Ovum Donation
Nakshatra Clinic
Your Trusted Partner in the Journey to Parenthood
Ovum Donation
Overview
Women’s ovaries produce gametes known as ova or ovum. These immature egg cells become mature ovum during a menstrual cycle. The only difference between an egg and an ovum is that the ovum is the unfertilized female gamete whereas the egg is its fertilized form.
About Ovum Donation
Ovum Donation
Ovum donation in In Vitro Fertilization is a fertility therapy option for those who can not use their fertilized ovum. Moreover, it also means the intended mother will not be genetically related to the child. Also, if you use a sperm donor, the father will not be the biological parent. The process of donating an ovum or oocyte to another woman to help her conceive is a part of assisted reproductive technology or ART.
The procedure involves a doctor removing an egg or eggs from the donor, fertilizing them, and then transferring them into the woman to meet the embryos in the recipient’s uterus.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a common process of performing Ovum Donation. The doctors can freeze the embryos for further use or implementation in other women.
At the time of extraction, the donor will receive an injection to prepare herself for the procedure. The doctors will conduct transvaginal aspiration to extract the eggs from the donor’s ovary. The doctor will further insert an ultrasound probe inside the vagina. Next, he will remove the egg from the individual follicle with a needle. The whole procedure takes about 30 minutes to complete. Meanwhile, the doctor might give the donor some painkillers, sedatives or anaesthesia.
Moreover, as this is not a major procedure, the donor might get a quick discharge and not stay in the clinic or hospital. But several women need few days of rest to recover from the transvaginal ovarian aspiration.
The doctor may also give some aftercare for the donor. In addition, in some cases, the egg donation process can provide a psychological impact. Thus, women can consult with a psychotherapist after the procedure to get relief from these situations.
The risks associated with egg donation are minimal. The methods and drugs used by egg donors are the same as those used by women who use their eggs in IVF, and they pose the same risk. During the recovery phase, anaesthesia entails a low risk, although there are not many consequences.
When the doctor puts the needle into the ovary, some women bleed. Damage to the colon, bladder or adjacent blood arteries may occur in rare situations. An injury or significant bleeding, on the other hand, is improbable.
Infection might even arise after the removal of eggs. The doctor may give antibiotics to prevent this. The medications used to induce ovulation in egg donors can sometimes cause mild, moderate, or severe OHSS. Always seek medical advice.
Symptoms that may need hospitalization in severe instances include:
- Breathing problems
- Fast gaining of weight
- Stomach ache
- Vomiting
There may be various conditions in which a woman can provide her eggs. These variables improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy and lower the risk of congenital issues.
Donors are typically between the ages of 21 and 35. Women in this age range are more likely to respond well to fertility medications and have higher egg quality and quantity.
Infections such as HIV and hepatitis C should not be present in donors. They should also be free of hereditary disorders, such as individuals who have the cystic fibrosis gene.
If a woman is at high risk of contracting HIV or other diseases, she can not donate. A person may also be unable to donate eggs if they can not give a thorough family medical history.
Some organizations offer preference to women who have already donated eggs or given birth.
To find an ovum donor, a person should consult with the doctor in detail. Some of the sources from where you can find a donor might include the following:
- Avail information from the friend or the family members.
- You can ask or talk with another infertile couple who are willing to share their donors’ details.
- Eggs banks are great options to choose from if you are new.
- Several agencies can provide you required ovum donor.
- Fertility clinics offering IVF treatment are also a good option to search.
You can meet the donor depending on the contract you have signed, or there may not be a contract between you and your donor as well. While choosing, you should avail information about her as well. You should check their health and physical condition. As this is a matter of emotion between the donor and the recipient, everyone should be careful.
According to the Center for Disease Control, 55.9% for fresh embryo transfer and 40.2% for frozen embryo transfer in the live birth rate for donor ovum IVF. This report is generated by performing national research in 2013. In some cases, the success rate might be lower, including sharing ovum with another infertile couple. While choosing the same family member as a donor can also lead to a lower success rate.
The specialist at the fertility clinic will perform a high-quality selection process to find the perfect donor and will carefully start the legal procedures. Before beginning, several donors can use the medication to prevent the normal menstrual cycle.
After this, the surgeon, with the help of fertility drugs, will stimulate the donor’s ovaries to produce several eggs at a time, which is also known as hyper-stimulation.
Donors can perform self-administration by injecting the medicines under the skin or into the muscles. However, some adverse effects may potentially influence donors, such as ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS). The donor will also go through blood tests, including an ultrasound examination, to examine their reaction to the medications.
The overall procedure of Ovum Donation is a little bit expensive. On average, the cost can be anything from $20,000 to $35,000 per cycle. Moreover, it depends on the source and the agency, including commercial egg donor agencies, recruit, screen, and match healthy donors with couples and individuals.