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Donor Egg Program

City Fertility Centre operates an active Donor Egg Program where both known and anonymous egg donations are available. At times there may be a waiting list for anonymously donated eggs, so potential recipients are strongly encouraged to recruit their own egg donor.

WHO NEEDS DONOR EGGS?

• Women who have undergone a premature menopause
• Women who for genetic reasons cannot use their own eggs
• Women who have been repeatedly unsuccessful on the IVF program
• Women born without ovaries
• Women who have undergone irradiation and chemotherapy

WHERE DO DONOR EGGS COME FROM?

• Known donors (where a sister, relative or friend donates)
• Anonymous donors -
(a) Women who undergo IVF procedures to altruistically provide eggs
(b) Women on the IVF program who donate excess eggs to another couple

EGG DONOR PREREQUISITES

• Aged 35 years and under
• Good health with no history of hereditary disease
• A women can donate after tubal ligation
• Marital status: If married or in a defacto relationship, the husband/partner must consent to the donation. Where a married couple is separated but not divorced, it is strongly recommended that the husband consents to the procedure.
• Women who are adopted cannot donate unless genetic family history is known.

EGG DONOR PRE-TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS

1. Consultation with City Fertility Centre Clinician.
2. Counselling – Both donor and husband/partner are required to attend a mandatory counselling session to receive information and discuss issues associated with donating. Again, where a married couple is separated but not divorced, it is strongly recommended that the husband attend the session. Various consent forms must be signed.
3. Screening blood tests including Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis and HIV must be performed on both the donor and the partner. A vaginal ultrasound examination is sometimes performed to check the normality of the ovaries and uterus.
4. Interview with the nurse co-ordinator to receive detailed treatment cycle instructions and other appropriate information.

EGG DONOR TREATMENT

A combination of drugs, which may include the oral contraceptive pill and a nasal spray (Synarel), is given for several weeks. Daily subcutaneous injections of follicle stimulating hormones (Puregon or Gonal F) are administered for approximately 10 days to stimulate the ovaries to produce a number of eggs. A friend or partner can be shown how to do this.
To monitor the response, visits to your Fertility Specialist for vaginal ultrasound scans and sometimes blood tests are required.

EGG COLLECTION PROCEDURE

This is a day surgery procedure performed at Brisbane Private Hospital. A general anaesthetic is given so that no pain is felt. The eggs are collected via the vagina, under ultrasound guidance, during a half-hour procedure. It requires a half-day hospitalisation period following which you cannot drive home. Normal activities can be resumed the following day.

SIDE –EFFECTS OF EGG DONOR MEDICATION

Anyone taking medication should be aware of the possible side-effects. The drugs used in egg donation may cause minor symptoms, which subside with the cessation of treatment, eg. Breast soreness, nausea, tiredness and swelling of the abdomen.. More detailed information on the side effects and possible risks of the treatment will be given prior to commencing treatment.

EGG DONOR EXPENSES

There are no out-of-pocket expenses for an anonymous egg donor and the donor.

LEGAL ASPECTS

Infertility treatment in Queensland operates within guidelines from the Fertility Society of Australia by a comprehensive report. Currently there is no register of gamete donors under Queensland law so anonymity is preserved, but the potential exists for this to be introduced as has happened in other Australian States. There exists a possibility that in the future, all offspring may be able to trace their biological and genetic history at a later stage. Further information about legislation and implications will be given by the Clinician and at the counselling session.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Please be assured that all services are provided in a completely discreet and confidential environment.