Once the decision has been made to use donor eggs, it will take approximately 2-4 months to coordinate your cycles.  If you desire a particular ethnic origin, more time may be required to find a suitable match.

ACFS recruits it's own donors.  This process includes initial screening of medical history, photos, psychological testing and genetic counseling.  In addition, complete disease screening as recommended by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine is completed.  If the donor is acceptable, she is put on the list of available donors.  This information and photo are available to recipients to assist them in their choice of a donor.

The recipient and her husband or partner, are required to complete the same testing as the donor.

Must often lupron is used to synchronize the recipient's cycle with the donor's  This may also involve another couple if the eggs are to be shared between two couples.  Once this is done, the egg donor will take fertility medication to stimulate the growth of multiple follicles (eggs).  The donor is monitored with ultrasound and blood levels until the eggs are mature.  They are then aspirated vaginally and mixed with the husband's or donor sperm, and checked for fertilization.  Once fertilization has occurred, the embryos may be transferred into the fallopian tube (ZIFT), into the uterus (IVF), or cryopreserved for future use.

The first successful pregnancy resulting from oocyte donation occurred in 1984.  The patient suffered from premature menopause.  Today, the indications for using donor eggs have expanded to include not only premature menopause, or perimenopausal women with diminished ovarian reserve, but women of advanced reproductive age who may have already experienced natural menopause.  Also, younger patients who have not been successful in multiple attempts of ART, may benefit by the use of donor eggs.  Donor eggs may also be used to avoid transferring a significant genetic illness of which the female recipient is a known carrier.

For more information on the donor egg program, please contact Sharon Taylor, COGNP.