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Finally, and strange as this may seem, the greatest ‘risk’ that an
egg donor runs is of becoming pregnant herself during treatment!
If she had no plans in this sense, this can be a severe problem.
Egg donors are therefore expected to refrain from unprotected
sexual relations for a significant period of time. Total abstention
from all sexual activity at the end of the stimulation cycle is
necessary. She must also avoid intercourse for several days after
egg collection (pick-up) unless protected by a condom to avoid
fertilization of any remaining ripe eggs.
THE TREATMENT
Timing and synchronisation
The fact that eggs cannot yet be frozen and stored presents a
further complication for egg donors. This means that fresh eggs
are always required, and the donor’s and the recipient’s treatments
need to be perfectly synchronised.
The donor follows the IVF treatment course through to egg pickup:
medical screening and analyses, ovarian stimulation via
hormone injections, intermediate blood tests, ultrasound scans
and, finally, an hCG injection to conclude the egg ripening process.
For precise details, we refer to the ‘Medical practice’ section, p. 31
and further on.
Naturally, the egg recipient follows the same procedures as for
embryo transfer in the full IVF treatment. Her womb is prepared to
receive the embryo after (medically) fooling the normal menstrual
cycle into an artificially-induced cycle.
Because of all these factors, the
CRG pays great attention to medical
counselling of egg donors. As a result
of the severe shortage of donor eggs,
we apply our greatest professional
skills because we expect a high degree
of commitment and motivation from
egg donors. Every measure is taken
to reduce the risk of infection to the
smallest possible degree.
Why an artificial cycle
Egg cells must be fertilized as quickly as possible after collection, with the recipient man’s sperm. Then ideally,
one or two of the resulting embryos are placed in the recipient woman’s uterus three days or five days after
conception. The artificial cycle means that the uterus can easily be kept in an optimal condition for the arrival
of the embryos for a number of days. The hormones used to do this have no negative effects, even with
prolonged use.
In practice, the recipient’s cycle is always synchronised to the
donor’s cycle. If the donor is ready for egg pick-up, the recipient’s
womb must be prepared for embryo transfer. Naturally, a delay of
three or five days is also required between pick-up and transfer to
allow for insemination and development of the fertilized eggs into
embryos.
Insemination: preferably by ICSI
The recipient man is expected to supply a fresh sperm sample on
the day the eggs are collected from the egg donor; this sperm is
used immediately to inseminate the eggs.
DONATION
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