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| Resources > Newsletters > The Donor Egg Program |
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| The Donor Egg Program |
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| Poor ovarian reserve is a relatively common cause of infertility. Specifically, women may be affected by premature ovarian failure or naturally occurring menopause, or they may be of advanced age. Patients may have experienced repeated failure to conceive, multiple miscarriages, or past abnormal pregnancies with or without the aid of fertility treatments. For these patients, in vitro fertilization (IVF) with donated oocytes may be the best option to achieve a normal, healthy pregnancy. At GENESIS, women who pursue treatment with donated oocytes have had a 67% pregnancy rate, much higher than that of patients pursuing IVF with their own eggs (data from Donor Egg Program, July 2004 – June 2005*). |
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| The idea of using donated eggs may not be an obvious option to many infertile women. However, upon consideration, many women appreciate the opportunities it provides. Pregnancies derived from donated eggs allow both the female and male partners to have a biological connection to the developing fetus. The male partner typically has a genetic connection if his sperm is used to fertilize the donated eggs. The female partner biologically influences the development of the baby by carrying the pregnancy and controlling the fetus’ nutritional and environmental exposures for up to nine months. Furthermore, recipients of donated eggs can experience pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, which are not possible with other options such as adoption or surrogacy. |
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| * A comparison of clinic success rates may not be meaningful because patient medical characteristics and treatment approaches may vary from clinic to clinic. |
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| IVF with donated eggs also allows a level of confidentiality that adoption and surrogacy does not. The recipient may choose whether or not to disclose the method of conception to the resulting child, other family members or friends. At GENESIS, a psychologist discusses these and other complex issues related to infertility and gamete donation with all patients before treatment begins. |
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| Fertility treatment with donated eggs involves in vitro fertilization. The donor's ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs while the recipient takes hormonal medication to induce proper development of the endometrium. The donor's eggs are surgically retrieved and fertilized in the laboratory with sperm from the recipient's partner. After several days, a number of embryos (usually 1 or 2) are selected for transfer into the recipient's uterus in the hopes of achieving a pregnancy. Any remaining embryos that appear healthy can be frozen for future use. |
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| All egg donors who are recruited by GENESIS undergo rigorous screening, which includes testing for infectious diseases, genetic diseases and exposure to illegal drugs. In addition, egg donors are screened for family histories, general and reproductive health, and psychological stability. In most cases, egg donors and recipients are unknown to each other. Recipients are provided with descriptive, non-identifying information about prospective donors and are able to choose a donor with whom they are most comfortable. |
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| For more information about fertility treatment with donated eggs, please contact our egg donor coordinator and genetic counselor Katherine Mah at (718) 283-6588. |
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