What is the meaning of embryo donation?
Embryo donation is a process in which embryos are donated from one woman to another who is unable to conceive a child on her own. Embryos can be created using in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Embryo donation is an option for women who have completed their families and are looking to help others build theirs.
Embryo donation may be offered by fertility clinics and IVF centers. Embryo donation is also done for people who are unable to have children due to medical complications or illnesses, such as cancer treatment, which would damage their reproductive organs.
What does embryo donation entail?
Embryo donation involves several steps:
- Preparation for embryo transfer: The donor undergoes some medical procedures to prepare her body for the transfer of the embryos. This includes blood work and genetic testing, as well as hormonal injections to help ensure that she can carry a pregnancy to term.
- Embryo creation: The donor's eggs are retrieved through ovarian stimulation and fertilized with sperm from either her partner or another donor. The resulting embryos are then frozen until they're ready for implantation into the recipient's uterus.
- Expectant motherhood: Once the recipient becomes pregnant, she'll carry her unborn child to a term like any other expecting mother would — but with one big difference: she'll also carry cells from someone else's body inside her womb!
When is embryo donation a feasible option?
Embryo donation can be an extremely helpful and effective way to build your family if you have tried multiple times with IVF or you are unable to use your own eggs. There are many reasons why a couple may choose to donate their embryos. For example:
- You have tried unsuccessfully to have a baby using your own eggs or sperm, but you still want to grow your family through the use of donor eggs and sperm.
- You are undergoing treatment for cancer and cannot produce viable eggs for fertilization because of the drugs that you are taking.
- You have had an ectopic pregnancy or tubal sterilization surgery and need help building your family.
- You have been told that there is no chance of conceiving on your own due to male infertility issues, such as low sperm count or poor motility (movement).
Embryo donation is an option for women who have completed their family but who wish to help others achieve the same dream.
Embryo donation offers several advantages:
- Low in cost - The cost of embryo donation is much lower than IVF with your own eggs because the donor does not require any medical treatments or testing.
- High success rate - The success rate for embryo transfer is about 50 percent higher than conventional IVF, which uses your own eggs. This is because there is no waiting list, and you don't need to undergo hormone therapy or egg retrieval.
- Easy endometrial preparations and no waiting list - There's no need for complex endometrial preparation before embryo transfer, as happens with conventional IVF using your own eggs. You can usually start preparing for embryo transfer within a few days after making your decision to donate your embryos.
- Value added to life - Embryo donation gives hope to many couples who cannot conceive naturally because they have male factor problems or because their partner has had a vasectomy reversal or tubal ligation reversal that has not been successful on its own.
The success rate of embryo donation is about the same as that of other assisted reproductive technologies. The likelihood of having a live birth after embryo donation depends on many factors. The success rates for most types of infertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization, range from 30% to 50%. The chances that an embryo will develop into a baby are even less. The odds are highest if the embryos are created from eggs and sperm from the intended parents, but they can still vary widely depending on their quality and their age, among other factors.
Those who donate embryos often undergo in vitro fertilization, and their doctors will perform several tests as part of their care. As part of this process, these donors must submit extensive medical and genetic histories.
Although uncommon, it is possible for a woman to become pregnant after having a hysterectomy. This can be accomplished through hormonal therapy intended to encourage endometrial growth, which raises the possibility of implantation and subsequent pregnancy.
Donors must sign a form of informed consent authorizing the use of their bodies to create embryos. They renounce all ownership of embryos and any offspring born as a result of their donation. This renouncement is a part of the consent procedure.
In order to prevent possible complications, a number of tests must be conducted before becoming pregnant. These include screening for antibodies, the Rh factor, and blood type. Immunity to varicella and rubella should also be verified before conceiving a child. Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody, and other serologic tests should also be conducted. Doctors and hospitals may require additional tests to ensure that a recipient is fit for embryo donation.
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