IVF with an egg donor
People who do not have available eggs or who experience multiple unsuccessful IVF cycles may choose to pursue IVF using eggs donated by another person. Deciding to move forward with an egg donor can be a significant shift if you were initially planning to conceive using your own eggs, yet it can also be a source of hope for many patients. We understand the emotional toll this process and decision can take, and it’s important to know that your fertility plan happens on your timeline when you are ready.
Pacific Northwest Fertility is a proud leader in donor egg services. In 2009 we started the first donor egg bank in the Pacific Northwest and one of the first in the country. We have an excellent record of success using both fresh and frozen eggs, and incorporate the most advanced laboratory techniques and genetic screening to help you have a healthy child.
Our Center of Excellence in Collaborative Reproduction
Pacific Northwest Fertility’s Center for Collaborative Reproduction is directed by Jamie Massie, MD with the goal of providing world-class fertility options for all kinds of families. Whether you’re building your family with donor eggs, donor sperm, or surrogacy, our expert team is here to support you.
Our Center for Collaborative Reproduction is one of our four Centers of Excellence, which represent areas of deep focus and investment within our practice in order to bring our patients unmatched care and the latest advancements in each specialty.
Choosing an egg donor
Once you have decided to use an egg donor, the next step is selecting a donor. Pacific Northwest Fertility is home to an extremely successful and comprehensive donor egg program, which includes SIMPLIFY Donor Egg Bank as well as our fresh donor egg program. Our donors are carefully screened and meet the highest standards for physical, genetic, and mental health. Having all of these services under one roof is rare and reduces the anxiety and cost associated with patients coordinating much of their own care.
What are donor services?
Using a donor’s eggs is an option for patients who may have no eggs or limited success using their own eggs. This includes people of advanced reproductive age, those with a low egg supply, ovarian insufficiency, or a history of several unsuccessful treatment cycles using their own eggs. For same sex male couples, single people without eggs, and people without the ability to carry a pregnancy, egg donation with a gestational carrier (surrogate) can provide a path to parenthood.
The process involves fertilizing fresh or frozen donor eggs via IVF, then placing one embryo into the uterus of the person carrying the pregnancy. We know that deciding on egg donation can be an emotionally challenging step in many ways, and we are here to support you throughout your journey.
Is using an egg donor right for me?
There are many different reasons a patient may opt to use donated eggs to achieve pregnancy. For gay male couples or people without eggs it will be an essential step in the process along with partnering with a gestational carrier (surrogate). Heterosexual couples and any person assigned female at birth may choose to use an egg donor if they are unable to conceive using their own eggs.
Some reasons why you may not be able to conceive using your own egg could include:
- Ovarian insufficiency
- Poor follicle/egg development
- Damaged ovaries due to chemotherapy or radiation
- Carrier of a genetic or chromosomal abnormalities that could result in recurrent pregnancy loss or health complications for a child
- Egg quantity and quality has diminished significantly, often due to age
- Absent ovaries due to surgery
- Post-operative transgender person without ovaries or for whom egg retrieval is no longer possible or doesn’t result in viable embryos or successful IVF
- Assigned male at birth
Egg donor success with Pacific Northwest Fertility
Success rates for donor egg IVF can be 3 to 10 times higher than traditional IVF
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Paying for donor eggs
Though coverage for fertility care varies widely by insurance plan, the good news is that you have options. We are committed to guiding you through your insurance benefits, out-of-pocket expenses, and other financing options every step of the way. With Pacific Northwest Fertility you will never be in the dark about cost.
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Many same-sex male couples use donated eggs to build a family. Using donor eggs can also be an option for patients with limited success rates using their own eggs, or anyone who is a carrier of a genetic or chromosomal abnormality. We understand that in this scenario, using donated eggs can be a difficult and emotional step to take and we are here to support you in your decision.
Given the rising popularity of at-home DNA testing, anonymity can no longer be guaranteed in the egg donation process. We now consider egg donors to be “directed” or “non-directed.”Examples of directed egg donors are friends or family members who volunteer to donate their eggs to a specific person or couple. Most other donations are non-directed, but the amount of information you know about the donor may vary.
When donor-conceived children become adults they may want to know more about their genetic origins. Some state laws provide a mechanism for donor-conceived children to learn the identity of their egg donor when they reach the age of 18. Because egg and sperm donation are so common, there are plenty of resources and support available for families navigating these sensitive issues. Your care team can support you in navigating egg bank anonymity, so be sure to talk to them about any concerns.
If you are interested in learning about any of our services in the Collaborative Reproduction Program, please contact us, and one of our team members will answer your questions, outline steps, and help schedule a free initial consult with our experienced team. You will also need to have at least one consultation with a Pacific Northwest Fertility physician prior to moving forward with a cycle.
Every potential egg donor has completed a rigorous screening process before being available for selection. Donors share detailed information about personal, medical, and family history and then undergo individual counseling as well as psychological testing, a criminal record check, and drug testing. They have a medical interview, physical exam, and blood testing to make sure they have a healthy egg supply and are free of infectious diseases.
The profiles of the egg donors include the donor’s personal and family medical history and physical characteristics, genetic carrier testing results, personal essays, as well as photos of the donor.
Our egg donor profiles, both for our fresh Donor Egg Program and for SIMPLIFY, can be viewed online. You will be given access to this database after having a consultation with our Collaborative Reproduction or SIMPLIFY Egg Bank team. Our specialized care team can help you select a donor and assist you with next steps in the treatment cycle. Sometimes, genetic testing of the sperm provider(s) is necessary to confirm a match.
Seattle is a multi-ethnic city and we work hard to find donors of all races and ethnicities to meet the needs of our patients. If we do not have a donor available who meets your needs, we can also work recommend and work with outside agencies to expand your search for a suitable egg donor.
We have superior success rates transferring a single embryo using both fresh and frozen donor eggs. As a program, we are committed to offering only single embryo transfers to reduce the risk of health issues associated with twins or triplets. Multiple pregnancies will increase the risk of gestational diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy, especially when the patient is over 45.