the use of a donated egg can be very difficult for a couple.
Therefore, it is recommended that the patient and her partner meet with a psychologist for counseling and emotional support. It is important to discuss issues related to non-biologic parenting, past fertility problems, parenting at an older age and positive and negative aspects of disclosure to potential offspring. An internist will often perform a physical exam on older patients to rule out any potential risks to pregnancy, including diabetes and heart disease.
Both the recipient and her partner must have blood work done to screen for diseases and conditions that can affect the pregnancy including Human Immunodeficiency Virus, hepatitis C, hepatitis B surface antigen, RPR (sexually transmitted disease), blood type RH and rubella immunity. The partner must also provide a semen sample approximately four weeks prior to the transfer cycle for semen analysis, strict morphology and sperm survival testing.
The Procedure On the day of the donor's egg retrieval, the partner will provide a semen sample that will be prepared in the embryology laboratory. The sperm will then be placed in a dish with the donated egg(s) and incubated. After a day or two, the recipient will receive information regarding the success of the procedure. If fertilization has occurred, an embryo transfer will be scheduled one or two days later and the fertilized eggs will be transferred into the recipient's uterus. Approximately two weeks later, the recipient will take a pregnancy test.
Upon a positive pregnancy test result, medications are adjusted for the best chance of sustaining the early pregnancy. The chance to conceive through the use of donor eggs is a wonderful opportunity for women who want to have children and would otherwise have to adopt or give up on their dreams of motherhood.
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