Today, it’s not really a novelty to see women in the 40+ age range wanting to have children. We have a number of patients who have trouble with conceiving at that age. While some may have deferred motherhood because they needed to build their career first, others want to try having a second baby. When many of the latter are unable to get pregnant and are told (after looking at test reports) that they are suffering from infertility, it throws them off balance.
Perplexed Patients
This is because they already have a child and never in their wildest of dreams felt that having another one later in life will pose a challenge. But it does; the fact is that with age, there is a decline in ovarian reserve and many older women are unable to produce their own eggs. In those who do, the quality of the eggs may not be upto the mark to make a viable embryo. However, it’s now possible for older women to use donor eggs to have babies of their own.
This issue is a very sensitive one, and it doesn’t go down too well with many couples on the emotional level and is completely out-of-line with their sensibilities. Every couple has to make their own decisions. Though the use of donor eggs dramatically improves pregnancy rates in older women, this decision is one that most couples find hard to come to terms with.
Why Egg Donation?
In addition to the age factor, there are a number of other reasons why the use of donor eggs may be considered, such as:
• Premature menopause
• Ovaries surgically removed
• Ovaries have been affected by prior chemotherapy
• Risk of passing-on a genetic disease
• Prior IVF treatments that have indicated that the egg quality is poor
Fresh vs. Frozen Donor Eggs
• In conventional egg donation the prospective egg donor is recruited and undergoes a detailed screening process
• The recipient’s cycle is synchronized with the donor’s cycle
• The eggs are then collected and fertilized
• This process can take up to 3-6 months
Using Frozen Eggs
The other option is to use frozen donor eggs. This is the option we prefer.
When these are used:
• The recipient’s cycle doesn’t have to be synced with the donor’s, as the eggs have already been retrieved and frozen
• This dramatically reduces the wait time as the frozen eggs are available when required
• When frozen eggs are used, it’s much easier to match the egg donor’s physical traits with that of the recipient
• The success rates of IVF using frozen donor eggs is on par with that of the fresh donor egg process
Is it Eggxactly the Right Treatment for You?
There are a number of considerations that have to be taken into account when donor eggs are to be used (fresh/frozen)
• We have seen that most patients who use donor eggs are not happy with the fact that the child will not be genetically-related to them
• This is one feeling they will have to balance with their deep desire to actually experience pregnancy and give birth to a child
• Many of our patients are also very grateful to the egg donors, as they wouldn’t have been able to have a baby if it weren’t for the latter
• Donor egg costs can be quite high and this fact has to be taken into consideration too. This will have to be added to the cost of the IVF treatment
It’s clear that donor egg IVF is not easy sailing and we make every effort to extensively counsel patients, so that they are able to make a more informed decision about which route would be the best one to take them to the path to parenthood.
Need more information? Please send me your medical details by filling in the form at www.drmalpani.com/free-second-opinion so that I can guide you better!
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