Egg Donation
Some couples are infertile because the woman is unable to produce eggs, which can occur for several reasons: her ovaries may not have developed properly(eg Turner's Syndrome); she may have ovarian failure (premature menopause);or surgery or chemotherapy has caused her to be sterile. For these couples,IVF using donated eggs offers their only chance of achieving a pregnancy. This approach is also appropriate for women who are carrying a genetic disorder who do not wish to undergo genetic testing (either prenatal or preimplantation genetic diagnosis).
In egg donation, the donated eggs are fertilised by the recipient's partner's sperm (where appropriate) and the couple are given the chance of having a healthy child. In order to match donors and recipients, consideration is given to physical characteristics and ethnic origin and you will be counselled through the implications of receiving donated eggs. As with egg donors, recipients are tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C, gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and CMV.
There is usually a waiting list for donor eggs and potential recipients can discuss the current duration of this with the Nurse Co-ordinator at the Centre. Donors are regularly recruited through various avenues, e.g. friends and relatives, or by responding to media attention highlighting the need for donors. The recipient can help to reduce the waiting list by publicising the need for egg donation, and the Nurse Co-ordinator can provide details of how to do this.
At the CRGH, we have an innovative scheme allowing us to offer the UK's first donor egg bank. All egg donors are thoroughly screened, are ID released (non-anonymous) and comply with all UK legislation. The eggs are vitrified, a novel freezing technique that offers comparable pregnancy rates with fresh egg donation. In this way, patients requiring treatment with donor eggs can have treatment at their leisure without the need to synchronise their cycle with another woman. We currently have excellent clinical pregnancy rates and our first egg-recipient with this scheme has recently delivered a healthy baby boy.
What does the process involve for an egg recipient?
What does the process involve for an egg recipient?
On the day that eggs are collected from the donor, (or thawed from the egg bank) the male partner will (where appropriate) be asked to provide a semen sample so that the eggs can be fertilised. The endometrium (lining of the womb) must be prepared so that a suitable environment is created to encourage implantation of the embryos.
Medication is given and the relevant drug regime will be prescribed by the doctor and discussed with you. Regular ultrasound scans will be performed to check the growth of the endometrium and when the desired state is achieved the embryos will be introduced to the womb by means of a fine catheter (tube). The drugs are continued until a pregnancy test is performed sixteen days later and will continue for several more weeks if pregnancy is achieved.
Treatment and research using donated eggs is licensed and regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
