The Science of Making Babies

Egg Donation

Of course, you’d prefer to use your own eggs, but that’s not always possible. It could be that you’ve already tried to use your eggs during IVF procedures but had poor results. Or perhaps you no longer have any viable eggs because of menopause, chemotherapy, radiation, or another medical condition. In some cases, you may carry a genetic defect that you don’t want to pass along to your offspring. In any of these situations, receiving eggs from another woman may be the answer to your fertility concerns.

Egg donation allows you to carry a pregnancy and deliver the baby. The donor provides the eggs, the eggs are fertilized by your partner’s sperm, andthen the newly formed embryos are placed within your uterus for you to carry the pregnancy.

Some women choose this option over adoption because it allows them to physically and emotionally experience pregnancy. They also like that the baby is genetically related to their male partner. It’s important to understand that the baby is not genetically related to you, since your eggs were not used. However, you obviously have an extremely important role in this baby’s life as its mother.

SELECTING YOUR EGG DONOR

Choosing a woman to donate her eggs is a big deal, and it’s both exciting and overwhelming.
Two ways to go about fi nding an egg donor are by asking someone that you already know or using an anonymous donor. Some women ask a family member or close friend to donate their eggs. Family members may be highly regarded because they carry genes that are similar to yours. Friends are valued because you know and care for them, and they possess desirable traits that your baby may inherit.

Other women prefer to use anonymous donors. Some fertility clinics have egg donation programs, where women donate their eggs in exchange for money. Also, many fertility clinics encourage patients undergoing IVF to donate their leftover eggs to be used by another woman. By donating their leftover eggs, these patients generally receive a price break for their own IVF services. In either case, the fertility clinic will have information about the woman so that you will be able to read about her physical and intellectual characteristics. Another option is for you to place an ad in the newspaper and fi nd a donor on your own.

Egg Retrieval from the Donor

Once the eggs are developed, the donor will undergo an egg retrieval procedure. The standard IVF technique with ultrasound and needle is used to extract the eggs through the donor’s vagina. Once the eggs have been harvested, they are taken to the laboratory, where they are evaluated for maturity and quality. The healthiest eggs are then inseminated with the male partner’s sperm using the same fertilization technique as in IVF.

Embryo Transfer to the Recipient

The embryos are transferred into the recipient’s uterus within a few days after fertilization in the laboratory. The technique used for embryo transfer is the same as for IVF, where a special catheter and syringe are passed through the cervix and the embryos are inserted into the uterus. Hormones are given to help the embryos implant, grow, and develop. Pregnancy tests and ultrasound are performed within a couple of weeks to confi rm pregnancy.