Involving an egg donor in a reproductive program is a common and logical step for couples who have gone through a series of unsuccessful IVF and ICSI with their oocytes. How to find an egg donor, how to get donor eggs for ivf are frequent and quite logical questions for such couples. In this article, we will try to highlight the process of finding an egg donor in as much detail as possible, tell you where to get donor eggs, answer related questions.
Indications for the use of an egg donor:
- Syndrome of ovarian insufficiency;
- Removed ovary (s);
- Genetic diseases;
- Postponed chemotherapy;
- Absence / low quality of oocytes;
- 3 or more unsuccessful IVF / ICSI attempts;
- Menopause.
How to find an egg donor: geographic aspects
The search for an egg donor is highly dependent on the country in which it is undertaken. It is useless to look for a donor in Austria, Germany, Italy, China, Switzerland, as well as most Muslim countries. The question “how to get an egg donor” is not even raised, this practice is illegal along with surrogacy. This means that involving an egg donor for residents of these countries is possible only abroad.
In a number of countries, the oocyte donation procedure is not anonymous and / or is only possible on a non-commercial basis (with compensation for the costs incurred, but no remuneration), which significantly complicates the search for an egg donor. For example, in Australia, Belgium, Great Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden. future parents will either have to wait a very long time to involve an egg donor, and in some countries also reveal to their adult child the circumstances of his birth and the identity of the person who donated his oocytes for his birth.
It is a big mistake to perceive non-commercial oocyte donation as an opportunity to save money. The cost of medical and legal services, compensation for the donor’s expenses in the absence of a guarantee of success from the first attempt, not to mention the time spent on finding and preparing a woman for the program – the way to the long-awaited parental happiness can be unnecessarily delayed.
Important: if oocyte donation is prohibited in your country, but you need this service, you can contact a clinic in another country that implements international programs. Donation and IVF will take place in the clinic, and you will be able to give birth in your country.
In countries with legal commercial oocyte donation (for example, the USA), there are many options for how to find an egg donor. The couple can go directly to the center of reproduction, where they plan to pass the IVF program. Clinics with extensive experience usually have their own database of women and will tell you in detail how to get donor eggs for ivf. You can also contact an agency specializing in the search for donors according to the specified parameters. The couple only needs to inform the agent about their requirements (phenotype, social status, other details), and how to find an egg donor is the agency’s matter.
It should be understood that the donor’s fee will vary from several thousand and can go up to several tens of thousands. The more links are involved in finding a suitable candidate, the higher the final cost of the program. An indisputable plus is a short waiting time with a sufficient number of applicants, as well as the ability to choose a phenotypically similar woman for the birth of a child similar to you.
Another place where you can get donor eggs is sperm and oocyte banks. In most cases, a huge database has accumulated there, including all possible phenotypes.
A reliable way to get an egg donor is to search the Internet for forums of people who have already taken part in reproductive programs. They can talk about their experience, advise a good clinic. You can also ask them where to get donor eggs, find a suitable candidate. It will be very useful to find out how successful participants in reproductive programs assess their experience of cooperation with a particular clinic. An attentive and careful attitude to the health of the donor speaks of the conscientiousness of doctors, their understanding of their high mission, and not just about the desire to build a super-profitable business.
A relative or a friend of the family can donate oocytes for a couple. If the doctors of the reproductive clinic, according to the results of the examination, recognize her as an appropriate candidate for the chosen role. In addition, like any other candidate, your relative or friend must meet certain requirements. About them – further in the article.
How to find an egg donor: a medical aspect
Not every young and visually healthy woman is suitable for oocyte donation. Before getting donor eggs for ivf, a woman must undergo the following:
- Complete blood count;
- Biochemical blood test;
- Analysis of blood clotting;
- Blood test for HIV, hepatitis and syphilis.
- Genetic research of the chromosome set;
- Determination of blood group and Rh factor;
- X-ray of the chest organs;
- Electrocardiography;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
- Smears from the vagina and cervix;
- Examination by a gynecologist, psychiatrist and geneticist.
The average set of desirable characteristics looks like this: a woman under 35 years old (in some countries – up to 42 years old), preferably having at least one healthy child, without bad habits, mental illness and hereditary diseases.
Additional factors to consider before getting an egg donor: blood type and Rh factor. The donor’s blood group must be compatible with the blood groups of both parents, and in case of a woman’s negative Rh factor, it is highly desirable to choose a donor also with a negative Rh factor.
Summing up, we note the most reliable way to find a donor – to go to a good clinic with a large database of its own. This guarantees you a choice of 100% competent donor candidates.