Using donor eggs

Fertility Specialists Western Australia can offer eggs from international and clinic-recruited egg donors to help individuals and couples achieve their dream of parenthood. A wide range of donors are available, provided by the internationally recognised donor banks, Genesis International and The World Egg and Sperm Bank.

Types of donors

Known donor

If the recipient already has a relationship with the donor, this is called a known donation. Having someone you know undergo IVF procedures to provide the eggs offers several benefits, including understanding the genetic origin of the eggs and reduced wait times.

When a known donor is over 35 years of age, the recipient is advised of the increased risk of medical issues, including miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities. If the recipient chooses to use an egg from a donor in these circumstances, this will be at the clinician's discretion.

Clinic-recruited donor

When a donor decides to provide eggs to an individual or a couple not known to them, this is known as a clinic-recruited egg donation. In this situation, the recipient has never met the donor, and the donor has the choice to remain unknown to the recipient. However, a donor must agree to release identifying information (name, date of birth, address) to a child conceived as a result of her donation once the child turns 16 or through the Reproductive Technology Council (RTC).

Finding and choosing clinic-recruited donor eggs

To help couples and individuals find their ideal donor, Fertility Specialists of Western Australia offers clinic-recruited, national and international donors through Genesis International and The World Egg and Sperm Bank (TWESB).

To learn more about Genesis International, click here.

To Learn more about The World Egg and Sperm Bank, click here.

Who requires donor eggs?

You may require donor eggs due to factors such as:

Premature menopause
Unable to use eggs due to genetic causes
Repeatedly unsuccessful using an IVF program
Born without ovaries
Undertaken treatment for cancer
Donated eggs can also be used in surrogacy for gender and sexually diverse people

What is required to become an egg recipient?

Before beginning your treatment, you must also have a patient education presentation. This presentation may be self-directed or done by the clinic fertility nurses. Information will be provided about your treatment cycle, medications, side effects, and any day-to-day requirements. You (and your partner) will be given consent forms to fill in and sign. Consent forms must be returned before the commencement of the treatment and require a witness's signature.

It is compulsory for all individuals and couples considering using donor eggs to attend counselling sessions. This provides the chance to discuss your treatment on a more personal level. It also allows you to raise more private issues, such as individual concerns, relationship difficulties or current circumstances that may affect your treatment experience. A joint session with the donor (and their partner) is required if you are using a known donor.

*The order of these steps/requirements may vary depending on your circumstances.

Other things to consider

*Please note that we currently do not have a surrogacy program.*

Egg recipients who do not have regular ovarian cycles

Egg recipients who do not have ovaries, or have ovaries that do not produce eggs, will require hormone treatment to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. This is because the endometrium (lining of the uterus) needs to be ready before the embryo is implanted into the uterus.

The two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, prepare the endometrium for implantation. If you take these two hormones in the correct amounts and order, it is possible to mimic what would happen in a regular cycle, even if you do not have functioning ovaries.

Your fertility specialist will tell you when to start taking the medications, the required dosage and when to increase it. You will also be advised when to make an appointment for an ultrasound scan to measure the thickness of your endometrium.

Egg and recipients with regular ovarian cycles

Monitoring begins two or three days before we estimate you would typically ovulate. This can be done by blood tests to measure estrogen, luteinising hormone (LH) and progesterone until one day after ovulation, or by ultrasound scan to measure the size of the follicle and thickness of the endometrium.

Egg recipients with apparently normal ovarian function may be advised to have a hormone treatment cycle (as described above).

It is important for you to be aware that treatment will vary from person to person, and it can be misleading to compare your treatment with others.

An embryo may be transferred from the culture dish into the uterus at different stages of embryo development.

The embryo transfer is a simple procedure that does not require a general anaesthetic. However, you may find it helpful for your partner or a support person to be present for this procedure, to support you and be part of the experience. The transfer is similar to a pap smear, and the same instrument (speculum) is used to open the vagina. A fine tube containing the embryo is passed through the cervix and into the uterus to place the embryo inside.

You can go home shortly after the embryo transfer, and you're encouraged to limit strenuous activity for 24 hours. Exercise can gradually increase over the following days, provided it is non-strenuous and non-aerobic. You should avoid becoming overheated with saunas, hot spas and sunbaking. You will also be required to refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol during this period when pregnancy is not confirmed.

The fertility nurse will give you specific instructions after the transfer. A pregnancy test is performed 14-16 days after embryo transfer.

Time to make your appointment

If you have any questions or if you would like to make an appointment contact us today!

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