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Along with successful egg freezing/thawing techniques comes the potential for enhancements in procedures such as donor egg IVF. In a typical donor egg IVF cycle the egg donor undergoes ovulation induction with fertility drugs (FSH) to cause the development of multiple follicles (eggs). Numerous eggs are often needed to optimize ART success rates.
As the donor undergoes IVF stimulation, she must visit our infertility clinic regularly for ultrasound evaluation and estradiol hormone measurements. These tests help the fertility specialist determine the proper medication dosages, confirm normal follicular development, and avoid serious side effects.
Once the eggs are mature, they are withdrawn while the patient is under anesthesia using a procedure known as transvaginal ultrasound guided egg retrieval.
During the donor’s stimulation, the recipient mother’s cycle must be synchronized. Her body must be ready to accept the developing embryo. Progesterone and estrogen are administered to mimic the effect of a stimulation cycle causing her endometrium to thicken and become more vascular.
There are sometimes problems during a donor’s stimulation cycle. While rare, some donor’s change their minds during the cycle leaving the recipient mother with a synchronized cycle and no eggs. Other issues such as unexpected transportation problems for the egg donor can occur. It is also possible that even though the donor undergoes stimulation she may not develop viable eggs. Sadly, some egg donors also decide that their expense reimbursement or agreed upon fee for their inconvenience is inadequate. Some have attempted to raise their fees while the recipient mother is undergoing cycle synchronization.
Obviously, egg donation is a complicated process and very stressful for the recipient couple, especially when the agreed upon guidelines are not followed. Fortunately, the vast majority of egg donors sincerely want to help infertile couples and follow the prescribed treatment protocol.
The use of frozen eggs could eliminate most of the problems outlined above. The chosen egg donor could come to our facility when it is convenient for her. The recipient mother would not need to be synchronized with the egg donor because she will not receive the donor’s eggs during this first “retrieval cycle.”
Once the egg donor’s eggs mature, they would be retrieved transvaginally and instantly frozen using the vitrification process. When the mother decides she is ready to attempt an IVF pregnancy, the cycle would be scheduled using the frozen donor eggs.
The recipient mother’s cycle would be synchronized to prepare her endometrium and there would be no issue with the donor’s availability as her eggs are already frozen at our clinic. There might even be enough eggs for another IVF cycle if the first is unsuccessful.
Of course one of the main issues is comparative IVF success rates using fresh eggs vs. frozen/thawed eggs. Many clinics are now reporting similar success rates and are making egg freezing an integral part of their IVF programs. However, egg freezing is comparatively new and more data are needed.
The final choice always rests with the couple based upon many personal factors. It does appear that frozen donor eggs will become a service offered by many infertility clinics and RCC is currently conducting research to optimize their egg freezing/thawing protocols. In order to gather more information, RCC is currently requesting that patients participate in a registry (Hope Registry sponsored by EMD Serono) that tracks the outcome of thawed eggs and the outcome of the children born from the pregnancies achieved.
If you would like more information about this exciting but currently experimental technology please call our office to schedule an appointment with a physician. Currently significant financial discounts are offered for participation in this research.
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