Embryo Donation

What is embryo donation? Embryo donation is a type of tertiary reproduction in which an embryo from IVF is donated to another couple. If other assisted reproductive methods are unsuccessful, the physician may suggest the use of a donated embryo to the couple. Pregnancy using a donated embryo is one of the new methods of treating couples’ infertility, and it is mainly done in certain cases of male infertility. The decision to use a donated embryo is a big decision for couples that carries an emotional, financial and heavy responsibility, and before that, couples must prepare for this.

Uses of donated embryos

In cases where the cause of infertility is azoospermia or the lack of sperm in the semen, i.e. no sperm is found in the testicular tissue sampling, the main solution that infertility specialist physicians suggest to couples is to use a donated embryo.

Also, in cases of male infertility, in which the quality of the sperm in the spermogram is so poor that a good quality embryo is not formed, and pregnancy does not occur in multiple IVF cycles, and the couple suffers frequent IVF failure, they can use donated embryos.

In cases of certain genetic diseases, donated embryos can be used for couples to have healthy children.

Necessary measures for donated embryos

Couples who, according to the diagnosis of Amin Center’s infertility specialist, are candidates for using donated embryos, should go to the treating physician to request the necessary tests and consultations for the couple after going through the legal procedures and providing documentation. These measures are carried out to check the physical and mental health of couples. If the tests are confirmed, the process of using the donated embryo will begin.

Procedures for using donated embryos

Donated embryos can be available to couples in two forms: frozen embryos and fresh embryos. The use of frozen embryos is more common in terms of availability. The embryos donated by IVF and insemination are created in a laboratory and frozen at the request of the donor couple who want to donate embryos for any reason. The information of these couples is completely confidential and is not available to any person or group. After completing the relevant forms and complete knowledge, the woman is placed in the cycle of endometrial preparation. By prescribing medicine from day 2-3 of the cycle and performing frequent vaginal ultrasounds during the use of the medicine, the endometrium of the uterus is evaluated. Whenever the endometrium is suitable for embryo transfer, the time of embryo transfer is determined according to the considered stage of embryo development. The embryo transfer time is usually between 15-20 cycle days.

The benefits of using a donated embryo

Pregnancy with a donated embryo provides a valuable opportunity to experience having a child for couples for whom none of the assisted reproductive methods were suitable. The advantage of using a donated embryo compared to adoption is that all stages of pregnancy from the beginning to the end It is spent in the womb and the body of the recipient, and the person experiences the feeling of motherhood from the beginning. Also, performing prenatal care, feeding and providing a calm and safe environment for the fetus is under the mother’s control.

Gender determination at the same time as the donated embryo

If a couple who is a candidate for pregnancy with a donated embryo and wants to determine the gender, they can use the desired embryo if possible in coordination with the infertility center and the attending physician.