Donor Eggs Provide Hope for Infertile Couples

By Dr. Kathryn Honea

Many women are unable to conceive a child using their own eggs. Most of them have learned this only after undergoing years of infertility treatments. One of the most precious and gracious gifts one woman can give to another is the gift of eggs so that they can become a mother.

The first egg donation pregnancy in the world occurred in 1984. The first baby born through egg donation conceived in the state of Alabama was through the ART Fertility Program of Alabama in 1997 under the guidance of Dr. Virginia Houserman, Director of the Egg Donation Program and mother of two sons conceived through egg donation. Over the past twenty years, egg donation has become a highly successful option for infertile couples. Since then, over 100,000 babies have been born in the U.S. as a result of donor eggs. In Alabama almost 200 of those babies have been born through the ART Fertility Program. Experience and studies have shown that children conceived through donated eggs are generally healthy with no greater risk of birth defects than all children in the general population.
The recipients of donated eggs are married couples with little or no chance of having their own child. The most common reason a couple uses egg donation is because the woman’s ovaries have stopped producing healthy eggs.

Who Can Benefit?

• Women who have been diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, menopause or decreased ovarian reserve.
• Women who have had their ovaries damaged due to disease, surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
• Women who have had their ovaries removed or women born without ovaries.
• Women who carry a genetic disease or trait which might be passed to their children.

There is much discussion regarding when a woman is “too old” to be pregnant. At the ART Fertility Program, the physician individually evaluates women over age 49. Additional health screening tests are required.

The process includes five steps for a couple to proceed as egg recipients:

1. Consultation with our physician and egg recipient coordinator.
2. Evaluation, which includes a “mock” cycle (taking hormones to mimic a natural cycle) and additional testing of the woman’s health and the health of the uterus to carry a baby.
3. Meeting with a counselor regarding emotional aspects.
4. Choosing a donor from either the anonymous donors at the ART Fertility Program or a known donor obtained by the couple (she will require additional evaluation).
5. Proceeding with a recipient cycle matched to her donor’s cycle so she can receive the embryos.
6. Monitoring of the pregnancy while she continues medication until about 12 weeks.

Once pregnant, couples will return to their OB/GYN for obstetrical care and delivery.

Emotional Issues

Fertility treatment is a long uphill road. Often couples facing egg donation as an option are not newcomers to fertility treatment. Even so, when the physician explains to a couple that egg donation may be their best, or only treatment option, most couples experience a myriad of emotions. Some are reassured that there is a very successful alternative. Some feel shock or disbelief, some express anger and others may feel desperate or hopeless. Most couples have many questions, including “Why me?” and “How can this be fixed?”

Understanding and acceptance of these feelings as “normal” is essential so that the couple can move forward to choose between the options of egg recipient, adoption or remaining childless.

For more information on becoming an egg recipient - or becoming an egg donor - please call 1-800-476-9784 or visit our website.