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Am I a candidate for donor eggs?

Am I a candidate for donor eggs?

09:12 18th April 2016 | Egg Donation

Healthy Eggs Donor Eggs Pregnancy Healthy Baby Menopause Donor Bank Ovum Donation Agency Hormonal Drugs Egg Donation Menstrual Cycle

If a woman is finding it difficult to become pregnant and the problem lies in her lack of healthy eggs, then she may need to use donor eggs to be able to achieve pregnancy and give birth to a healthy child. Your doctor may suggest this option if you have any of the following medical conditions:

1. Premature ovarian decline, a condition in which menopause starts earlier than usual, typically before the age of 40 years.

2. Diminished ovarian reserve meaning that the eggs that you have are of low quality

3. Previous history of failure with IVF, especially when your doctor thinks that the quality of your eggs may be the problem.

Prior to the development of In vitrofertilisation (IVF), no options were available for women with these conditions but now the use of donor eggs is widespread, especially among women of over 40 years.In 2010, about 11 per cent of all assisted reproduction techniques used donor eggs and the technique enjoys the highest success rate of all fertility procedures.

The first step in the usage of donor eggs is to find a suitable donor who will have to undergo a strict medical,genetic and psychological screening and evaluation process including testing for communicable or infectious diseases such as hepatitis, HIV and syphilis

You may want to consider a relative or close friend or prefer the option of using eggs from a donor bank. At Bridge Clinic we have developed a highly professional relationship with VIVA, an ovum donation agency and strongly recommend their service. We manage the entire process for you, from start to finish. You and your partner will also undergo certain checks such as semen analysis for him and blood tests to the levels of Follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and Luteinezing hormone (LH) for you. The status of your uterus, cervix, ovaries and cervix may also be checked with a Trans vaginal ultrasound.

The egg donation process consists of two phases. In the first phase, the donor receives a series of hormonal drugs which cause the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs during one menstrual cycle. When the donor's eggs have sufficiently developed, ovulation will be triggered and the eggs retrieved through a surgical procedure called trans vaginal ultrasound aspiration. During the second phase, the eggs are then fertilised with your partner’s sperm in the laboratory and the resulting embryos transferred into your uterus. In the meantime the lining of your uterus will have been prepared with a course of oestrogen and progesterone. A pregnancy test will be taken two weeks later.

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