Ovum Recipient 

The first successful pregnancy from an egg donation occurred in 1984. Since then, thousands of babies have been born using this procedure.
 
Egg donation is a process in which the eggs of a young, healthy woman (donor) are combined with sperm in the laboratory (in vitro fertilization or IVF) and the resulting embryos are transferred to the uterus of the recipient. By using eggs provided by donors, many women who don’t have functioning ovaries or who are unable to produce healthy eggs are able to experience pregnancy and childbirth. Oocyte (egg) donation is also a very good option for many women who may be at risk of passing on a genetic condition. For couples considering this option, we schedule an initial consultation with one of our physicians to review your medical history and discuss whether egg donation may be right for you. At this visit we will perform a physical examination and ultrasound, as well as any other tests that may be needed. From there, you will schedule an appointment with RMANJ’s oocyte donation team, which includes physicians, nurses and a member of our complementary care team. We will review with you all aspects of the program, including details explaining how we recruit and screen potential donors. RMA of NJ Complementary Care team can answer questions about the emotional and legal issues associated with using donor eggs. You will also have an opportunity to review costs and other financial information, including insurance reimbursement, with one of our financial counselors. This consultation typically lasts about two hours.
 

Who Are the Egg Donors?

Oocyte donors come from one of three sources: (1) anonymous donors identified and screened by RMANJ, (2) anonymous donors identified through a commercial service, or (3) known donors identified by the patient (family member, friend). Women who participate in RMANJ’s Donor Egg Program as anonymous donors are between the ages of 21 – 31. Known donors that are slightly older may be considered as well. All donors must undergo an extensive screening process using standards established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. This includes a review of the donor’s medical and family history, screening for genetic conditions and infectious diseases, and psychological testing. Testing the donor’s ovarian function is an important part of the screening process.

Couples who choose an anonymous donor through our program will have their name placed on a waiting list until a suitable match becomes available. It may take several months to find an appropriate donor. When a donor becomes available, couples will receive a description of the donor’s physical characteristics, as well as a copy of her medical history. You can choose not to accept a donor for any reason without compromising your position on the wait list.

 

The Prep Cycle

Before the egg donation process can begin, we typically perform a “prep” cycle to determine how likely you are to respond to medications used to prepare the uterus for an embryo. Women with functioning ovaries are given a medication (Lupron®) to temporarily stop the ovaries from producing hormones that could interfere with the cycle. They are then given estrogen to stimulate the endometrium (uterine lining) to thicken. Doctors monitor this process with blood work and ultrasound. Once the endometrium thickens appropriately, progesterone is used to end the prep cycle and the woman menstruates. The prep cycle takes about two weeks to complete. The couple is then placed on the waiting list for a donor.

 

Coordination of Donor and Recipient

When a suitable donor becomes available, hormones are used to synchronize both the donor’s and the recipient’s menstrual cycles. Both the donor and recipient are treated with oral contraceptives.  The recipient is treated with the same medications (Lupron® and estrogen) that she received during the prep cycle. Once estrogen therapy has been initiated in the recipient, injectable fertility medications are used to stimulate multiple follicles containing eggs to develop in the donor. Doctors monitor both the recipient and the donor with blood work and ultrasound for about eight to twelve days during this process.

 

Egg Retrieval

When the donor’s follicles are mature, the hormone hCG is used to initiate the final maturation of the egg and the retrieval is scheduled 36 hours later. The recipient is treated with progesterone on the day of the retrieval to prepare her uterus to receive the embryos. After the eggs are retrieved from the donor, they are examined by an embryologist, placed in an incubator and inseminated with sperm. The eggs are checked the following day to see if fertilization has occurred. The fertilized eggs, now called embryos are kept in a special medium to promote their growth prior to implantation in the recipient.

 

Embryo Transfer

The embryos are usually transferred to the recipient’s uterus three to six days after the retrieval.  Your physician will discuss with you how many embryos are appropriate to be transferred. When extra high quality embryos are available after transfer, many couples choose to freeze them for possible use in the future. The embryo transfer itself is an ultrasound-guided procedure that does not require anesthesia. Embryos that have been cultured in the laboratory are placed into a woman’s uterus using a catheter, which is inserted through the cervix.

 

Testing for Pregnancy

About a week after the egg retrieval, your doctor will measure your progesterone levels to make sure they are sufficient to support a pregnancy. Fourteen days after egg retrieval, we test for pregnancy.  If you are pregnant, hormonal support is continued and progress is monitored carefully for another four to five weeks, which will allow us to taper you off of your medications. Your care will then be transferred to your obstetrician. There are many resources available at RMANJ for couples that want to explore this important option. We have successfully matched hundreds of recipients with anonymous egg donors. Our team of experienced doctors, nurses and counselors can help you determine whether egg donation is right for you.