Long Island New York Donor Egg Program

Donor egg IVF has made it possible for thousands of otherwise infertile women to carry a baby to term and delivery. The resultant child will have the genetic makeup of the father and the egg donor. Fortunately, success rates for donor egg IVF are among the highest IVF success rates.

The egg donor undergoes IVF ovulation induction with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).  FSH causes the recruitment and development of the ovarian follicles each of which contains an egg. Administration of FSH by injection causes the development of multiple eggs, which are needed for the ART processes.  She also receives other medications including Lupron, Ganirelix, or Cetrotide to control the timing of ovulation.  Ovulation should not occur while receiving one of these medications.

The egg donor must come to our Long Island New York IVF Center several times during her stimulation cycle.  The development of her eggs, and her response to FSH, are measured using transvaginal ultrasound and estradiol measurements.  Using ultrasound, the ovaries, follicles, and other structures can be visualized.  Estradiol levels increase as healthy follicles develop.

Abnormally high estradiol levels can signal a potentially serious side effect known as hyperstimulation syndrome.  Ultrasound and estradiol measurements also guide the infertility specialist in making dosage adjustments for an optimal stimulation and to avoid side effects.

While the egg donor undergoes ovulation induction, the recipient mother receives medications to synchronize her cycle with the donor’s.  The recipient’s endometrium must thicken and become more vascular to accept the implanting embryos.  In a non stimulated cycle endometrial development is facilitated by the hormone estrogen, which is regulated by the hypothalamus. After embryo transfer, the recipient will continue to receive progesterone since drugs like Lupron or Ganirelix interfere with progesterone’s natural production.(Recipient FAQ's)

Once the eggs mature, and are ready for retrieval, the egg donor will be given an injection of hCG to finally prepare her eggs. The eggs are retrieved while the patient is under anesthesia by passing a small “needle” through the back of the vagina into the ovarian follicles.  The eggs are withdrawn from the follicles and passed to the embryologist for separation from the follicular fluid and combined with the sperm.