Overview of the Treatment
The Donor
The donor will be required to undergo a thorough medical examination, this will include a pelvic examination, blood will be taken to check her hormone levels, and also to check for infectious diseases. She will also need to have an ultrasound which will examine her uterus, ovaries, and the pelvic organs. The donor will also need to see a psychologist to ensure that she is mentally prepared to proceed with the procedure and complete the whole donation process.
On completion of the screening process a legal contract will need to be signed, the donor will then begin the donation cycle; this usually takes approximately three to six weeks. The egg retrieval procedure consists of A Egg Donor’s Cycle together with a Recipient’s Cycle. The Donor is given birth control pills for the first few weeks of the egg donation procedure, this is to synchronize the recipients and the donor menstrual cycle, the next stage is a series of injections that will halt the normal functioning of the donor ovaries. The injections are usually self administered, the donor will be taught how to do it, and will be done daily for one to three weeks.
Once the injections period is completed the follicle stimulating hormones (FSH)will be given to stimulate the egg production, this should increase the number of eggs that are mature in the ovaries. Through this whole cycle the donor will be monitored by her physician, she will under blood tests and ultrasound examination, this will tell the physician the donors reaction to the hormones as well as indicate to the doctor the progress of the follicle growth.
The doctor will decide when the follicles are mature enough, and will then book a date and time for the egg retrieval procedure.
The Egg Retrieval
Once the doctor has decided that the follicles are ripe or mature, then a date and time will be set for the egg retrieval procedure. The hCG will then be administered 36 hours before the retrieval procedure. The actual egg retrieval procedure itself is a minimal invasive surgical procedure that will last about twenty to thirty minutes. It is performed in hospital under sedation. The Doctor will insert a small ultrasound guided needle through the vagina, this will aspirate the follicles on both ovaries, and the eggs are extracted. The donor after the procedure will rest in the recovery room for about an hour or two then she will be released to go home. If she feels well enough the donor can resume regular activities the next day.