Overview

It is often recommended to use donor eggs when a woman is a known carrier of certain genetic conditions, has diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian failure, or has repeated unsuccessful IVF attempts using her own eggs. In addition, donor eggs can be a family building option for singles as well as LGBTQ+ couples and individuals.    

At Davies Fertility & IVF Specialists, S.C., we have long-standing relationships with reputable egg donation agencies that can help you make the most informed choice when considering using an egg donor. We understand that this is a very personal choice, and can bring up many questions and concerns. Rest assured that Dr. Davies will also be with you every step of the way, to make sure you feel comfortable when making this important decision.

Egg Donor Choices

Egg donors can be designated (known) or can be anonymously matched through an egg donation agency. No matter what type of egg donor the patient chooses, the FDA requires that all parties involved in egg donation undergo medical, psychological, and legal counseling. It is also required that egg donors undergo a strict screening process to be sure donors are healthy and do not have certain medical conditions such as:

• Genetic, familial,  psychological and physical health abnormalities
• sexually transmitted infections
• history of smoking, alcohol and/or drug abuse

Donor Eggs = Higher Success Rates

Because egg donors are screened for medical conditions and are young and healthy, overall pregnancy rates from donor eggs exceed pregnancy rates experienced with traditional IVF (using own eggs). Aneuploidy (abnormal chromosomes in eggs) rates increase as women age. As women who are egg donors are typically younger and without fertility issues, their rate of normal (euploid) eggs is usually higher than that of the women needing donor eggs. This is why the use of donor eggs is becoming a more common way to overcome certain types of female infertility.