Do You Need an Egg Donor?

IVF through using donor eggs at Strong Fertility Center offers a highly successful option for many couples who would otherwise have no way to become pregnant. We participate in both anonymous and known oocyte donation cycles and are the longest running donor oocyte program in Upstate New York.

Indications for Egg Donation

Premature ovarian failure
Perimenopausal women with diminished ovarian reserve
Older women who have experienced natural menopause
Women who have had their ovaries removed but have a uterus
Repeat IVF attempts without success
IVF with poor egg or embryo quality
To avoid passing a genetic illness

Steps for Donor Egg Recipient Process

A cycle takes 3–6 months to complete from initial screening to the actual retrieval and embryo transfer.

Step 1: Recipient Consultations and Screening

Our physicians will thoroughly review your medical history to assure that this treatment is your best option. You must also be in good health, and must not be older than 50 years old. Depending on your medical history, you may be asked to have additional medical clearance before proceeding. You will also meet with the Donor Egg Coordinator to review the process in selecting an egg donor.

Step 2: Psychological Preparation

The decision to conceive a child through the use of a donated egg can be very difficult for a couple. Therefore, you and your husband or partner will meet with the psychologist for counseling and emotional support. It is important to discuss issues related to non-biologic parenting, past fertility problems, parenting at an older age, and positive and negative aspects of disclosure to potential offspring.

Step 3: Recipient “Mock Cycle”

You will do a preparation trial of medications to optimize the synchronization of your cycle with the donor’s. This will prepare your lining to accept the fertilized egg. You will also have screening blood work that is required by federal and state regulations.

Step 4: Choosing an Egg Donor

Our Donor Egg Coordinator will send you profiles on potential egg donors.Who is an egg donor?

Step 5: Synchronization of the Egg Donor and Recipient

The recipient is monitored synchronously to the stimulation of the donor. To synchronize a donor/recipient for a fresh embryo replacement cycle, the recipient is treated with estrogen and progesterone to mimic the hormonal pattern in a normal cycle.

The recipient will be notified when the decision to proceed to the egg retrieval in the donor is made, and sperm will be collected the day of the retrieval for fertilization.

Step 6: Embryo Replacement – Recipient

Once the donor oocytes are harvested, they are fertilized in the laboratory and the recipient will undergo a transfer of typically 3–5 days following the oocyte retrieval. Usually 1–2 embryos are replaced. Additional viable embryos may be frozen for use at a future time.