EGG   DONATION    PROGRAM

There are women who are unable to produce eggs. This happens naturally during menopause   at the age of 46 to 50, or due to premature menopause which can occur at any age, even to women aged 26 years old.

Premature menopause, or Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) could be of unknown origin (idiopathic origin) or the outcome of chemotherapy or radiotherapy for the treatment of any kind of cancer. Premature Ovarian Failure may also occur to cases where genetic conditions are present such as hypoplastic atrophic ovaries  or Turner syndrome etc. All women have the right to pregnancy.

Women who had undergone a lot of unsuccessful IVF attempts, or women whose ovaries do not respond to the usual ovulation induction treatment, chose to seek (turn to) egg donation.

Until recently, egg donation was performed to women with genetic or gene dysfunction, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, hereditary breast or colon cancer, deaf – dumb cases etc. Today, however, Pre implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is beginning to be applied, offering the possibility of detecting the presence of these dysfunctions and transferring healthy only embryos. So, these women, no longer need egg donation.

However, a number of women with POF of unknown origin or idiopathic etiology were able to produce eggs after treatment with DHEA and so avoided egg donation.

Egg donation is anonymous

According to the Greek legislation regarding Assisted Reproduction (2005), anonymity between the egg donor and the recipient is essential.

In our Centre, there is an egg donation protocol for women who anonymously donate their eggs.

The success rate is high reaching 45%. This is mainly due to the young age of the donors (20 – 30 years old)

The donors’ screening is complete and meticulous. A number of factors are also considered, such as the appearance, height, weight, age and intellectual condition. As soon as the donors sign their consent, they proceed to full blood evaluation for blood group, Rhesus, thalassaemia, sickle cell anaemia, hepatitis B and C, AIDS, HIV I and II, syphilis and chlamydia. An ultrasound scan follows to assess the condition of the ovaries. The condition of the heart is also checked.

The suitable induction of ovulation treatment is then prescribed to the donors for the oocyte production which are collected under mild anesthesia.  

Recipients

Couples wishing to proceed to egg donation are fully informed by the doctor regarding the procedure. When they sign their consent regarding the donation and the child’s rights, the suitable donor is chosen sharing similarities to the recipient as well as blood group and Rhesus, if possible. Both partners are checked for hepatitis B and C, AIDS, HIV I and II, syphilis etc. The male partner gives a sperm sample which is analyzed  and cryopreserved. It will then be used for IVF of the donor’s eggs. The resulting embryos are then transferred to the recipient’s uterus or are cryopreserved  and transferred when the endometrium preparations of the recipient is completed.

Surrogacy

Women with no uterus but their ovaries present, or their uterus presenting a serious deformity, may proceed to surrogacy. In any event, the partner’s sperm should be normal. The surrogate mother will carry the couple’s embryos. According to the Assisted Reproduction Act of 2005, a court order is necessary for surrogacy, since the surrogate mother will carry the natural child of another woman.