Who should consider egg donation

Egg donation is commonly indicated when women and egg producers are repeatedly unsuccessful with IVF due to increasing age, severe egg factor infertility, or no response to stimulation. The use of an egg donor can increase pregnancy rates in some of these women from <5% to as high as 65-70% with one cycle.

Other reasons some might consider using a donated egg include:

  • Female carriers of genetic mutations
  • Women and individuals born without ovaries or who had surgical removal of ovaries
  • Same-sex male couples
  • Patients who are rendered “menopausal” prematurely due to chemotherapy, radiation, genetic mutations (i.e., fragile x).

Miscarriage is a significant risk as a patient’s age increases, due to the increased likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities like trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) or monosomy X (Turner syndrome) within the embryo.

Egg donation takes the recipient’s age out of the equation.

For example, using eggs from a 24-year-old egg donor allows a 42-year-old recipient (with a typical trisomy 21 risk of 1 in 32) to have the same trisomy 21 risk as a 24-year-old woman (1 in 1,110).

Egg recipients may choose to use fresh eggs – i.e., eggs that are transferred soon after they are retrieved and inseminated – or eggs that have been preserved in a frozen egg bank. Our physicians can help you understand the advantages of each option.