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Understanding Egg Donation As An Alternate Route To Pregnancy

By Heidi J. Dillon


Women who do not ovulate every month due to aging or a hormonal imbalance, fail to produce a mature egg, which will most likely lower their chances of becoming pregnant. Egg donation is one viable alternative for women who struggle with this particular issue, it involves being impregnated with an egg which has been donated by another woman and fertilized with sperm from one's partner.

Typically, women who choose to use an egg donor to achieve pregnancy are older and may be concerned about the quality of their own eggs, or perhaps they are no longer ovulating regularly. They may also have undergone previous surgery or chemotherapy which can put an end to ovulation. The woman's doctor will usually refer her to a fertility clinic which performs this procedure.

It can be very costly to receive this treatment, and most other assisted reproductive procedures for that matter as well. This cost covers all stages from pre-screening to implantation in addition to compensation for the donor, and it usually runs several thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. A contract must also be signed between the two parties since it also has a legal aspect in terms of responsibilities and rights.

The process of selecting a donor is done anonymously except in cases where a friend or family member agrees to act as a donor. Potential recipients can select donors who meet their preferred criteria in terms of appearance, education, ethnicity and such, they must also prepare a letter introducing themselves that will be given to any donors of interest. Donors who accept a recipient's request are considered a match.

Synchronization of the donor's and recipient's menstrual cycles is the first step in the process. This involves assessing the donor's ovarian function on the first day of her period by blood tests and ultrasound and placing her on birth control pills to regulate and monitor it. Other fertility medications will also need to be taken by the donor in the form of pills and injections.

Through daily injections of the hormone gonadotropin and the use of oral contraceptives over the course of a month, the donor's regular ovulation cycle will be shut down. This regimen is then stopped, and the donor will then menstruate at the same time as the recipient which is necessary when it comes time to implant the fertilized ovum.

Following menstruation, the donor receives daily injections to stimulate the maturation of multiple egg follicles, this process will be closely watched using regular blood work and ultrasound. Once the eggs are fully ripened, she will administer an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin to help release them, and by the next day they can be harvested and prepared for insemination. The recipient will also need to take several injections to prepare her uterine lining and to prevent ovulation. Several days later, two to four embryos will be implanted via a cervical catheter into the recipient's uterus.

In most cases this procedure results in a successful pregnancy, but as with any in vitro method, there is always the chance that the implantation will not take, resulting in miscarriage. Some side effects associated with the hormones administered include irritability, hot flashes, tender breasts, and less commonly, swelling of the ovaries due to hyper-stimulation.




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