Common Questions About Egg Donation

What medications are used for the IVF Egg Donor Process?

In preparation for the IVF process, birth control pills are started during the menstrual cycle (prior to the egg retrieval) to place the ovary in a suppressed or “quiet” state.  This also helps to synchronize your cycle with the recipient’s cycle.

The stimulation medications are subcutaneous injections taken daily to stimulate the ovary to produce as many follicles as possible so that quality eggs are available for the cycle.  These daily injections will continue until the blood estradiol levels reach an optimal level and the follicles are a proper size.  This may require up to 3 injections a day.  Once this level is achieved (a minimum of 9 days to a maximum of 14 days), hCG, an intramuscular injection, will be given to imitate the body's LH  (luteinizing hormone) mechanism and induce ovulation.  Ovulation usually occurs about 36 hours after hCG is injected; therefore the removal of eggs is timed about 34 to 36 hours after the injection.  You will also begin antibiotics on the day of starting your stimulating medications and continue until after the retrieval to prevent infection.
You can give yourself all of the injections.  We provide injection training for you and another person who you would feel comfortable with giving you your injections.  It is necessary for you and or your husband/support person to know how to give injections because some of these will be given at night when the office is closed.  These medications need to be given at a consistent time everyday to greatly improve the success of your therapy. 

Will I be monitored while taking these medications?

Monitoring will be done by vaginal ultrasounds and estradiol blood tests to evaluate your response to stimulation medications.  The vaginal ultrasound shows the number, location, and size of follicles.  This painless procedure involves placing the ultrasound transducer inside your vagina to visualize the ovaries.  The estradiol blood test measures the concentration of estradiol in the blood. Estradiol is secreted by the follicles as they grow.  Both the ultrasound and estradiol blood results are used to determine the daily dosage of medications and timing of egg retrieval.  These daily injections will continue until the follicles are a proper size and estradiol levels reach an optimal level.  This monitoring optimizes ovarian stimulation and provides for increased patient safety. The monitoring will continue until hCG is given. 
We will inform you of your estradiol blood levels and give you further instructions that same day on the amount of medication to take and when to return to clinic.  It is very important that you are available for these telephone calls. 

Is there a possibility of my cycle being canceled if I do not stimulate?

Sometimes a stimulated cycle does not advance to egg retrieval.  This may occur because of inadequate follicular development, hormonal levels, or premature ovulation and the cycle may be delayed or canceled.  This is very disappointing to the donor, recipient couple, and the IVF team but all factors must be optimal to achieve the best possible cycle and hopefully to result in a pregnancy for the recipient.

How are my eggs retrieved?

The egg retrieval, also called oocyte aspiration, is done at our office approximately 34 to 36 hours after the hCG injection.  This procedure is done under intravenous sedation.  The vaginal ultrasound guides the thin aspiration needle through the vaginal wall into the ovarian follicles.  After the eggs are removed through suction, they are taken to the laboratory in a culture tube with special media to examine the follicular fluid for eggs.  The eggs are evaluated for maturity and placed in a culture media.  The climate in the laboratory is specifically controlled to provide the maximum environment for the eggs and later embryos.

Is the egg retrieval painful?

This procedure may be associated with some discomfort or intermittent sharp, crampy pains.  A certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA) will give you IV sedation to help you be as comfortable as possible.  However, patients to date have not reported severe pain and most do not remember the events of the egg retrieval procedure.

How long does the egg retrieval procedure last?

The egg retrieval will last approximately 15 to 20 minutes.  After the procedure you will recover at the office for 1 to 2 hours.  You will need to have someone drive you home after the procedure and stay with you that afternoon and evening.  Most people will return to their normal activity the following day.

Other requirements for egg donation:

There are some restrictions while you are going through this process.  We want to know if you become ill or another physician prescribes you medication.  There are medications that we do not recommend because they can interfere with the egg quality. 
Egg donors should only take Tylenol, if needed; therefore no Aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, or related products, no antihistamines and only those medications prescribed by a CORM physician.  We stand by a NO SMOKING policy for our donors and will randomly test for nicotine.
We also ask that you limit your caffeine intake during this process, which could result in a decreased oocyte quality.  Alcohol is NOT allowed during the stimulation process and we ask you not to perm or dye your hair while you are taking the stimulating medications. 
While you are on the medications and up to 1 month following the egg retrieval, you should abstain from sexual intercourse.  You are extremely fertile during this time.  You will be given birth control pills after the procedure.