Let us know about the Chances of getting pregnant with donor eggs. Infertility has a huge impact on any relationship. In earlier times, couples had to go through difficult and invasive treatments that did not prove successful, or adopt a child if the couple was not able to conceive on their own. However, thanks to modern science and techniques like IVF , getting pregnant is no longer as difficult as it was 40 years ago. One of the most popular treatments for pregnancy involves using donor sperm and donor eggs. Here the technique of pregnancy using donor egg, its success rate and advantages and disadvantages have also been explained.
Chances of getting pregnant with donor eggs
When should women use donor eggs
Donor eggs are usually only an option for women who are trying to become pregnant and are over the age of 40 . While you can try on donor eggs even at a young age, it is generally recommended for women whose chances of becoming pregnant through their own eggs are very low.
Before using donor eggs, you are advised to first undergo a medical diagnosis to ensure that your reproductive system is compatible with the hospital environment for pregnancy. This investigation is done by several medical tests. After these tests, the doctor will advise you to take some counseling and talk to your legal advisor to make sure that the whole process is legal, ethical and that you are ready both physically and emotionally.
IVF With Own Eggs Vs Donor Eggs
It is an important aspect to understand that IVF treatment can be taken with one’s own eggs, as well as with donor eggs. In most cases, the process for doing this with donor eggs is slightly different than for IVF treatment with your own frozen eggs . It is always better to use your own eggs, even if they are frozen, but donor egg IVF has a slightly higher success rate in India.
The chances of getting pregnant with donor eggs are around 40%. One advantage of using your own eggs for IVF is that they are tested for genetic markers to ensure that you are not suffering from any disease or disorder. However, donor eggs are also screened for major anomalies. Whether to use donor eggs or your own eggs depends on the situation.
- Donor eggs are recommended if you have any genetic or immune system disorders that are likely to be passed on to your child.
- If you cannot conceive with your own eggs, you can opt for donor eggs.
- Gestational carriers allow single men to become fathers using donor eggs.
Here are some important statistics when choosing your own eggs or donor eggs.
- The combination of donor eggs and IVF gives women over the age of 40 up to a 20% chance of getting pregnant per cycle.
- You can only use your own eggs till the age of 45. At age 42, your chances of getting pregnant are 10%, and by age 43 it drops to 5%.
- Doctors recommend using donor eggs as the primary option for most women over the age of 45, as their chances of conceiving with their own eggs drop to less than 3%.
- When using your own eggs, be sure to consider that after age 35, any eggs a woman releases may be more likely to contain abnormal chromosomes. Its chances are as high as 30% at this age.
- After age 40, your chances of having an abnormal chromosome in your pregnancy increase to 60%. After age 45, this probability jumps to 90%.
How to Find and Choose Donor Eggs
When you are diagnosed with infertility, donor eggs are one of the most commonly used methods for having a baby. Because of this method, finding and selecting donor eggs plays the most important role in pregnancy success. The most important of all is the woman from whom you are going to get the donor eggs. Here are some of your options:
- Ask a close friend.
- Ask a relative.
- Get information from an agency or donor foundation.
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a donor through the Donor Foundation:
- The physical features of that person are as you want.
- She has been screened for any genetic disorder or infection.
- He should have a record related to education, which satisfies you.
- Work in a profession that suits you.
Making Fertility Treatment Work With Fresh Donor Eggs Versus Frozen Donor Eggs
When choosing donor eggs, it is important to keep in mind the egg donation process and the risks that play a role in choosing between fresh and frozen donor eggs. Here is a comparison between the two:
Fresh eggs have the following timeline:
1. Cycle sync
When using fresh donor eggs, the donor and you must be on the same hormonal cycle so that your uterus can create a good environment for the donor eggs. This preparation is done by giving some hormones.
2. Collecting Eggs
Once the donor’s eggs are ready and mature enough to be fertilized, the woman is given anesthesia so that a needle can be inserted into her vaginal area. This allows doctors to extract eggs from the donor’s ovaries.
3. Fertilizing the Eggs
Lastly, the rest of the process works similarly to IVF. In this part of the process, a fertility specialist uses your husband’s or a donor’s sperm to fertilize the donor’s eggs. Each fertilized egg becomes an embryo, which is then implanted in your uterus. After this he is likely to grow up as a child. Any extra embryos can be frozen for later use.
This is the same timeline for frozen eggs, with just a few subtle changes:
4. No need for syncing
In this phase, the donor does not need to sync his cycle with yours.
5. Melting Eggs
For frozen eggs, once you have taken the medication and your uterus is ready for eggs, a fertility specialist carefully thaws the eggs. They take utmost care while doing this so that the eggs are not damaged. Then, they are fertilized and the eggs are transferred to your uterus.
How long will the fertility treatment with donor eggs take?
There is no guarantee of the duration of fertility treatment. In any case, this process can take anywhere between 4-6 weeks, depending on the age of both the donor and the recipient. Sometimes it may take several sessions of donor eggs and IVF.
What is the success rate of donor egg by age?
In cases above 40 years, the success rate of donor egg has declined sharply over the years. The success rate when using donor eggs with IVF depends on the age of the donor, the quality of the embryos, the number of embryos transferred, the health and fate of your uterus. Up to the age of 42, the maximum chance for pregnancy is 50%, and the minimum is 30%, between 43-45 the chance is between 30% – 45%, after the age of 50 donor eggs The chances of pregnancy are slim but still possible. Clinics generally do not treat donor eggs over the age of 55. For this it is advised that you can talk to your doctor about pregnancy after menopause with donor eggs.
How many donor egg cycles are required before becoming pregnant?
The number of donor egg cycles required before pregnancy can occur depends on a number of factors. There is a possibility that you can get pregnant in one cycle if the age of the donor and the quality of the eggs are very good and your uterus provides a sufficient environment for the eggs and is ready enough to carry out the pregnancy. Luck is also involved. A study suggests that there is a 90% chance of a successful pregnancy by the third cycle. This is still decided on a case by case basis, meaning that in rare cases it may take four or five cycles to achieve a successful pregnancy.
Why does donor egg IVF fail?
There is no consensus on the causes of donor egg IVF failure, as it varies from case to case, but some of the most common reasons for donor egg IVF failure are listed below:
1. Uterine Abnormalities
An abnormality within your uterus may cause your donor eggs to not develop successfully into embryos. This can be caused by conditions such as endometriosis or intrauterine adhesions, among other diseases or problems, all of which are usually screened for before proceeding with IVF.
2. Issues related to the immune system
There are certain immune system disorders that can cause donor eggs to stop developing or cause miscarriages after the fertilized eggs or embryos are transferred to your uterus.
- Hypercoagulability aka Blood Clotting Disorder
These types of disorders can cause bleeding from the vagina . Which is a common reason for miscarriage with donor eggs. However, this rarely happens because the woman is put on blood thinners before IVF.
Reasons for less success also depend on case to case. While donor egg IVF may fail due to other reasons, please talk to your doctor about the same.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using donor eggs?
While there can be a lot of advantages and disadvantages when using donor eggs, it is important to know these before deciding to use this treatment:
advantages
- Pregnancy can be successful at the age of more than 38 years.
- Frozen eggs are more affordable than other fertility treatments.
- A successful pregnancy gives you a sense of genetic connection with your baby.
Shortcoming
- IVF treatment for donor eggs is more complicated and more expensive than for fresh donor eggs.
- In this case, the chances of multiple pregnancy increase, which can result in twins or triplets.
What is the cost of donor egg in India?
Like any fertility treatment, the cost of donor eggs can be quite expensive, with fresh donor eggs costing up to $30,000 and frozen eggs up to $10,000 in countries such as the United States. In countries like India, it is advised to do your research well and find a reliable fertility specialist. There are many cheap donor egg agencies that store eggs in unsafe ways that can ruin your life as well as your chances of a successful pregnancy. The average cost of an IVF cycle in India is around Rs. 3 lakhs. However, this cost also depends on the city, IVF center and many other factors.
frequently Asked question
Here are some frequently asked questions about donor eggs as a method for fertility treatment.
1. Can using frozen donor egg affect the success of IVF?
Although rare, frozen eggs have a lower chance of success than fresh donor eggs. Frozen eggs are cheaper and still have a good chance of success through IVF and should also be considered a reasonable option.
2. Is there any chance of getting Down syndrome with the donor egg?
With any pregnancy there is a potential for Down syndrome . The chances are even higher as you get older. However, the likelihood of Down syndrome is higher in pregnancies after the age of 45, so donors over the age of 35 are not considered.
There are many methods of fertility treatment. Donor egg treatment is the most cost-effective and realistic approach, especially if you have fertility issues or are over 42 years of age. However, it is advised that before opting for any treatment, consult your doctor so that you understand all the options properly. After opting for fertility treatment, make sure that you get all your check-ups done and do not miss appointments. If you choose a donor egg, your donor egg candidates are screened for genetic markers for a healthy pregnancy. During the period of pregnancy, keep in touch with your doctor and get regular checkups done. It helps in increasing the success rate of pregnancy.
