Egg donation is a process where a woman, known as the donor, provides eggs (oocytes) to another individual or couple, known as the recipient(s), who are unable to conceive using their own eggs. Egg donation is typically utilized in cases where the recipient has diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian failure, or genetic disorders that may be passed on to offspring.
Here’s an overview of the egg donation process:
Egg donors can be known or anonymous. Recipients may choose a donor from a pool of candidates provided by an egg donation agency or fertility clinic. Donors undergo extensive screening, including medical, genetic, and psychological evaluations, to ensure they are suitable candidates for egg donation.
Once a donor has been selected, her menstrual cycle is synchronized with the recipient’s menstrual cycle using medications such as birth control pills or hormonal injections. This ensures that the donor’s eggs are retrieved at the optimal time for fertilization.
The donor undergoes ovarian stimulation with hormonal medications to encourage the development of multiple mature eggs. This typically involves daily injections over a period of approximately 10-14 days. During this time, the donor is monitored with ultrasound scans and blood tests to assess ovarian response and adjust medication dosages as needed.
When the eggs are mature, a minor surgical procedure called egg retrieval is performed under sedation or anesthesia. A thin needle is guided through the vaginal wall to aspirate the eggs from the ovarian follicles. The procedure usually takes about 15-30 minutes and is performed in an outpatient setting.
After retrieval, the eggs are immediately fertilized with sperm from the recipient’s partner or a sperm donor through a process called in vitro fertilization (IVF). The resulting embryos are cultured in the laboratory for several days to allow for development.
Once embryos have developed, one or more embryos are selected for transfer to the recipient’s uterus. This typically occurs 3-5 days after fertilization, depending on embryo quality and developmental stage. The embryos are transferred using a thin catheter inserted through the cervix into the uterus.
Approximately two weeks after embryo transfer, the recipient undergoes a blood test to determine if pregnancy has occurred. If successful, the recipient continues to be monitored through early pregnancy with ultrasound scans and hormonal assessments.
Egg donation offers hope to individuals and couples struggling with infertility and allows them to experience pregnancy and childbirth using donated eggs. It’s important for both donors and recipients to receive comprehensive medical and psychological support throughout the egg donation process.