Embryo donation is a process that couples rely on who cannot conceive a baby naturally or through IVF technology. It is a form of third-party reproduction where the unused embryos from a couple's IVF treatment are donated to another person or a couple.
About the procedure
During embryo donation, the embryos are transferred to the patron who can't get pregnant. Originally, the egg donor receives hormone injections to increase the ovulation of multiple eggs. Women release one egg per month, and the injections allow multiple eggs to mature in one month. Once the eggs are progressed, they're retrieved by the fertility specialist.
Once the fertility doctor retrieves the eggs using an ultrasound-guided needle, they are fertilised using the donor's or the partner's sperm using IVF treatment. Once the eggs are fertilised, known as embryos are then transferred into the recipient's uterus.
Who qualifies for embryo donation?
Women who fulfil the following qualifications are eligible to become egg donors.
- Age between 18 and 32
- Non-smoker
- Fit and healthy
- Have regular menstrual periods
- Has both ovaries
- Does not have PCOS or PCOD
- No history of substance abuse
It is essential to understand that the egg donation process is entirely confidential, and the identity remains anonymous. If you are looking to become an egg donor or want to adopt an embryo, reach out to Apollo Fertility in Varanasi or call 1860-500-4424 to book an appointment
Why is embryo donation conducted?
Embryo donation is conducted for patients who have problems getting pregnant using their eggs. Embryo donation gives chances to women who cannot get pregnant but want a child.
Embryo donation is conducted for women who are:
- In pre-menopause stage
- Do not have quality eggs
- Crossed their maternal age
- Failed IVF treatments.
- Diminished ovarian reserve
- Patients who cannot afford to use an egg Donor often opt for embryo donation as it is comparatively expensive.
Benefits of embryo donation
There are many benefits of embryo donation, and they are as follows:
- No waiting list
There's no waiting list for embryo donation. The embryos are formerly saved by IVF treatment. Then, the embryos are given to the most compatible recipient with similar blood type and physical characteristics.
- More chances of getting pregnant
With the new preservation techniques, embryo survival rates have increased. The gestation rate is also increased, which makes the chances of the recipient getting pregnant high.
- Solution for many new families
Many patients opt for embryo adoption nowadays. People who choose embryo adoption are someone who can not get pregnant, can not keep the fertilised embryo for moral or religious purposes, single women who want to become a mother, and couples that are not financially stable for other types of treatment. They choose embryo adoption and start their new family.
Risks /complications of embryo donation
Egg donation has some possible side effects like other medical procedures. Many women might feel little to no discomfort during the egg donation procedure. Whereas other women might have symptoms that resolve themselves after the egg retrieval. Some possible symptoms caused from hormone medication include:
- Abdominal swelling and pain
- Breast tenderness
- Bloating
- Mood swings
Embryo donations can have mental and physical effects on your body. So it would be best if you were prepared to give birth to a child who might not have your DNA but still get to call yours.
Embryo donation is a developing field. The success rates are determined by live birth per embryo transplant, the embryo's quality, the egg donor's age, the number of embryos transferred and the embryo's developmental stage when it is frozen.
No, embryo donors signed an informed consent document indicating permission to use the embryo for embryo donation. As part of the consent process, they give all the rights to the recipient or any child or children that may result from the transfer.
Being an embryo donor does not affect the future ability to have biological children. Women are born with almost 2 million eggs. Each month some eggs begin to mature, but the body only releases one egg each cycle to mature and absorbs the rest. Fertility medications can rescue some of these matured eggs and fertilise them using the partner or donor’s sperm using IVF treatment. So being an embryo donor does not affect your fertility.
If the patient has a regular menstrual cycle then the embryo is transferred after 5 days of ovulation. But, if the patient has an irregular menstrual cycle then the uterus is prepared with hormonal medication for implanting the embryo.
No, the donor egg has the DNA of the donor itself. Even though the egg is fertilised in a laboratory and then transferred to the recipient’s uterus does not change the genetic code.
Treatments
