Procedure Overview
Donor Selection: The process begins with the selection of an egg donor who meets specific criteria, including age, health history, genetic screening, and ovarian reserve. Egg donors undergo comprehensive medical and psychological evaluations to ensure their suitability for donation.
Synchronization: Once a suitable donor is selected, the donor's menstrual cycle is synchronized with the recipient's cycle using hormonal medications. This allows for optimal timing of egg retrieval and embryo transfer.
Egg Retrieval: The egg donor undergoes ovarian stimulation with fertility medications to produce multiple eggs, which are retrieved transvaginally under ultrasound guidance. The retrieved eggs are then fertilized with sperm from the intended father or a sperm donor in the laboratory.
Embryo Culture: Following fertilization, the resulting embryos are cultured in the laboratory for several days to allow for development and selection of the most viable embryos for transfer. Any additional high-quality embryos may be cryopreserved (frozen) for future use.
Embryo Transfer: The selected embryos are transferred into the uterus of the intended mother or a gestational carrier using a thin catheter inserted through the cervix. The number of embryos transferred depends on factors such as the recipient's age, medical history, and preferences, with the goal of achieving a successful pregnancy while minimizing the risk of multiple gestation.