1. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EGG DONOR IVF

2. Egg Donor IVF Egg Donor IVF is a fertility solution or treatment option for those who can’t use their own eggs because of infertility. It’s a fact, using a screened egg donor as opposed to a family member or friend, often yields a higher success rate. Usually much higher than the average rates for couples not using a donor. It is important to understand that the intended mother will not be genetically related to the child. However, the intended father will be related to the child unless donor sperm is being used. This makes it a more attractive idea than an embryo donor. With an embryo donor, neither of the Intended Parents will be genetically related to t he child.

3. Who Needs Egg Donor IVF to Get Pregnant? In conventional IVF treatment, the woman typically takes fertility drugs to stimulate egg production. Once the eggs reach maturity, they are retrieved through an ultrasound-guided needle. The retrieved eggs are immediately placed in a petri dish with sperm cells and fertilized. The resulting embryo can be transferred to the intended mother’s uterus, a surrogate mother’s uterus or can be frozen for later use. In some cases, the intended mothers’ ovaries are not producing enough eggs. Due to a medical condition or cancer t he intended mothers’ ovaries may be absent. What if a gay male couple wants to have a child? Egg donors are recommended in the following situations: 1. Post-cancer treatment – if ovaries or eggs are damaged 2. In cases where women are born without ovaries 3. Repeated IVF treatment due to poor ovarian response 4. Unexplained repeated IVF failure 5. Low ovarian reserve 6. Primary ovarian insufficiency 7. Premature ovarian failure 8. Age-related infertility, mostly after the age of 40 9. Gay couples having a child using a surrogate 10. A single male (individual) using a surrogate

4. Your fertility agency or doctor can discuss with you in detail about your available options for finding an egg donor. The most common sources include: 1.The fertility clinic you’re using for IVF 2.Egg donor agencies 3.Egg banks 4.Someone you already know 5.Another fertile couple who are willing to share their retrieved eggs Depending on the contract, you may get a chance to meet your egg donor, or you may decide not to contact the donor at all. Some donors do agree to be contacted by the conceived offspring in the future. Where Will I Find an Egg Donor?

5. How does the egg donor IVF process work? Here’s a basic explanation of what the egg donor IVF process looks like. To simplify the matter, the below explanation involves a heterosexual couple where the male partner’s own sperm is used, and the female partner is going to carry the child. We’re also going to assume that the couple is using fresh eggs instead of frozen. After a reproductive endocrinologist determines that an egg donor would be the best option for a couple, they should meet with a psychologist to discuss the benefits and risks of egg donor IVF and then decide if it’s the right path for them. The Intended Parents should also look into financing options. Egg donation can be expensive. They need to be sure they can afford it and also create a plan on how to get the funds they need. The next step is finding an egg donor. The process of finding one requires time and careful consideration. Upon selecting the egg donor, you’ll need to attend to a number of legal and financial matters. You will be required to sign a contract before the cycle can start. The contract will be documented and reviewed by lawyers spe cializing in family reproductive law. Some clinics may provide legal representation or at least have a referral.

6. How does the egg donor IVF process work? Once all the financial and legal issues are settled, the actual egg donation process can start. The egg donor and the intended mother will have their menstrual cycles put in sync through hormonal drugs. That’s becaus e when a donor’s fertilized eggs are ready for embryo transfer, the mother’s uterus should be physiologically ready to acce pt an embryo. The drugs used may include birth control pills and some injectable hormones to suppress the reproductive system. The treatment cycle typically starts once the donor and intended mother get their periods. Once the treatment cycle starts, the donor will be taking fertility drugs that will stimulate egg production. This will follow very closely to a conventional IVF cycle, but without the embryo transfer. At the same time, the intended mother will inject herself with hormones to suppress her reproductive system so the doctor can keep the donor and her in sync. She will also take supplements to create a suitable uterine lining. When the eggs in the donor’s ovaries are ready, the donor will be given an hCG trigger shot. It will start the last stage of egg maturation. At this time the mother will start taking a progesterone supplement to prepare the uterus for the embryo transfer. The retrieval process is done in the clinic via an ultrasound-guided needle. Upon successful retrieval, the donor’s role is co mpleted in the cycle. The same day of the retrieval, the eggs will be fertilized by the intended father’s sperm.

7. There are certain risks associated with egg donation. There can be some side effects due to the fertility drugs ta ken to stimulate the ovaries. The biggest risk to the donor is Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). Since egg donors are usually young a nd more fertile, this puts them at a slightly higher risk. Untr eated OHSS can threaten not only your fertility but your life as well. There are also psychological risks to the egg d onor. However, OHSS is very rare and happens in very small percentage of cases. The only risk for the intended mother is the possibility of c onceiving multiple pregnancies, which is why most physici ans recommend only transferring one embryo. Egg Donor IVF? What are the Risks of

8. How much does a Single Cycle of Egg Donor IVF Cost? Egg donor IVF is moderately expensive. You can expect t o pay anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 per cycle. The c ost will vary depending on the source of the egg donor. There are certain insurances that will cover a portion of th e cost of an IVF cycle. You can also explore other ways o f funding your IVF treatment.

9. What if I don’t want to use an egg donor? Typically using an egg donor is going to cost more than most other infertility treatment optio ns. The reason why you needed an egg donor in the first place will determine your alternative options. The following options may include: 1.Trying IVF with your own eggs 2.Using an embryo donor (less expen sive than an egg donor) 3.The possibility of adoption 4.A childfree life If you need any help or further guidance on usi ng an egg donor as a fertility solution do not h esitate to reach out to Coastal Fertility Irvine at 949-726-0600. You can also visit us at www.co astalfertility.com for more information.

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