Long Island NY Donor Egg Program

Am I a candidate for donor egg?

Typically, women who have significantly reduced, or no, ovarian function are candidates for the donor egg program. Sometimes ovarian failure is a natural result of the aging process and in some women menopause can occur in the mid thirties or sooner, a condition known as premature menopause.  Women who have had cancer chemotherapy and/or high dose radiation treatments for cancer are often also candidates for donor eggs.  As long as a women is in good health, and has her uterus, donor egg IVF can be effective until late in life. However, most programs set an upper age limit for donor egg recipients.

How long does the process take?

The time required for an egg donation cycle is variable dependent upon many patient specific factors. First, the patient must schedule an appointment with one of our physicians to establish her eligibility for the donor egg program. 

The next step is to select an egg donor from the cadre that we have available or from an outside agency. Some patients choose a friend or family member as their donor.  Both donor and recipient undergo counseling and sign consent forms. 

The egg donor will undergo ovulation induction with FSH to cause the development of numerous eggs a process usually requiring 7-13 days.  During this time, the recipient receive estrogen to stimulate endometrial development, a process known as cycle synchronization. Once the eggs mature, they are retrieved and incubated from 3-5 days, after which time they are place in the recipient mother's uterus.

A shared cycle is one in which a single donor is used for two or more recipients in the same cycle. The primary advantage is reduced cost because the egg donor fee is shared.

Can a family member donate eggs to me?

Yes. We perform anonymous and directed egg donation. In the case of an anonymous donor, her identity will never be revealed. Couples are provided with numerous details about potential donors including education level, physical characteristics, and many others. Sometimes childhood pictures of the egg donor are available.

What are the success rates when using donor eggs?

Fortunately, donor egg IVF success rates are typically high. Egg quality is a major factor influencing IVF success rates and it is directly related to age.  As women age, their egg quality diminishes ultimately culminating in the menopause.  An egg donor in our Long Island donor egg program must be between the ages of 21-29.  Donor egg success rates are typically equivalent to the age group of the donor as long as other health issues are not present in the recipient. For example, if the eggs of a 21 year old donor are used in a cycle with a 44 year old recipient, the success rates will coincide with the 21 year old age group.

Are egg donors commonly used?

The use of egg donors has increased significantly over the last decade.  Many women are waiting to establish their careers before attempting pregnancy and are often aged 35 or older.  Couples are also marrying at older ages. As a women ages and her ovarian reserve declines, she becomes a donor egg recipient candidate.

How do the donor's eggs become fertilized?

Once the eggs mature, they are withdrawn from the ovarian follicles using transvaginal guided ultrasound retrieval.  Once the eggs have been obtained and separated from the follicular fluid they are prepared for fertilization. The partner's sperm is obtained by masturbation.  In some causes, sperm will be directly inserted into the eggs using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

How many eggs will be available to the couple after retrieval?

Typically,  six to twenty eggs will be retrieved.