Understanding Egg Donation

Egg donation is a valuable aspect of infertility treatment for many of our patients, including women who have experienced premature menopause, single men, and same-sex male couples. During this process, an egg is harvested from a donor and then transferred to the intended mother’s uterus. Whether you choose to receive an egg through an agency or from a close friend, Dr. Sonja B. Kristiansen can safely facilitate the medical process at our Houston, TX, office to help you achieve your goals of starting a family. Egg donation is currently the most successful fertility treatment in existence today.

Who Can Benefit from Egg Donation?

There are a number of patients who can benefit from egg donation. These include:

Those with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI): Early menopause occurs when ovarian function ceases before the age of 40. Women with this condition can often successfully conceive using egg donation.
Women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR): In contrast to POI, women with DOR experience normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. However, the supply of eggs within the ovaries is decreased.
Same-sex male couples: Egg donation is an excellent option for same-sex male couples. The eggs can be fertilized by one or both partners before being placed into the surrogate’s uterus.
Single men: If a single man decides he is ready to begin a family, egg donation is a popular option. The patient’s sperm will fertilize with donated eggs and then placed inside the uterus of a surrogate.
Women who have experienced Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL): This condition can occur due to genetic issues, environmental factors, structural problems, and more. Women who have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss are often excellent candidates for egg donation.

Whether you choose to receive an egg through an agency or from a close friend, Dr. Kristiansen can safely facilitate the medical process to help you achieve your goals of starting a family.

Steps in Egg Donation Process

The first step in the egg donation process is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kristiansen. During this visit, she will assess your overall health, and determine if egg donation is an appropriate fertility option for you. Once you choose egg donation, there are a few steps to complete the process:

Cycle preparation: During this phase, you and your partner (or surrogate) will undergo several tests. These will identify and address any potential problems that could interfere with the fertilization or implantation process.
Selecting a donor: Choosing an egg donor is an incredibly personal and emotional decision. You may choose someone you know, or you may prefer an anonymous donor. It is also possible to choose a donor based on characteristics that are most important to you.
Retrieval: Egg retrieval will be scheduled once the donor’s eggs have reached full maturity. On the same day, the sperm sample will be provided for insemination.
Fertilization: Through in vitro fertilization (IVF), the egg and sperm cells will be prepared. Finally, one embryo will be transferred to the uterus of the patient or gestational surrogate.
Post-transfer testing: After the embryo transfer, you must wait approximately 11 to 16 days before a pregnancy test can be performed. If the test is positive, a second one will be conducted to confirm the results. If the test is negative, you will be able to try again during your next menstrual cycle.

Cost of Egg Donation

The cost of egg donation depends on several factors. Those who choose a known donor will typically pay less than those who go through an agency to choose a donor. On average, the total cost of egg donation and IVF is between $24,000 to $30,000.

Egg Donation and INVOcell™

INVOcell is a device that allows incubation of the sperm and eggs to take place inside the woman’s vagina. Dr. Kristiansen doesn't typically recommend INVOcell for Donor Egg cycles as the device can only hold a maximum of 8 eggs - egg donors usually produce greater quantities of eggs. If you would like to discuss this option with Dr. Kristiansen, you can do so during your consultation.

Learn More about Egg Donation

If you are considering fertility treatment, egg donation may be a solution for you. To explore your treatment options and the services we offer, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kristiansen at our Houston office by calling (713) 225-5375. You can also contact us online anytime.