Oocyte (Egg) Donation

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Some women, for a variety reasons, may not be able to use their own eggs for the in vitro fertilization process. In these cases, donated oocytes may be an option for the couple. As a recipient of donated oocytes, you must have a uterus which is relatively normal in shape and function.

Candidates for oocyte donation:

• Premature menopause (ovarian failure)
• Absence of ovaries from birth (ovarian agenesis)
• Previous chemotherapy
• Previous ovarian surgery
• Carriers of genetic disorders
• Inadequate response to fertility drugs in the past
• Poor oocyte quality
• Advanced age

Donors Egg donors are women between the ages of 21 and 33 who volunteer to undergo oocyte stimulation with fertility drugs and transvaginal oocyte retrieval. These women are screened to ensure general and reproductive health, genetic health, and psychological stability.

While similar in principle to sperm donation, oocyte donation is significantly more difficult. The oocyte donor will experience considerable inconvenience, some discomfort, and take some risk. Oocyte donation involves all the same steps required for in vitro fertilization: daily hormone injections, daily ultrasounds and blood work, and transvaginal ultrasound-guided egg retrieval. Thus, we feel strongly that anonymous donors should be financially compensated for their time, discomfort, and risk.

Other couples may choose to have a friend or relative act as their oocyte donor. In this case the donor must still undergo the same screening procedures of the anonymous donors, however, compensation is not expected. Again, the recipient couple must pay all expenses of screening and oocyte stimulation and retrieval.

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