Melbourne IVF provides an egg donation program for women who are unable to conceive using their own eggs. In our program donors and recipients are known to each other. Egg donors are usually relatives or friends however they may also be less well known and/or recruited through advertising.
Melbourne IVF does not have a clinic recruited egg donor program.
Who Can Be An Egg Donor?
Donors should ideally be aged between 25 and 40 years of age, and have preferably completed their own family.
Donors are thoroughly screened and a genetic history obtained, prior to being accepted as a donor. In instances where a family history of a genetic condition is indicated on the Genetic Health Questionnaire, the form is reviewed by our Geneticist who assesses the suitability of the donor.
Egg Donation: The Process
Following an initial specialist consultation, counselling of both the recipient and donor (and their respective partners) is mandatory to discuss the implications of egg donation. This is an opportunity to consider all issues and implications associated with their decision to be involved in the donor program and make an informed decision as possible.
Recipients and donors cycles must be synchronised if fresh embryo transfer is to be achieved. Egg donors are required to undergo an IVF cycle. The donor is given medication to stimulate her ovaries to produce an optimum number of eggs. The recipient begins taking osetrogen and progesterone to prepare the lining of her uterus. Blood tests and vaginal ultrasounds monitor the donor to determine when eggs should be collected. The egg collection is a day procedure using a light sedation or general anaesthetic. This procedure takes approximately 20 minutes.
At the time of egg collection the recipient’s partner (if appropriate) provides semen, which is used to fertilise the eggs in the laboratory.
The Recipient has an embryo transfer two days after the egg collection. Any excess viable embryos are frozen for potential future transfer. After two weeks, a pregnancy test is undertaken.
The pregnancy rate of donor egg treatment is directly related to the age of the donor, number and quality of the donated eggs.
For further information regarding Melbourne IVF's donor egg program, please contact (03) 9473 4401.