Why are Donor Eggs Needed?
There are many circumstances in which the use of donor eggs may be required for conception. If a known egg donor is not available then purchasing vitrified (frozen) eggs from a commercial egg bank is an option.
Some common reasons for using vitrified eggs include:
- Patients who have had their ovaries removed due to disease
- Patients who have had medical treatments (for example for cancer) which has damaged the ovaries resulting in infertility
- Patients who were born without normally functioning ovaries
- Patients who have had early menopause or are of advanced reproductive age
- Patients who carry a genetic disease that would result in having genetically abnormal children
- Patients who have poor egg quality or who have not been able to conceive with IVF using their own eggs
- Same sex male couples or single men wishing to have children
How are Donor Oocytes Used?
Vitrified eggs are shipped to the Regional Fertility Program from commercial egg banks. These are warmed and fertilized in our laboratory with partner or donor sperm. Fertilization is performed by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) in which a single sperm is injected into each egg. The fertilized eggs are then assessed on a daily basis until the day of embryo transfer, which will be 3 – 5 days following the day the eggs are injected with sperm. Assisted embryo hatching is done on all embryos in a vitrified donor oocyte cycle. The resulting embryos/blastocysts are then replaced into the recipient uterus that has been hormonally prepared with estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone will be continued until the time of the pregnancy test approximately 14-16 days after embryo transfer. If extra embryos are available following treatment, these can be frozen for future pregnancy attempts during a frozen embryo transfer cycle. To reduce the risk of multiple pregnancies normally no more than two embryos or one to two blastocysts will be replaced into the recipient at any one time.
What are Possible Side Effects and Complications of the Medications?
There are normally few side effects to the medications used during this treatment. A few women may experience “hot flushes” from the nasal spray used to take control of the menstrual cycle. Some women who are sensitive to taking oral estrogens may experience mild nausea and fatigue. Estrogens can also increase the chance of blood clots although this is a very rare complication.
How are Vitrified Donor Eggs Purchased?
Vitrified donor eggs may be purchased from commercial egg banks. There are currently no donor egg banks in Canada. The Regional Fertility Program is currently recognized as a Technology Affiliate of MyEggBank in the United States, from whom eggs can be purchased. Additionally, vitrified donor eggs may also be obtained from eggs banks represented by Can-Am Cryoservices and Donor Egg Bank USA. Vitrified eggs are sent to the Regional Fertility Program for use in an IVF donor egg treatment cycle. This process facilitates the use of donor eggs without the necessity for travel and treatment in the USA or abroad. If you participate in this program it will be your responsibility to select an egg donor that is suitable for you and to purchase the donor eggs required for your treatment directly from the egg bank.
How Do I Get My Treatment Started?
If you decide, after consultation with your RFP physician, you wish to use vitrified donor eggs, a personalized treatment plan will be created.
Your treatment plan may include a “Mock Cycle” using estrogen and progesterone to ensure it is possible to develop a suitable uterine lining for an embryo to implant and develop. The adequacy of the endometrial lining is confirmed by a vaginal ultrasound examination. You may also require a sonohysterogram (SHG) to ensure there are no abnormalities within the uterine cavity.
When your vitrified eggs have been received by the clinic and it is time to begin your treatment cycle, a nurse will contact you with a tentative timeline and discuss all the information necessary for you to get started.
What are the Success Rates with the Vitrified Donor Egg Program?
As with all assisted reproductive treatments there is no guarantee of success of that you will have a normal baby. The use of vitrified eggs is a new treatment and success rates, as well as the long time outcomes of babies conceived in this way, will not be fully known for many years. There are many points where the process may fail including failure of the eggs to survive warming, failure of the eggs to fertilize, failure of the fertilized eggs to develop into embryos and finally failure of the embryos to implant and grow in the uterus. Miscarriage of the early pregnancy can also occur as it can in any pregnancy. Your estimated chance of success with treatment will be individualized and explained, once you have had a consultation at our clinic with your physician.
Is there an Age Cutoff for Treatment?
Yes. The clinic will accept referrals for single patients or couples, up to the age of 50 for the patient intending pregnancy through the use of donor oocytes. The primary cycle including embryo transfer must be completed before the patient’s 51st birthday. All subsequent transfers with frozen embryos remaining from the primary cycle must be completed by their 55th birthday unless a gestational surrogate is used.
What are the Costs/Fees?
The clinic requires full payment prior to cycle initiation as this is a non-insured service. All expenses related to this treatment are the responsibility of the patients undergoing this therapy. Payment may be made by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Interac, Cash or Certified Cheque. We regret that we are unable to offer payment plans.
In the event of cycle cancellation, fees will apply based on services received up to time of cancellation.
The cost of the Vitrified Donor Egg cycle does not include medications.
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