Details of Donation Program
If the recipient woman has ovarian function, her ovaries will be medically inactivated. If she does not have ovarian function, this treatment is not required. The woman will take natural female hormone injections to prepare her uterus for placement of embryos. Our program consists of fresh and frozen cycles available for our patients.
Insemination
The recipient and her husband should arrive in Cary the day before retrieval in order that fresh semen can be used for fertilizing the donor oocytes. It is essential that the husband’s sperm be available 4 -5 hours before the time required for insemination, or about 2 hours after retrieval. The husband will be instructed for proper collection of the semen sample. Since collection can sometimes be difficult under stress or the husband is unable to be present at the time of retrieval, a back-up sample will be cryopreserved prior to retrieval.
Maturation and Fertilization of the Oocytes
The oocytes are inseminated with the recipient’s husband’s sperm. The embryos obtained are cultured for approximately 5 days, at which time they are transferred into the recipient’s uterus.
Transfer of Fertilized Oocytes into the Recipient
Transfer is accomplished by means of a small catheter. The procedure, which is usually simple and painless, is performed without anesthesia under ultrasound guidance. Therefore, you will be asked to come to the transfer with a full bladder. The recipient lies on her back in the operating room adjacent to the embryology laboratory where the embryo has been prepared. The recipient remains in bed in the center for 30 minutes, then returns to her lodging and remains in bed for 24 hours. Following the transfer, implantation may occur and a pregnancy may ensue. However, as in natural reproduction, many fertilized oocytes do not survive.
Post-Transfer Care for the Recipient
One or two days after transfer, the recipient may return home. She will continue hormonal support. Injections may be administered by the recipient’s husband or another qualified person and should be continued at least until the pregnancy test is done in two weeks. If the test is positive, hormonal support will continue for ten weeks. Women who achieve pregnancy will be referred back to their own obstetrician/gynecologist.
The NCCRM Program is a Team Effort
The patients of the program will be cared for by a team of specially-trained gynecologists and nurses, and this team is supported by a laboratory team that specializes in endocrinology, andrology, and embryology. This team approach coordinates clinical practice with assisted reproductive technologies to provide leading edge care in all facets of fertility.
Costs
Since the donor is compensated for her participation in the program, you will be required to cover the donor’s costs, and the cost of her treatment preparatory to egg aspiration. NCCRM operates strictly on a cash basis and regrets that credit cannot be extended. Payment by check, cashier’s check, or Mastercard/Visa credit card is acceptable. On her first visit, the recipient will be asked to arrange payment with our financial counselor. Details of the program costs are available from the financial office of NCCRM.
Additional Information
Medical matters should be discussed with the attending physicians. The program is under the direction and supervision of Sameh Toma, MD, Medical Director of NCCRM. The Donor Oocyte Nurse Coordinator will answer any questions regarding the program (1-800-933-7202). Consent forms will be provided to the donor and the recipient during the screening process. These will help to clarify the procedure.
Summary and Checklist
The use of anonymously donated sperm for initiation of pregnancy has been common practice in the United States for many years. More recently, the advent of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer has allowed development of programs for the use of donated oocytes (eggs). At the North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine (NCCRM), both anonymous and known donors are used. The evaluation and treatment process is identical for both.
To Learn More:
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