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What Most People Don’t Know About Egg Donation

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If you’re among the 11% of women who are struggling with infertility, assisted reproductive technology (ART) may be the best way to help you achieve your family goals.

Egg donation means a fertile woman with healthy eggs donates an oocyte (egg) to a woman struggling with infertility. The recipient has an otherwise healthy reproductive system, but can’t can’t get pregnant because she has too few eggs or has a genetic disorder that she doesn’t want to pass on to her baby.

Egg donation offers a chance for pregnancy to couples who may have been trying to get pregnant for years and have undergone other ART, including in vitro fertilization. At California Center for Reproductive Health, our egg donation program can dramatically increase the likelihood that a woman will conceive.

Egg donation is fully regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. We vet donors to ensure a smooth and safe process for both the women donating eggs and those receiving them.

The process of egg donation requires many steps. Here are some facts about egg donation that you may not know.

Eggs are not sold

Women donate their eggs, just like they would any tissue. It is illegal to sell organs or tissue in the United States. The FDA regulates egg donation, and we follow strict protocols.

You don’t have to know your egg donor

While it is possible for a woman to donate eggs to a sibling or friend in need, we have a bank of donors who may be just right for you. These donors undergo a very careful selection process so they fully understand the process and can ensure our recipients that they are healthy.

Choosing an anonymous egg donor can also remove complications that arise when you’re familiar with the egg donor. We take care of all the legal issues and set the boundaries. You won’t have to worry about who the child resembles or who they are related to; those factors can complicate relationships with all the parties involved.

It’s important to do your research

Although egg donation is carefully regulated, there are still scammers out there. Carry out egg donation only with a trusted, reputable practice, like California Center for Reproductive Health.

Egg donors pass strict screenings

We carefully vet our donors to make sure they are physically healthy, have no mental health issues, don’t use drugs, and aren’t carrying specific genetic conditions that could be passed on to your baby.

There are limits on how many times a woman can donate eggs

Women can only donate their eggs for six cycles. It’s very unusual for a woman to reach this number, as most complete just one or two donor cycles.

This restriction helps protect the health of all involved in the donation process.

Egg donation can take weeks or months

Egg donors are screened first. This may take several weeks. Then, they wait to be selected for donation. Expect it to take another 1-2 months to draw up the legal contract and for the updated screenings and donor cycle to be completed.

Egg donation is a remarkable process that gives many parents the chance to grow their families when faced with infertility.

If you’re interested in becoming an egg donor or in exploring egg donation to help you conceive, contact our experienced, knowledgeable team at California Center for Reproductive Health. Our doctors and staff have your best interests in mind and want to do everything possible to help you achieve the dream of a healthy, successful pregnancy.

See Dr. Mor’s Publications

Eliran Mor, MD

Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Santa Monica, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA
Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA Doctor Mor received his medical degree from Tel Aviv University-Sackler School of Medicine in Israel. He completed a four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Subsequently, Dr. Mor completed a three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility […]
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FAQ

What does a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist do?

Reproductive endocrinology and Infertility is a sub-specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to managing medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the female reproductive tract, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility (REI) specialists undergo additional years of training to provide fertility treatments using assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization.

Reproductive endocrinologists receive board certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

When should I see an REI specialist?

In general, patients should consider consulting with an REI specialist after one year of trying unsuccessfully to achieve pregnancy. The chance of conceiving every month is around 20%, therefore after a full year of trying approximately 15% of couples will still not have achieved a pregnancy.

However, if a woman is over the age of 35 it would be reasonable to see a fertility specialist earlier, typically after 6 months of trying.

Other candidates to seek earlier treatment are women who have irregular menses, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), women who have had 2 or more miscarriages, or problems with the fallopian tubes (prior ectopic pregnancy).

What are the reasons we are having trouble conceiving?

Approximately 1/3 of the time cause for infertility is a female factor, 1/3 of the time a male factor, and the remaining 1/3 a couples’ factor.

At CCRH, we emphasize the importance of establishing a correct diagnosis. Both partners undergo a comprehensive evaluation including a medical history and physical exam.

Furthremore, the woman’s ovarian reserve is assessed with a pelvic ultrasound and a hormonal profile. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) will confirm fallopian tube patency and the uterine cavity is free of intracavitary lesions. A semen analysis is also obtained to evaluate for concentration, motility, and morphology of the sperm.

Additional work up is then individualized to direct the best possible treatment option for each couple.

What is IVF? What is the process like?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the process that involves fertilization of an egg outside of a woman’s body.

The process starts with fertility drugs prescribed to help stimulate egg development. In your natural cycle, your body is only able to grow one dominant egg, but with stimulation medication we can recruit multiple eggs to continue to grow. After about 8-10 days of stimulation, the eggs are surgically retrieved and then fertilized with sperm in a specialized laboratory. Fertilized eggs are then cultured under a strictly controlled environment within specialized incubators in the IVF laboratory for 3-5 days while they develop as embryos. Finally, embryos (or an embryo) are transferred into the uterine cavity for implantation.

Should I have IVF?

Before deciding if IVF is the right choice, it’s important to sit down with an REI specialist to discuss available treatment options. For some people, other methods such as fertility drugs, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be the best first choice treatment. At CCRH, we believe each individual couple is unique and not everyone needs IVF.

Is the IVF procedure painful?

While not painful, the fertility medications may some side effects including headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, and bloating. The injection sites may also bruise.

Will IVF guarantee a baby?

Unfortunately, no. Many people think once they start IVF it’s a matter of time that they will be pregnant and have a baby. But according to national statistics per the Society of Assisted Reproduction (SART), on average 40% of assisted reproduction cycles achieve live births in women under age 35. The chances of success then continue to decrease with advancing age.

At CCRH, we employ only evidence-based interventions to ensure patient safety and optimal outcome. While we cannot guarantee a baby, we guarantee that you will receive the best, most advanced, personalized care to help you maximize your chance of a baby.

What is the success rate for IVF?

The average IVF success rate (success measured in live birth rate) using one’s own eggs begins to drop around age 35 and then rapidly after age 40. This is due to the decline in egg quantity and egg quality as a woman ages.

Our clinic’s success rate consistently beats the national average year after year.

Do insurance plans cover infertility treatment? How much does IVF cost?

Individual insurance plans often do not have any coverage for infertility treatments. If you have a group plan, you can call members services to see if they have coverage for infertility (including consultation/workup and IVF).

After your consultation with our REI specialist, one of our dedicated account managers with sit with you to go over the cost of treatment.

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