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Question: What is egg donation?
Answer: Egg donation is a highly successful infertility treatment available to women with poor or absent ovarian function. The process involves the use of in vitro fertilization of eggs from a donor and sperm from the recipient couple. One or two of the resultant embryos (blastocysts) are placed in the uterus of the recipient woman who has undergone preparation of the lining of the uterus with use of estrogen and progesterone. Any remaining quality embryos are cryopreserved for the couple’s future use.
Question: Who should consider being a recipient of an egg donation?
Answer: Candidates for ovum donation include women who have experienced failed IVF cycles related to compromised egg quality, declining ovarian function most often related to advancing age, are menopausal, have been born without ovaries or have had them surgically removed, or have undergone cancer therapy. Recipients are married couples that meet medical and psychological requirements of the Reproductive Resource Center of Greater Kansas City and the guidelines from American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Recipients must be in good physical and emotional health.
Question: How long has the Reproductive Resource Center had a program for Ovum Donation?
Answer: Our program has been in operation since 1993. We have treated over 750 recipient patients through our ovum donation program.
Question: How successful is the Ovum Donation Program at Reproductive Resource Center?
Answer: Our ovum donor program has an average “live born” rate of 64% per embryo transfer since 1993.
Question: Who are the donors?
Answer: Donors are fertile, healthy women between the ages of 21-33 who have met the medical and psychological requirements of the Reproductive Resource Center of Greater Kansas City, the guidelines from the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and the FDA requirements for tissue donation.
Most often couples request a donor that has been recruited by our office who is anonymous to the couple. Couples also have the option to select a donor recruited from a donor agency that they selected. Additionally, donors may be known to the couple, a family member or friend, who is presented to our office for consideration as a donor.
Our screening program for all donors includes a medical evaluation of the potential donor, to include the family history. Additionally, the donor will undergo a physical exam, ultrasound of the ovaries, laboratory screening for infectious diseases, genetic screening as indicated, and drug screening. Our psychological evaluation includes written testing, and a structured clinical interview by a counselor specializing in reproductive issues. This interview includes a detailed social and family history.
Question: How are anonymous donors matched with the recipient couple?
Answer: You will complete a recipient profile that will include a photo of you and your husband, physiological details, preferences, interests and talents. The ovum donation team will provide you with donor profiles for your review. You will make the selection of the donor most appropriate for you. In the near future, you will have the opportunity to view donor profiles on our website.
Question: How much information will I receive about a donor?
Answer: The Reproductive Resource Center’s program is an anonymous program designed to insure the couple and donor’s privacy. Photos of the donor are available to the couple as well as a non-identifying profile detailing the donors’ physical characteristics, hobbies, interests and medical history
Question: How long will it take to find a donor?
Answer: The length of time it takes to find a donor is dependent on the requirements of the recipient couple. On an average, it can take about 3 months to find a donor. Occasionally, profiles are presented at the time of the initial consult for the couple’s consideration.
Question: Once a donor is selected, how long does it take to get started with treatment?
Answer: Generally, you can expect to start a treatment cycle within 30 days of selecting your donor. The actually treatment cycle itself, from the start of birth control pills for menstrual cycle regulation until embryo transfer is about 45 days.
Question: What is the cost of ovum donation?
Answer: At Reproductive Resource Center, there are two types of donor egg opportunities, anonymous donor or known donor. The average cost for an anonymous ovum donor cycle, using a donor from the RRC donor pool, is about $24,000. A known donor cycle costs about $18,800. These estimates include the cost of medication for the donor, screening, recruitment, anonymous donor fee, and the donation cycle fees. Certain fees associated with the recipient including the consult fee, infectious disease screen, semen analysis, evaluation of the uterine cavity, medications and cryopreservation of embryos are not included in this fee. Other fees can be incurred pending the recommendations of your physician.
Question: Who are considered the legal parents?
Answer: The Kansas Parentage Act recognizes the recipient woman and her husband as the legal parents of a child conceived with donor egg. With that said, in the case of using a known donor, a legal contract is still recommended.
Question: How do I become a recipient?
Answer: Patients may be referred by a physician or by self-referred. After completing an application form, available online, you will be scheduled for a consultation with one of our board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Rodney Lyles or Dr. Celeste Brabec., and our Nurse Practitioner, Marge Vogt, who is the Nurse Coordinator for our program. This consultation will include a thorough evaluation of your medical history and a physical exam with ultrasound of the pelvis. Additionally, the couple will be provided ample time to discuss the medical and psychosocial aspects of ovum donation as a family building option.
This is just an abbreviated sample of the most requested information. Please feel free to contact us at Reproductive Resource Center of Greater Kansas City with any question that may help you become more familiar with Ovum Donation as an option for building your family.
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