Creating A Lifeline For Conception With Donor Eggs

Starting a family is a big stage in many people’s lives. However, sometimes infertility can make the process harder. Whether because of unexplained infertility, poor ovarian reserve, or difficulty with tracking ovulation, a woman may find that using donor eggs during in vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most viable option for conceiving. Still, some people may have questions about how effective fertility treatments can be when using donor materials over a woman’s own eggs.

The best candidates for donor eggs

While donor eggs can greatly improve conception odds for many people, not every woman facing infertility is a good candidate. In most cases, the best individuals will include women with premature ovarian failure (POF), menopause, diminished ovarian reserve, documented poor egg quality, a history of recurring pregnancy loss or failed IVF cycles, and identified genetic diseases that can be passed to offspring. Also, note that men hoping to become single fathers or same-sex gay couples would also be a prime demographic for using egg donors.

Parsing the facts

While most people assume that any birth resulting from donor eggs is the same, science doesn't treat the process as such. In fertility research, the conversation is further segmented into fresh versus frozen eggs. Both groups can be successful, but variations do exist. In the US, experts have determined that the average success rates range from 45.8% to as much as 53.9%. However, mitigating factors such as the age of the female recipient can also influence individual outcomes. For example, in participants under age 35, the percentages rise to 69% success.

How many people use donor eggs?

Even though the data shows high success rates, not every woman or couple that undergoes IVF does so using donor eggs. In reality, research shows that only 12% of all cycles rely on donors in the US. In raw numbers, over 16,000 cycles annually involve donor eggs. Still, the percentage is increasing with the number rising to 20,000 donor transfers in 2020 alone. Statistically, the figure represents a 14% increase from the past 5 years. Meanwhile, studies point to nearly 10,000 live births in the US that are traced back to donor eggs.

Donor eggs create opportunities

Conception seems like an obvious, straightforward process. However, the reality can be far different. From underlying health issues, unexplained infertility, or even trying to conceive in a same-sex couple, a multitude of reasons can exist that support the use of donor eggs. With IVF being the most successful of all the assisted reproductive therapy (ART) treatments, people shouldn't be surprised that donor eggs can be a vital part of opening the door to starting a family.