5 Questions to Ask About Egg Recipiency

Many women are unable to conceive with their own eggs. Women who wish to become pregnant but can't because of lack of egg production may find success by using donor eggs.

Posted 3:41 p.m. Dec 10, 2013 — Updated 3:41 p.m. Dec 10, 2013

Carolina Conceptions

Many women are unable to conceive with their own eggs. This can be due to various reasons some of which are: advancing reproductive age, an unexpected lack of eggs despite a young age or poor egg quality. Women who wish to become pregnant but can't because of lack of egg production may find success by using donor eggs. Through this process, eggs (called oocytes) are retrieved from a known or anonymous donor, fertilized with the egg recipient’s partner’s sperm and then transferred into the uterus of the egg recipient—the woman who wishes to carry the pregnancy.

Not all egg recipiency programs are the same. Before selecting a fertility practice for this procedure, couples should consider these essential questions.

How are Egg Donors Selected and Screened?

An egg recipient may already know the egg donor. A family member or friend may donate eggs to the recipient. In the majority of cases, however, the donor is anonymous to the recipient. It's even more important, then, for recipients to know that the fertility practice closely screens the donor to ensure there are no unexpected medical or mental health risks that could compromise the egg donation. At Carolina Conceptions, donors are carefully screened by FDA guidelines and both a physician and a psychiatrist examine the donor. In addition, donors are limited in the number of times they are allowed to participate.

How Many Eggs are Transferred?

Fertility practices may vary, but at Carolina Conceptions, two embryos are typically transferred. At a patient's request, one embryo may be transferred. The transfer of more than two can result in more than twins and therefore is not recommended by guidelines established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

What is the Process for Egg Recipiency?

Both egg donors and recipients will be given birth control to synchronize their menstrual cycles. Donors will use medicines to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs and the recipients will receive estrogen and progesteorne to prepare the uterus. As patients of Carolina Conceptions, both donors and recipients are closely monitored throughout the process. The timeframe from start to finish for the egg donor is approximately two weeks, and approximately six weeks for the egg recipient.

What Financial Options are Available?

To fit different financial needs, fertility practices may offer options. Carolina Conceptions has several options that allow egg recipients to divide costs to lower out-of-pocket expenses.

What is the Success Rate?

This is the most important question of all. What is the rate of pregnancy for the practice? In 2013, Carolina Conceptions had a pregnancy success rate of 75% when using donor eggs in embryos. Another statistic to look at is the rate of live births. In the latest statistics in this category, Carolina Conceptions rated better than the national average from 2009-2011 for live births from embryo transfers.

For more information about egg recipiency, please contact Carolina Conceptions at 919-782-5911.

Carolina Conceptions is an advertising partner of WRAL.com, but each article is intended to be educational and informative in nature.

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