Why choose donor egg IVF? Understanding your options and the process.
If you are having difficulty conceiving due to diminished ovarian reserve, consider donor IVF to grow your family. Low ovarian reserve refers to the condition where you have a reduced quantity or quality of eggs being released from your ovaries. Donor IVF fertility treatment provides you with an egg donor followed by fertilization in the lab with your partner’s sperm, or donor sperm so that you can then carry the pregnancy. Patients may also opt for the services of a gestational surrogate.
How Does Donor In-Vitro Fertilization Work?
Donor IVF uses a donated egg (oocyte) to enhance your chances of conception. The donors are young (<32), with high ovarian reserve; they may be anonymous or someone you know/suggest. Your egg donor goes through IVF fertility treatment and donor egg IVF retrieval procedures. The donated eggs are fertilized with your partner’s (or donated) sperm in the lab, and the most viable embryos are transferred to your uterus or your gestational carrier’s uterus. Prior to beginning your donor IVF treatment, the following screenings are conducted:
- Thyroid test
- Genetic testing (as needed)
- Infectious disease tests (for you and your partner)
- Varicella & rubella immunity verification
- Mammogram, for women over the age of 40
- Cholesterol test, ECG (electrocardiogram), diabetes screening, for women over age 45
- Semen analysis for your partner
- Pre-IVF fertility treatment maternal-fetal medical consult, to discuss individual pregnancy risks based on your health history and condition
- Psychological consultation
- Sonogram with saline infusion
After screening, our medical team will help you in identifying the egg donor who is the best match for you. We screen healthy women, from age 21 to 32, in order to source the best egg donors for your in-vitro fertilization. Donors are screened for infectious diseases, for family history of medical diseases, for psychological concerns, and for genetically carried diseases. Their ovarian reserve is screened with blood work and ultrasound testing to ensure they are a good candidate for donor IVF.
If you have a known egg donor in mind, our doctors provide donor screening to ensure you the highest probability of conception. Once your donor is chosen, we will work to coordinate your menstrual cycle and that of your egg donor with oral birth control medication. We will prepare your uterus for implantation, using estrogen. We will monitor the preparation process via ultrasound and blood testing, and conduct a trial embryonic transfer.
What is the Success Rate for Donor IVF? Hint: Experience Matters
Success rates depend upon a number of factors specific to your individual situation, although in general donor egg IVF carries a success rate of 50-65%, higher than standard IVF due to the young age of the donor. IVF doctor experience is also a huge factor in creating success with your fertility treatment–and you have a great deal of control over this factor, so be sure to choose your Vermont donor egg IVF specialist carefully. Look at prior success rates before making a choice and keep in mind that our center has been the most successful fertility clinic in VT for in-vitro fertilization.
Get Advanced Fertility Treatment and Preservation Services in VT
For compassionate assistance on your fertility journey, trust the experts at Northeastern Reproductive Medicine in Colchester, Vermont. At NRM, our fertility doctors are dedicated to helping families throughout the Northeast US and Canada grow. You will find our state of the art facility convenient and comfortable to support your donor egg IVF success. Call us at 802-655-8888 today.
