Understanding The Donor Egg Process

Using an Egg Donor with IVF: Process and Success Rate - Raadina Health
Infertility can be devastating for many women who dream of starting a family. Fortunately, advances in reproductive technology make it possible for you to overcome this challenge using donor eggs.
Upper East Side donor eggs can offer a glimmer of hope to women who cannot conceive with their eggs due to advanced age, genetic disorders, or medical conditions. This process can be a complex and emotional journey, but it can ultimately result in a successful pregnancy and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

Choosing a donor

You can find an egg donor through an agency, fertility clinic, or a known donor. The Center for Human Reproduction has a database of pre-screened donors who have undergone extensive medical and psychological testing to ensure they are good candidates for egg donation. Alternatively, your donor can be a friend or family member who has volunteered to donate. Regardless of your donor choice, you should carefully consider and discuss all options with your doctor to ensure the best possible outcome.

Screening and testing

Before the Center for Human Reproduction specialists accepts you as a donor, you must undergo a thorough evaluation to ensure you are a suitable candidate for egg donation. They will conduct a thorough screening process involving a comprehensive medical and genetic history evaluation and a physical examination. The goal is to ensure that you are in good health and have no underlying medical conditions that could affect the success of the donation. Your provider may also conduct several medical and genetic tests, including blood tests, ultrasounds, and psychological evaluations. Blood tests help detect infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The ultrasounds evaluate your ovaries and uterus to ensure that they are healthy. The psychological evaluations assess your mental health to ensure you fully understand egg donation’s implications.

The egg retrieval process

The egg retrieval process involves removing eggs from your ovaries. The team performs this process under sedation, using transvaginal ultrasound to direct a needle through your vaginal wall and into your ovaries. The procedure usually takes around 20-30 minutes to complete. During the egg retrieval process, the team will stimulate you with medication to encourage the production of multiple eggs, allowing for multiple fertilization attempts if needed.

Fertilization and embryo transfer

You may benefit from donor eggs if you are struggling with fertility issues. The Center for Human Reproduction team can help you choose a donor and support you through the preparation and fertilization. Your provider may recommend in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), depending on the quality of the sperm and your circumstances. The fertilized eggs are then taken to the lab for culturing so that they can develop into embryos.

Once the embryos are ready, your provider will transfer them to your uterus or your gestational carrier’s uterus. The team uses a thin catheter guided by ultrasound imaging to transfer these embryos. The number of embryos transferred can vary depending on your age, medical history, and the quality of the embryos.

If you want to know more about donor eggs, call the Center for Human Reproduction office or schedule an appointment online.