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Egg donation is one of the most successful ways a couple may choose to build their family. “Egg donation” simply refers to using an egg donor along with the male partner’s sperm to achieve pregnancy. This is an option for those couples who are experiencing infertility (most likely caused by poor egg quality,) but want to experience pregnancy and a biological connection as well as a genetic connection to the child.
As we’ve discussed before, advanced age is a primary reason why a woman’s egg quality and quantity become diminished. There are other situations that may be helped by egg donation: in some instances, a couple might decide that they don’t want to pass on a genetic defect or certain genetic factors through the mother’s egg, so an egg donor is sought. Another situation that warrants an egg donor is where a woman has full uterine function, but no ovaries are present, or ovarian function is diminished.
Egg donation has received much press in the last few years. Healthy, young women, ideally in their early-20’s, are donating their eggs and being compensated quite well. As you can imagine, the egg donor herself must undergo a series of tests and screenings– both mental and physical. Eggs are typically donated in either this fashion, or from couples who have previously undergone IVF treatment and had an excessive amount of eggs produced.
The procedure itself mirrors in vitro fertilization (IVF) in that superovulation is induced via hormone injections. The egg donor produces multiple eggs (instead of one) and those eggs are harvested and fertilized in the lab, using the sperm from the male partner. After a few days in the lab, embryo(s) are then inserted in the uterus of the recipient, and she will support the pregnancy.
We have a terrific section of FAQ on Egg Donation which you can see by clicking here. One of the questions that is often asked is, “Can I select my egg donor?” The answer is ABSOLUTELY! For your convenience, you have the ability to view RRC donor profiles online. At the time of your consult, a password will be provided to you so that you can review the current available egg donors and make your donor selection online. Egg donation is a wonderful option for couples, with a success rate of nearly 60%! It’s definitely something worth your consideration that you might not have thought of before. Our egg donor program has been in place since 1993 here at RRC; we are here to help you explore your options and achieve your dream of pregnancy!
image courtesy of euthman / creative commons