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Donor Egg ( DE ) ProgramThe Jones Institute donor egg program, founded in 1984, was one of the first in the United States. The program assists women whose:
Our ResultsThe program has provided oocytes to many couples by anonymous donation and to a few by known ( usually sister - sister ) donation.
# Total Reproductive Potential is an important indicator of success. It refers to the number of pregnancies obtained from only one stimulated cycle, as the result of a fresh embryo transfer cycle plus at least one additional cycle of transfer of cryopreserved-thawed embryos derived from that same stimulation. Many couples have additional pre - embryos produced from the initial egg donation that cannot be safely transferred into the uterus at one time; most couples elect to have the extra pre - embryos cryopreserved ( frozen ). Since 1992, half of couples receiving donor eggs have had extra pre - embryos available for cryopreservation; these have yielded additional pregnancies. The Egg Donors Egg donors are anonymous,
unless the donor is someone chosen by the recipient from outside our program.
All oocyte donors, regardless of type, will undergo extensive donor egg
screening in our best effort to ensure their suitability as egg donors.
Screening begins with a thorough review of personal and family medical
history, with the goal of excluding all whose families include members
with heritable disorders that may produce serious functional or cosmetic
handicaps. A questionnaire and follow - up interview are used to make
this screening as thorough as possible, although we cannot completely
guarantee its accuracy. The physical examination also must be normal,
and a staff psychiatrist must determine that the donor is well adjusted,
without psychopathology, and has a good understanding of the process and
the required anonymity. Donor Egg - The ProcessConsultation VisitDuring the initial visit, donor egg patients learn about the donor egg process, donor availability, and ongoing research protocols. Fertility specialists will review the couple's history, conduct a physical, and order diagnostic tests, including an ultrasound and semen analysis. This appointment usually requires two to three hours. Donor matching is the second step, allowing recipients to match physical characteristics and other traits. Whether or not you are already a patient at the Jones Institute, it is necessary for you to have an initial consultation at the Jones Institute. This gives you the opportunity to learn in great detail about the egg donation process, donor availability, and ongoing research protocols. You will meet with a doctor and a staff member from the Donor Egg office. If you already have seen a doctor at the institute, you will continue treatment with your doctor. Your prior records and hysterosalpingogram will be reviewed and a physical examination performed. In most cases a vaginal ultrasound and a semen analysis also will be scheduled for that day. The entire visit takes about half a day. Egg Donor MatchingFollowing your successful screening, we will propose a fully screened egg donor for you based on your physical characteristics and any additional requirements you communicate to us. We will provide in writing a summary of this prospective donor, including her age, height, weight, build, complexion, hair and eye color, and blood type and Rh factor. We also will disclose the outcome of any of the donor's prior pregnancies, her marital status, sexual orientation, educational and work history, and a summary of her ( and her family's ) medical and surgical conditions.We will FAX, mail, or e - mail these features to you, if possible, to speed the process. You will review this information and inform us within three days about the acceptability of the proposed donor. If you would like to know more about the donor, please call us immediately so we can complete the matching process expeditiously. If you decline the proposed donor, we will look for another, but we cannot guarantee when another donor will be available ( in general, we have been able to secure another donor within three months ). Once you accept a donor, we will tell you when we expect the donation to occur. This depends on synchronizing the menstrual cycles of you ( the recipient ) and the donor to permit a fresh transfer of pre - embryos. In general, the donation occurs between one to two months after a donor is accepted. We will indicate when you need to begin taking your estrogen ( and in some cases, Lupron ) to allow for cycle synchronization. You will begin this therapy at home and come to the Jones Institute only when the actual donation occurs. A $500 non refundable deposit is required once you have accepted a donor. This will apply towards your total fee. Return for Embryo TransferWhen you return to the Jones Institute the day before the donor's egg retrieval, plan to stay in Norfolk for five days overall, if you are not a resident. Most couples arrive the day before egg retrieval and stay until the day after the pre - embryo transfer. The transfer itself is usually performed without anesthesia and lasts
only a few minutes. On occasion, dilatation of the cervical canal may
be required at the time of transfer in order to facilitate the procedure.
Minor side effects include mild cramping and minimal bleeding ( mostly
from the use of a cervical tenaculum to straighten the cervical canal
). Donor Egg Program AdministrationCouples who have not received donor eggs from our program before are given priority over those who have. Among those on the active list, priority is given to those on the list longer. As of this writing, the waiting list is less than nine months.
We typically expect the donor to undergo egg retrieval if she has seven
or more follicles at the time of hCG
administration. If the response is lower, then the cycle may be canceled.
You will be told how many eggs were retrieved, inseminated, and fertilized
the day after the donor's retrieval. At the time of embryo transfer, you
will be given additional information about quality of embryos transferred
and possibility to transfer extra embryos. About 50% of donor egg cycles
result in excess embryos available for freezing.
Your ScreeningIn order to minimize and better understand the potential risks you may face by conceiving with donor eggs, you will need to have certain screening tests. Some are designed to make your effort more successful. Most are designed to identify risks, both known and unknown to you, which we believe you need to know before engaging in this therapy. In some cases, the risks to your health identified by this process may preclude your participation. This would be regrettable but certainly preferable to discovering a problem made life threatening by a pregnancy.Review the items in the chart below to determine which apply to you. You will need to review the results of these tests with the appropriate doctors to ensure you understand the advisability of proceeding with this process. Since our expertise is in gynecology and not internal or family medicine, we cannot advise you in these areas. However, for your well being, we require that you are fully screened and fully informed of any risks before your donor egg attempt. In the list below, all ages and time intervals refer to the time of expected embryo transfer. Please
See the Chart of Required Donor Egg Recipient Screening Tests
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| Age ( years ) |
Maximum
number of embryos to be transferred
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| <= 35, first cycle |
2
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| <=35, second cycle or more |
2 or 3
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>35 , any cycle |
2
or 3
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| Blastocyst transfer |
1
or 2
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Cryopreserved Cycles
| Age ( years ) |
Maximum
number of embryos to be transferred
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| <= 35, first cycle |
2 or 3
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| <=35, second cycle or more |
2 or 3
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>35 , any cycle |
2
or 3
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| Blastocyst transfer |
1
or 2
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IMPORTANT
a. Women under 35 years will only be transferred
two embryos in a first attempt.
b. Our program does not transfer more than three embryos under any circumstances.
c. Patients can request the transfer of a single embryo; research is being
actively performed at the Jones Institute to be able to optimize the selection
of one embryo in order to eliminate a multiple pregnancy while maintaining
a high pregnancy rate.
Are you interested in becoming a donor?
For more information contact us:
Telephone: ( 757 ) 446-7446
E-mail Contact Form
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All information on our Web site is
provided for educational purposes. Your health care professional should
always be consulted for specific treatment recommendations. |