Egg donation is an assisted reproductive technique in which a woman uses a donor’s eggs to become pregnant. Given the gradual delay that is being seen in the age of women who decide to be mothers, this technique is being used more and more.
According to data from the Registry of the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF), its success rate is around 60% in the first cycle, 80% in the second cycle and 90% in the third cycle.
We explain what egg donation consists of, both from the point of view of the donor and the recipient.
Egg donation for the recipient
Egg donation is an In Vitro Fertilization where oocytes from an anonymous donor are used, instead of oocytes from the patient herself. In this way, the donated egg is fertilized by the partner’s semen (or donor semen) and implanted in the patient’s uterus.
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It is an assisted reproduction technique recommended in the following cases:
Also, in most clinics it is the assisted reproduction technique always recommended in women from 40 years of age, since the quality and quantity of the ovules begins to decline considerably around the age of 35, so the chances of achieving a pregnancy are increasingly reduced.
Egg donation for the donor
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The woman who decides to undergo treatment to donate her eggs and thus fulfill another woman’s dream of becoming a mother, she must meet a series of requirements, according to Spanish legislation:
- Be between 18 and 35 years old
- You are in good physical and mental health
- Not having a risky genetic history or suffering from infectious diseases
- Undergo a previous gynecological examination and a complete hormonal and genetic study
Although the identity of the donor is anonymous to the recipient, fertility clinics carry out a process in which the physical features of the recipient are taken into account (height and weight, ethnicity, hair color, facial features …) so that they are as similar as possible to those of the donor.
It is a voluntary and altruistic process
Egg donation is an altruistic process, although the woman who donates could receive financial compensation from the clinic for the physical discomfort caused and to cover the derived expenses.
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Thus, according to Chapter 1, Article 3 of the Royal Decree-Law 9/2014, of July 4, which establishes the quality and safety standards for the donation, procurement, evaluation, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human cells and tissues, we read the following:
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The donation of cells and tissues will be, in any case, voluntary and altruistic, not being able to receive economic consideration or any remuneration neither by the donor nor by any other natural or legal person.
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The medical procedures related to the extraction will not be, in any case, burdensome for the living donor, nor for the family in the case of the deceased donor, the living donor must be guaranteed the necessary assistance for their restoration.
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Living cell or tissue donors may receive compensation from the institution responsible for the extraction, strictly limited to covering the expenses and inconveniences derived from obtaining them as allowances, restitution of lost economic income or similar.
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The recipient will not be required to pay any compensation for the cells and / or tissues used.
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The activities of the tissue establishments will not be lucrative, and only the actual costs of the services provided for the development of the authorized activities may be passed on.
How does the egg donation process take place?
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The procedure for the woman who will receive the donated eggs It is very simple, because unlike other assisted reproduction treatments, you will not have to stimulate your ovaries.
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To begin, a complete gynecological examination is performed to rule out any abnormality, your medical history will be studied and will be completed with other studies and analytics.
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Next, the eggs of the donor most suitable for the recipient will be chosen, according to the characteristics described above.
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The patient receives treatment to prepare the endometrium prior to embryo transfer and thus maximize the chances of implantation.
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In vitro fertilization is performed with the donor’s eggs and the couple’s semen.
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The embryo transfer is carried out by introducing the pre-embryos in a catheter and placing it in the uterus of the recipient patient.
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The remaining non-transferred pre-embryos are frozen by vitrification in order to be used by the couple in the future, if they so wish.
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After 11-12 days a test is performed to measure Beta-HCG, which will confirm if the pregnancy has occurred.
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Regarding the woman who donates her eggs, you must follow an ovarian stimulation treatment for 15 days, through the administration of subcutaneous injections of hormones. During this time it will be controlled with ultrasounds and blood tests. When the time comes, the medical team will extract the eggs through a puncture performed under sedation.
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More information | IVI, Ginefiv
In Babies and More | The crisis triggers the donation of sperm and eggs, Requirements to follow a fertility treatment by Social Security and differences with private clinics, The business of infertility: how much does it cost to have a child if you can not ?, Treatment for egg donation
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