Embryo donation
Which patients need embryo donation treatment?
Embryo donation is a suitable treatment option for those couples or single patients or who need both gametes (egg and sperm) from a third party. Heterosexual couples who have a concomitant severe female and male infertility factor needing the replacement of both gametes could benefit from this treatment. Also, single women who need both egg and sperm donation could become successfully pregnant through embryo donation.
What is the process of embryo donation treatment?
Because donated embryos are already frozen the recipient patient needs to undergo the same treatment process as any other patient who undergoes frozen-thawed embryo transfer treatment. Frozen-thawed embryo transfer involves endometrial preparation using different protocols, such as modified natural or artificial cycle protocol. This starts from the onset of the menstrual period and last approximately 3 weeks until the scheduled day of frozen-thawed embryo transfer procedure. The frozen embryo is thawed on the day of the embryo transfer itself a few hours before the procedure. A pregnancy test 10-14 days after embryo transfer will confirm whether the embryo implanted.
Where are donated embryos coming from?
Donated embryos could be donated anonymously by infertile couples who have already completed their fertility treatment successfully and decide to donate their unused stored embryo(s). The donating couple need to undergo the same screening tests which are required for voluntary egg and sperm donors. Donated embryo(s) are matched with the prospective recipient patient based on physical characteristics.
What is the success rate of embryo donation treatment?
The success rate of embryo donation treatment is high and is comparable with egg recipient treatment, because donated embryos are usually donated by couples who had a previous successful treatment. Success rates also depend on the recipient patient’s own characteristics especially uterine factors.
What is the difference double gamete donation and embryo donation treatment?
Whereas for embryo donation already available embryos are used, during double gamete donation embryos are generated “from scratch” using gametes from voluntary egg and sperm donors. During embryo donation a single, matched frozen-thawed embryo is used, whereas from double gamete several embryos could be generated at a time and stored for subsequent use. Success rates are comparable with both treatments. Embryo donation treatment is cost-effective option with good success rates.