Egg Donation Can Help Couples with Female Factor Infertility Achieve a Healthy Pregnancy
For women who have struggled to become pregnant because of premature menopause, genetic disorders, or poor quality eggs, egg donation can help to facilitate conception. During treatment, one woman donates a number of healthy eggs, which are combined with sperm using in vitro fertilization (IVF). Our team can then implant a strong, healthy embryo in the recipient’s uterus. Eggs can be donated by a friend, family member, or anonymous individual at a local donor bank. At Fertility Center of San Antonio in San Antonio, TX, we rigorously screen and test donors to improve our patients’ chances of a healthy pregnancy and birth. We offer advanced options for egg donation San Antonio, TX residents can depend on.
At our center, we are looking for women ages 21 to 30, without any history of birth defects or hereditary diseases, to donate eggs.
Who is a Candidate to Use Donated Eggs?
Women who suffer from premature menopause or genetic conditions may not have eggs that are viable for healthy reproduction. In many cases, there are also environmental or other health factors that can contribute to infertility. Who is a good candidate to donate eggs:
- Been diagnosed with a genetic disorder
- An autoimmune disorder
- Been diagnosed with premature menopause
- Undergone chemotherapy or radiation preventing you from producing healthy eggs
- Poor egg quality
- Unexplained infertility
- Experienced recurrent miscarriages
- Reached the age of 39 or older
- Been diagnosed with premature ovarian failure
Our team can review your unique goals, lifestyle, and medical history to determine whether you are a candidate for egg donation.
Egg Donor Qualifications
Females who wish to donate their eggs must be fertile, in good overall health, and between the ages of 21 to 30. Women donating to a local donor bank will be required to provide pictures of themselves and their family, as well as a detailed profile of their medical history. Donors will also undergo a thorough physical and psychological screening, and be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, to ensure eggs are good quality.
Females who wish to donate their eggs must be fertile, in good overall health, and between the ages of 21 to 30.
The Egg Donation Procedure
After hopeful parents select an egg donor, they can begin the treatment process. Both the donor and recipient will be given hormone-stimulating medications to ensure their cycles are in sync. This process not only enables the donor to produce a healthy number of eggs, but also ensures the recipient’s uterus is adequately prepared for implantation.
After about three weeks of medication, ultrasound screenings, and blood tests to monitor the growth of the eggs, the donor will undergo an egg retrieval process. We can perform this minimally invasive procedure in about 30 minutes. After retrieving the eggs, we can carefully combine them with the male partner’s sperm in our state-of-the-art laboratory. Our specialists can monitor the growth and development of subsequent embryos for approximately three to five days.
We can then transfer the embryo into the recipient’s uterus. Around 10 to 14 days after the transplant procedure, the recipient can take an at-home pregnancy test, as well as undergo an in-office blood test, to determine whether the embryo successfully implanted.
What Are the Risks?
As with any medical procedure, there are always some risks involved. Although rare, donors can develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Side effects may include nausea, bleeding, and abdominal cramping.
Due to the hormone medications involved in the procedure, recipients may experience headaches, fatigue, insomnia, hot flashes, and depression. Similar to natural pregnancy, there is a risk of miscarriage or birth defects.
Learn More About Egg Donation in San Antonio, TX
If you are interested in donating your eggs or considering egg donation as a possible option for conceiving, please contact us online or call (210) 692-0577 to learn about the steps involved. Our doctors at Fertility Center San Antonio are committed to helping you achieve a healthy pregnancy and birth, and we are ready to answer any questions you may have. We can also help you understand important legal considerations before proceeding with this important decision.