Embryo donation
Embryo donation is a modern method of infertility treatment for women who do not have their own germ cells for IVF. This approach allows a woman to become pregnant and give birth to a child in situations where other methods of assisted reproductive technologies are either contraindicated or do not give the desired result.
Evolutionarily, women’s egg supply is depleted over the years. The maximum number of female germ cells is observed in a female fetus at the 4th month of intrauterine development. After that, their supply begins to decrease, and on average, by the age of 45-50, it is completely depleted.
Fertility decline begins 10 years before menopause. According to statistics, there is a 10% chance that menopause will occur earlier than the average age, and 1% that it will happen before the age of 40.
In the absence of her own eggs, a woman can use donor eggs, on the basis of which donor embryos will be cultivated for further transfer to the patient’s uterus.
- 7,000,000 oocytes exist in the female body at the 4th month of intrauterine development
- 1000 per month – the rate at which oocytes disappear
- 500 ovulations in a lifetime
- 50% of oocytes in women aged 35 have genetic abnormalities
- 80% of oocytes in women aged 40 have genetic abnormalities
- 5% of sperm have genetic defects
What tests are performed to detect ovarian depletion?
Pelvic ultrasonography
Counting of antral follicles
Hormonal testing: FSH, LH, E2, AMG
Indications for embryo donation
Embryo donation is an affordable option for infertile couples who face certain challenges, including:
- Infertility in men and women associated with the inability to use their own reproductive cells;
- Numerous unsuccessful IVF attempts in history;
- Absence of sperm in the ejaculate;
- The woman is over 45 years old;
- Genetic abnormalities that exclude work with their own genetic material.
Embryo donation can also be useful for single women who are infertile and want to have a child. This program is used when a woman does not have her own eggs to fertilize with donor sperm.
The key condition for starting the program is that there are no medical contraindications to bearing a child. If during the examination, doctors identify medical contraindications to pregnancy and childbirth, the couple may be offered to consider surrogacy.
How donor embryos are obtained
Embryo donors can be IVF program participants who have unused cryopreserved embryos in the cryobank after the birth of a child. With their permission, given voluntarily and in writing, these embryos can be transferred to an infertile couple or a single woman.
The process of fertilization of donor eggs is carried out by the donor’s sperm. The donor is stimulated to ovulate in order to obtain several eggs in one cycle. After that, the eggs are fertilized in the laboratory using intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and the embryos are cultured. Then they are either vitrified for further use or implanted into the patient’s uterus according to her ovulation cycle and medical conditions.
How embryo donation works
The embryo donation process consists of several stages. The first step is a consultation with a fertility specialist at Ivmed, during which the options for using donor cells are considered and all stages of the IVF program are explained in detail.
After that, the recipient woman undergoes a comprehensive reproductive examination and takes the necessary tests to assess the body’s readiness to bear a fetus. Preparation for the procedure includes taking hormonal drugs that help improve the condition of the endometrium and increase the chances of successful embryo implantation.
Selection of sperm and egg donors based on anonymous questionnaires.
Obtaining germ cells and their subsequent fertilization in the laboratory.
Cultivation of embryos to the blastocyst stage, which lasts 5-7 days.
Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A) to detect chromosomal abnormalities.
Preparation of the future mother's body for successful embryo attachment and pregnancy (synchronization with the embryo).
Transfer of a genetically healthy embryo into the uterus (embryo transfer).
A pregnancy confirmation test that is performed 14 days after embryo transfer.
In the case of using ready-made cryopreserved embryos, the program is faster. On a certain day, the embryo is thawed and transferred to the woman’s uterus after preliminary preparation of her body for pregnancy.
Thawed donor embryo transfer programs
Donor embryo transfer program
Preparation of one donor embryo.
Embryo transfer.
Ultrasound monitoring of endometrial development.
Consultation with a leading specialist, psychologist, 45-minute session.
Two donor embryo transfer program
Preparation of donor embryos.
Transfer of two embryos.
Ultrasound monitoring of endometrial development.
Consultation with a leading specialist, psychologist, 45-minute session.
Double cryotransfer program for donor embryos
Preparation of two donor embryos.
Embryo transfer twice in one cycle.
Ultrasound monitoring of endometrial development.
Consultation with a leading specialist, psychologist, 45-minute session.
Thawed donor embryo transfer program
IVF program for patients of older reproductive age.
It is effective in case of critically low AMH levels, with poor quality of own eggs and/or embryos, after unsuccessful attempts with own genetic material.
Increases the effectiveness of IVF in severe forms of male infertility.
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