One of the causes of female infertility is the inability to release healthy ova, or eggs each month. When this is found to be the cause, one route fertility doctors might suggest is egg donation. This procedure involves the use of a donor egg from another woman, which is then fertilized and implanted into the womb of the recipient.
A woman who decides that using an egg donor is the best choice for her, is likely getting older and either no longer ovulates on a regular basis or she may be worried about using her own eggs because of her advanced age. Some women may have had their ovaries surgical removed, or they may have undergone cancer treatment that has rendered them infertile. A physician can refer patients to a fertility center that offers this procedure.
Generally this type of fertility treatment is fairly expensive, as are most assisted reproductive technology procedures. The price may range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the facility and physician. Normally this cost encompasses each step of the process from initial screening through to implantation and the donor's compensation. A legal contract covering rights and responsibilities will need to be signed by both parties.
Sometimes the donor will be a friend or family member, but in most cases this woman will be chosen in an anonymous manner from a large database. Patients in search of a donor can look for someone who matches their preferences for physical appearance, ethnic and religious background, and educational level. Anyone they are interested in, will be given a letter of introduction written by the recipient, and if their is mutual interest, this is a match.
It is necessary to first ensure that the donor's and recipient's menstrual cycles are synchronized. This is achieved by assessing the donor's ovarian function at the onset of her period using ultrasound and blood work, and by putting her on birth control pills to control its timing. Down the road, this woman will also need to take other pills and injections.
The donor's present ovulation pattern will cease as she takes oral contraceptives and daily gonadotropin injections for about a month. Following this round of medications, she will then have a period that will occur at the same time as that of the recipient, which is necessary for successful embryo implantation.
The next step involves the recipient taking a daily injection so her ovaries will mature many eggs, their maturation will be monitored by ongoing ultrasound checks and blood tests. When the eggs are ready, an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin will be taken to aid in their release, and in a day or so they can be harvested and fertilized with the male partner's sperm. The recipient is also given a course of injections to prepare her womb lining and suppress ovulation. A cervical catheter will then be used to introduce two to four embryos into the uterus.
Many patients who undergo this procedure successfully conceive, although all in vitro fertilization techniques carry the potential risk for failure. Some women may experience side effects from the fertility hormones, including breast tenderness, moodiness, hot flashes, and rarely ovarian hyper-stimulation, causing swelling and discomfort.
A woman who decides that using an egg donor is the best choice for her, is likely getting older and either no longer ovulates on a regular basis or she may be worried about using her own eggs because of her advanced age. Some women may have had their ovaries surgical removed, or they may have undergone cancer treatment that has rendered them infertile. A physician can refer patients to a fertility center that offers this procedure.
Generally this type of fertility treatment is fairly expensive, as are most assisted reproductive technology procedures. The price may range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the facility and physician. Normally this cost encompasses each step of the process from initial screening through to implantation and the donor's compensation. A legal contract covering rights and responsibilities will need to be signed by both parties.
Sometimes the donor will be a friend or family member, but in most cases this woman will be chosen in an anonymous manner from a large database. Patients in search of a donor can look for someone who matches their preferences for physical appearance, ethnic and religious background, and educational level. Anyone they are interested in, will be given a letter of introduction written by the recipient, and if their is mutual interest, this is a match.
It is necessary to first ensure that the donor's and recipient's menstrual cycles are synchronized. This is achieved by assessing the donor's ovarian function at the onset of her period using ultrasound and blood work, and by putting her on birth control pills to control its timing. Down the road, this woman will also need to take other pills and injections.
The donor's present ovulation pattern will cease as she takes oral contraceptives and daily gonadotropin injections for about a month. Following this round of medications, she will then have a period that will occur at the same time as that of the recipient, which is necessary for successful embryo implantation.
The next step involves the recipient taking a daily injection so her ovaries will mature many eggs, their maturation will be monitored by ongoing ultrasound checks and blood tests. When the eggs are ready, an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin will be taken to aid in their release, and in a day or so they can be harvested and fertilized with the male partner's sperm. The recipient is also given a course of injections to prepare her womb lining and suppress ovulation. A cervical catheter will then be used to introduce two to four embryos into the uterus.
Many patients who undergo this procedure successfully conceive, although all in vitro fertilization techniques carry the potential risk for failure. Some women may experience side effects from the fertility hormones, including breast tenderness, moodiness, hot flashes, and rarely ovarian hyper-stimulation, causing swelling and discomfort.
About the Author:
If you are searching for information regarding infertility, you should visit our website at http://infertilitytexas.com today. You can see details on procedures at http://infertilitytexas.com/donor-services.php now.
No comments:
Post a Comment