17 Jul IVF with donor eggs: step by step

By Reproclinic Editorial Committee

Egg donation is an In Vitro Fertilization procedure in which the ovules of a donor transferred, once used and fertilized, to the uterus of the patient. If you are considering an IVF with donor eggs, it is natural that you have many doubts about the procedure and the chances of achieving pregnancy.

Did you know that the process with highest success rates is assisted reproduction? For this reason, today we want to explain you exactly how the fertilization procedure works. We’ll go step by step and reveal which phases are the ones the donor and the recipient go through.

IVF with donor eggs: step by step:

Just below, we’ve added a summary as well as an index with the seven phases that make this process. Further on, we explain each one in detail.

1. Assignment of the donor to the recipient
2. Ovarian stimulation of the donor
3. Follicular puncture of the donor
4. Preparation of the recipient’s endometrium
5. In Vitro Fertilization and embryo farming
6. Embryo transfer
7. Pregnancy test

Assignment of the donor to the recipient

Once all the relevant compatibility tests with the receiving woman have been carried out, and according to your phenotypic, blood characteristics, etc. you will be assigned an egg donor that meets all these requirements and has passed through our strict tests to be selected as a suitable egg donor. We remind you that the identity of the donor is anonymous.

Ovarian stimulation of the donor

The woman who will donate the egg undergoes a hormonal treatment whose function is to obtain as many oocytes as possible in a cycle, to increase the chances of pregnancy. The treatment starts on the first day of the donor’s menstruation.

Follicular puncture of the donor

Once the follicle has developed and reached the necessary size and conditions, a puncture is performed to the donor in order to obtain the oocytes, a process that is called oocyte recovery. Although it is a surgical intervention, it does not require rest or hospitalization since it is done with sedation (not with anesthesia) and its duration does not exceed 30 minutes.

Preparation of the recipient’s endometrium

In this phase, the receiving patient prepares for the transfer. The endometrium is the inner layer that covers the cavity of the uterus, and where the embryo is implanted.

This process consists of a hormonal treatment that prepares the recipient endometrium to favor the implantation of the embryo. At this point in the procedure, the two parties are ready to proceed with the fertilization.

In Vitro Fertilization and embryo farming

First, the semen sample is obtained, which can be either from the conjugal partner or from an anonymous donor. Next, we proceed by selecting the best sperm and then, through the technique of Intracytoplasmic Injection (ICSI), we proceed to the introduction of a sperm in the oocyte.

Embryo transfer

After a few days, when the fertilized egg is ready, the embryos to be transferred are selected and finally implanted in the endometrium of the recipient patient.

It is one of the most important phases of the whole procedure, since the transfer and adaptation of the embryos in the recipient can vary due to several factors.

Pregnancy test

Finally, after a few days, an analytical pregnancy test of the hormone HCG (Beta) is performed to determine if the pregnancy result is positive or negative.

In Vitro Fertilization with egg donors is a process that requires a lot of coordination. Still, there’s no reason to worry since that’s what we are here for! Do not hesitate to contact us if you still have questions or want to clarify any of the process’s phases.

Are you interested in receiving more information? Do you want to perform an ovule treatment at an affordable price without leaving your country? Would you rather prefer performing the treatment in your country and move only for the transfer? Contact us and we will explain all the options we have at your disposition.