There can be various reasons why a woman is suitable for egg donation, always it’s because the eggs have been depleted prior to wanting to conceive and there can be many reasons for this:
Today, treatment can be an egg donation from another woman who donates eggs. Egg donation can help recipient couples realise the dream of motherhood.
Egg donation is done through the process of IVF on the donor; eggs are collected from the donor’s ovaries and mixed with the sperm of the recipient’s partner and then the fertilized eggs (embryos) are transferred to the womb of the recipient for pregnancy.
The recipient will carry the pregnancy and give birth to her child (that is genetically not related to her).
All genetic traits are determined by the genetic material contained in the egg and sperm. During pregnancy, the recipient’s body provides nourishment, but no genetic material is exchanged. It is possible that the baby may develop behaviours similar to the recipient but any physical similarities may be coincidental
The success rate of egg donation is very favourable . The donors are usually young women who have not been infertile. Donors under 30 years of age have have the best chance of producing good quality eggs. Egg quality can vary in young donors and fertilization rates may vary depending on the sperm and egg interaction
The success rates we achieve with our partners is as follows:
In some women who have premature menopause, periods stop. Hormones are given to rebuild the the success of egg donation does not depend in any way on the recipient’s own menstrual cycle or hormone supply. We offer egg donation to women who are in good health until the age of 50 years
During egg donation treatment, both the donor and recipient are usually asked to take medication. The recipient will be informed when to start the medication by the clinic which is preparing the donor . The couple will need to be present to give sperm on the day of egg collection of the donor. Medications will vary, depending on the treatment plan and the need to synchronize the recipient’s treatment cycle with that of the donor if a fresh cycle is planned.
At the end of treatment, the donor will undergo a short egg retrieval procedure to collect the eggs that developed during treatment. In some cases, the trigger injection which is given does not work and eggs may not be obtained. In other cases, though rare, the donor may gives fewer eggs. This is difficult to predict until the day of egg collection
The recipient’s partner will have to give sperm on that day which is prepared. Attempt is made to fertilize every mature egg collected. Eggs and sperm will be left in an incubator (warmer) to promote fertilization and cell division. Around 60-70% of the eggs will fertilize during the 24 hours following egg retrieval (failure of all eggs to fertilize can occur but is very rare while at times fewer eggs can be fertilized ). Fertilized eggs or embryos are transferred to the recipient’s uterus after the embryos have developed for two or three days. Sometimes there are surplus embryos remaining after the transfer.
Egg donation treatment in the UK is under the regulation of the HFEA. The egg donors cannot be completely anonymous. Treatments are personalized from the consultation to the transfer of embryos all under one consultant within Fertility Plus.
Treatments abroad are not governed by the HFEA and Fertility Plus does not have control of the treatment abroad. We have established relationships with well respected clinics and they have proved themselves to be very good and are regulated by the respective authorities in their country.
Unfortunately the success rate of egg donation varies from 50-60%. Even in very young donors we now know that 40% of eggs may be genetically abnormal. Thus success rates can vary. The rate of miscarriage is around 10%
Implications counselling provides an emotionally safe place in which to reflect on and understand the proposed procedure, the variety of issues that may affect you, and the lasting implications for you and those close to you, both now and in the future. It takes into account the welfare and needs of the future child. It’s an opportunity to anticipate and plan for this conception and family formation.
Counselling is strongly recommended if you are using donated sperm, eggs or embryos, in donor-assisted conception. Implications counselling is routinely offered before treatment, to give you time to decide how to proceed.