The egg donation cycle is a part of assisted reproductive technology or ART. The procedure involves a fertile woman donating an egg, also known as an oocyte, to another woman to help her in conceiving.
The procedure involves the removal of egg or eggs from the donor by the doctor, fertilizing the eggs in a laboratory using the male sperm, and transferring the fertilized egg, or embryo, into the womb or uterus of the recipient woman. This is done using an implantation procedure, such as in vitro fertilization or IVF.
The egg donation cycle usually benefits women who are unable to use their own eggs for conceiving using ART due to several reasons, like advanced age, ovarian failure, or to avoid genetic abnormalities in the fetus.
In this article, we will be discussing when you should consider undergoing the egg donation cycle.
When Should I Consider Using the Egg Donation Cycle?
If you are a woman who cannot conceive naturally and is recommended to undergo an ART such as IVF to conceive, in some cases, the fertility specialist could suggest using donor eggs to undergo the procedure.
When using donor eggs, it needs to be kept in mind that the intended mother will not have any genetic relationship with her child, while the intended father will be genetically related to the child as his sperm are used in the procedure.
There could be many reasons why you may have to consider undergoing an egg donation cycle. These reasons may include the following:
- Advanced age (above 40 years)
- Genetic carrier of a disease that may be passed on to your child
- Menopause
- Premature ovarian failure (when the ovaries stop functioning before 40 years of age)
- Low ovarian reserve (fewer eggs in the ovaries)
- Multiple or unexplained IVF cycle failures
- Multiple miscarriages
- A single man who wishes to be a father
- Ovarian failure after cancer treatment like chemotherapy or radiation
- No ovaries but an intact uterus
The fertility specialist will evaluate you thoroughly and let you know if an egg donation cycle is the right treatment option for you.
What Is the Criteria to Become an Egg Donor?
According to the guidelines provided by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), egg donation is an anonymous procedure.
The egg donors need to be healthy, young women who usually have at least one child of their own. Potential egg donors have to undergo a thorough medical and psychological evaluation. Additionally, they are screened for infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.
An egg donor is approved only after undergoing all the tests recommended by the ICMR and strictly adhering to all the guidelines laid down by the ICMR. Once the screening procedure and legal paperwork are completed, the eggs can be retrieved from the donor.
What Is the Procedure for an Egg Donation Cycle?
The procedure for an egg donation cycle is usually done in the following steps:
- Donor selection: A suitable egg donor is selected based on the criteria laid down by ICMR. The donor is usually anonymous and is recruited and screened through an egg donation agency or a fertility clinic. Sometimes, the donor could be a known family member or friend of the intended parents.
- Menstrual cycle synchronization: In cases where a fresh donor egg is used, hormonal medications are recommended to synchronize the menstrual cycles of the donor and the recipient women. In cases where a frozen donor egg is being used, this step is usually not required.
- Ovarian stimulation: The donor will receive hormonal injections to help stimulate her ovaries to produce more eggs to mature at the same time (women naturally release only one egg every month).
- Retrieval of eggs: Once the donor’s eggs are matured, they are retrieved by the doctor. The procedure is generally performed under sedation. The doctor will be inserting an ultrasound-guided needle into each mature follicle for retrieving each egg.
- Fertilization: The retrieved eggs are then fertilized using the male partner’s sperm or the selected donor’s sperm in a fertility laboratory to create embryos. This is the process of IVF.
- Embryo transfer: After the embryos are created and are considered to be of suitable quality, the embryos will be transferred to the womb or uterus of the intended mother.
- Embryo implantation: If successful, the embryo will be implanted into the intended mother’s uterus lining and then develop into a healthy baby.
Conclusion
The egg donation cycle is beneficial for women who cannot conceive using their own eggs through ART procedures like IVF. Some common reasons for using donor eggs include increased maternal age, to avoid genetic disorders in the child, low ovarian reserve, multiple or unexplained failed IVF cycles, multiple miscarriages, premature ovarian failure, or ovarian failure following cancer treatment.
You should contact a good fertility specialist to know if you need an egg donor to help you conceive.