Donor Eggs: Who Is the Programme For, and When?

A conversation about donor eggs almost never begins at the first appointment. Couples arrive at it gradually — after investigations, sometimes after several treatment attempts. For many patients it is a difficult subject, and the difficulty is usually emotional rather than medical.

Below we explain when a doctor raises this option, how the decision is reached and what is worth understanding beforehand. This is general information: whether the path suits you can only be established after examination and testing.

What the programme involves

In a donor egg programme, the embryo is created by fertilising a donor's egg with the sperm of the patient's partner. The resulting embryo is transferred to the intended mother's uterus, and she carries the pregnancy.

A mandatory condition of any such programme is the documented consent of everyone involved. The donor acquires no rights over the resulting embryos or the child born.

When it is discussed

The programme is considered when a woman's own eggs cannot be obtained, or using them does not lead to a result:

• premature menopause and declining ovarian function;
• severely reduced ovarian reserve, where stimulation does not yield usable eggs;
• contraindications to ovarian stimulation;
• surgical removal of the ovaries;
• the situation after chemotherapy or radiotherapy;
• the risk of passing on an inherited condition where other ways of excluding it do not apply;
• repeated unsuccessful IVF attempts with a woman's own eggs, once other causes have been excluded.

Any single item on this list does not in itself mean the programme is necessary. It is a reason to talk, not a decision already made.

How the decision is reached

The decision never rests on one test. The doctor looks at the whole picture: age, previous treatment history, the condition of the uterus and endometrium, hormone results and ultrasound findings, and the partner's assessment. It is often worth reviewing the protocol of your own cycle once more before this step.

Time matters too. The decision is better made without haste and with a full understanding of what lies ahead.

How the programme runs

For the patient this programme is simpler than a standard IVF cycle: there is no ovarian stimulation and no egg collection. The main preparation concerns the endometrium — the uterine lining is prepared for transfer, guided by its thickness and structure on ultrasound. Embryo transfer follows, and about two weeks later a beta hCG test.

Suitable embryos remaining after transfer can be frozen for a further attempt.

What the programme does not remove

Donor eggs do not eliminate the other factors. The condition of the uterus, male factor and accompanying conditions continue to affect the outcome. We do not publish general success percentages: they say nothing about an individual couple, and expectations built on someone else's statistics tend to hinder rather than help.

Where we run this programme

We run the donor egg programme at the Ankalife centre in Bishkek. The first step is a consultation, where the doctor will assess your situation and explain which investigations are needed.

How a donor is selected and what documents are prepared is covered in a separate article.

This article is general information and does not replace medical consultation. For your own situation, please speak to your doctor.