When Is Egg Donation Used in Fertility Care?
Donor eggs are commonly used by:
- Patients who have decreased ovarian function
- Patients with premature ovarian failure
- Patients with genetic abnormalities
- LGBTQ+ families
- Single parents
How Does Main Line Fertility Screen Its Egg Donors?
Our egg donor screening process is one of the most thorough in the industry. Each donor undergoes a series of evaluations, with only 1-2% of applicants being approved. Our screening process includes:
- Detailed medical and personal history questionnaire
- Ovarian reserve testing, including antral folicle count and AMH
- Psychological evaluation by a licensed mental health professional
- Three generations of genetic health history evaluated by a genetic counselor
- Comprehensive genetic testing, including expanded carrier screening and karyotype analysis
Fresh vs. Frozen Egg Donation, Explained
When using donor eggs, aspiring parents can choose between a fresh or frozen egg donation cycle, each offering unique benefits. In a fresh egg donation cycle, the donor’s and recipient’s cycles are carefully synchronized so that the eggs can be retrieved and fertilized immediately, with the resulting embryo transferred a few days later. A frozen egg donation cycle, on the other hand, involves retrieving and freezing the donor’s eggs through vitrification. These eggs are then stored until the recipient is ready, allowing for more scheduling flexibility and faster cycle completion. Both options have similar success rates, making it important to consider which approach best suits your family’s needs.
Why Choose a Frozen Donor Egg Cycle?
Frozen donor egg cycles provide intended parents with greater control and flexibility in their family-building journey. Since frozen eggs are already retrieved and preserved, recipients can begin their cycle without the need to synchronize their schedule with a donor, resulting in faster cycle completion and reduced wait times. Additionally, frozen donor egg cycles are often more cost-effective and offer a broader selection of donors, allowing you to choose the best match for your family.
Frozen Donor Egg Benefits at a Glance:
- More donor choices
- Greater scheduling flexibility
- Faster cycle completion
- Lower overall costs
Why Choose a Fresh Donor Egg Cycle?
For some intended parents, a fresh donor egg cycle offers distinct advantages that align with their family goals. In a fresh cycle, eggs are retrieved and fertilized immediately, which may be preferred for those who wish to have genetically related siblings from the same donor. Fresh cycles also provide the option for sex selection and allow for preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M), giving intended parents more control over their reproductive outcomes.
Fresh Donor Egg Benefits at a Glance:
- Ideal for ensuring genetic siblings
- Allows for sex selection
- Suitable for PGT-M to screen for genetic conditions
