Infertility Information
UC Davis Fertility Center – Oocyte Donation Program
Assisted reproductive technology has made it possible for many previously infertile couples to conceive a child. Even a woman who cannot produce her own eggs (oocytes) can become pregnant through in vitro fertilization with donor eggs.Pregnancy normally takes place when the sperm travel through the vagina and uterus to meet the ovum (egg) while it is in one of the fallopian tubes. A woman who cannot produce her own ripened eggs, can be assisted in the process by an oocyte donor.
A donor is given gonadotropins, an ovulation-inducing drug, to stimulate egg production, and then several of her mature eggs are removed nonsurgically with an aspirating needle. The donor's eggs are mixed with the husband's sperm in vitro (in glass) in a laboratory and then placed in an incubator. After union of sperm and eggs (fertilization), one or more of the fertilized embryos, are transferred to the patient's uterus where they may implant in the uterine lining and continue to develop into a fetus.
In vitro fertilization has helped many women become pregnant.
Thoughtful donation
Donor eggs are special gifts. They offer hope to women who are not otherwise likely to conceive, such as:
- Women who were born with abnormal ovaries and produce no eggs. Many of these patients have a normal uterus and can become pregnant with donor eggs fertilized in vitro.
- Women who stop producing eggs earlier than normal, a condition known as premature ovarian failure. The cause is usually unknown. In some women premature ovarian failure is caused by autoimmune disease, surgery or exposure to radiation or drugs. If a woman's uterus is normal, she can conceive with donor eggs.
- Women who carry a genetic abnormality in their chromosomes and want to avoid passing it to their children.
- Women with other medical problems also can benefit by oocyte donation.
- Women who are resistant to fertility drugs and produce a limited number of eggs during attempted superovulation. These patients, considered "low responders" to fertility drugs, have poor success when in vitro fertilization is attempted with their own eggs because few are able to be aspirated.
- Women who are 40 years of age or older. The success of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) decreases with age. Women age 35 and younger have the highest pregnancy rates and the lowest miscarriage rates with IVF-ET. Compared to these women, those who are age 40 or older have about half the chance to conceive and twice the chance to miscarry.
The age of the uterus seems less important than the age of the egg. With eggs from young donors, older patients dramatically improve their chance for pregnancy.
Success rate
Oocyte donation has offered a successful alternative to infertility for many couples. The recipient's previous fertility history does impact the success of the procedure. After taking the history into consideration, we will estimate the chance for pregnancy.
Donors
Many infertile couples prefer that eggs be donated by someone they know, often a relative or a friend.
If the recipient does not have an appropriate donor, the UC Davis Fertility Center assists in matching the recipient with an anonymous donor. We recruit our donors from the community. They must meet our stringent criteria and the recipient's general requirements.
If the recipient does not have an appropriate donor, the UC Davis Fertility Center assists in matching the recipient with an anonymous donor. We recruit our donors from the community. They must meet our stringent criteria and the recipient's general requirements.
Screening
An oocyte donor makes several visits to our office and participates in a lengthy selection process. Donors complete a detailed medical and social history and undergo extensive laboratory testing to exclude the presence of HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, gonorrhea or chlamydia.
Donors also are interviewed and tested by the oocyte program psychologist. Each potential donor completes a genetic evaluation and a screen for cystic fibrosis. The results of both tests must be negative. In the case of an anonymous donor, the physical characteristics of the donor, the donor's mother and father and any siblings are charted, including height, weight, hair color, eye color and complexion. Similar information is collected from the patient. These charts help match the physical characteristics of the donor as closely as closely as possible to the recipient.
Donors also are interviewed and tested by the oocyte program psychologist. Each potential donor completes a genetic evaluation and a screen for cystic fibrosis. The results of both tests must be negative. In the case of an anonymous donor, the physical characteristics of the donor, the donor's mother and father and any siblings are charted, including height, weight, hair color, eye color and complexion. Similar information is collected from the patient. These charts help match the physical characteristics of the donor as closely as closely as possible to the recipient.
Informed consent
Prior to oocyte donation both the recipient couple and the donor sign consent forms to clarify their understanding about who is the legal parent of any child conceived from oocyte donation and in vitro fertilization.
Fees
The recipient requires a number of tests to prepare for a donor egg-in vitro fertilization cycle. These include laboratory blood tests for both partners; a current Pap smear and normal annual female physical examination; a hysterosalpingogram (special X-ray) to assess the uterine cavity; and several sperm tests, including one or more semen evaluations, and possibly a semen antisperm antibody test. Several medications are used to prepare the recipient's uterus for embryo transfer.
The recipient also pays for the cost of donor screening; for the fertility drugs which are required to stimulate the donor to ripen multiple eggs; for all of the costs of monitoring ovarian stimulation in the donor; for oocyte aspiration; for all in vitro fertilization laboratory procedures, including cryopreservation (freezing) and storing the extra embryos which might result; for embryo transfer to the recipient's uterus; and for the donor's services.
The Donor Oocyte Program uses a global fee and installment payment plan to help patients meet the cost of the program. Typically, one cycle of in vitro fertilization using donor oocytes costs $20,000 to $22,000 including medications. A detailed list of the test involved, a breakdown of the fees and specific information on the payment plan is available from the Donor Oocyte Program.
The recipient also pays for the cost of donor screening; for the fertility drugs which are required to stimulate the donor to ripen multiple eggs; for all of the costs of monitoring ovarian stimulation in the donor; for oocyte aspiration; for all in vitro fertilization laboratory procedures, including cryopreservation (freezing) and storing the extra embryos which might result; for embryo transfer to the recipient's uterus; and for the donor's services.
The Donor Oocyte Program uses a global fee and installment payment plan to help patients meet the cost of the program. Typically, one cycle of in vitro fertilization using donor oocytes costs $20,000 to $22,000 including medications. A detailed list of the test involved, a breakdown of the fees and specific information on the payment plan is available from the Donor Oocyte Program.
More information
For more information about the Donor Oocyte Program, call the UC Davis Fertility Center, (916) 734-4918. Our offices are located in the Glassrock Building, 2521 Stockton Blvd., Suite 4200, Sacramento, part of the UC Davis Medical Center.
We are happy to discuss the Donor Oocyte Program in more detail and answer your specific questions. We want to help women overcome problems that prevent pregnancy.
The Donor Oocyte Program is directed by a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist assisted by a staff of fertility specialists, including physicians, scientists, technicians, nurses, counselors, and care coordinators. This special team helps both donors and patients successfully participate in the program.
Please mail all correspondence to:
UC Davis Fertility Center, Donor Program
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| Location: |
UC Davis Fertility Center |
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| Mailing address: |
2521 Stockton Blvd., Suite 4200 Sacramento, CA 95817 |
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| E-mail: |
fertility@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu |
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(800) 2-UC DAVIS |
Phone: |
(916) 734-6106 |
Fax: |
(916) 734-6150 |
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