Steps and Timeline For Recipients of the Egg Donation Process
The egg donation process at the Fertility Institute of San Diego is a carefully orchestrated series of steps designed to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients. Here is an overview of the process and the timeline involved:
Initial Consultation (1-2 weeks)
The process begins with an initial consultation with Dr. Minoos Hosseinzadeh, our fertility specialist.
During this consultation, Dr. Hosseinzadeh will review your medical history, discuss your fertility goals, and explain the egg donation process in detail.
Donor Selection and Screening (1 month - 6 months, depending on how long it takes to select your egg donor)
Once you have decided to move forward with egg donation, you will work with our team to select an egg donor.
The selected donor will undergo rigorous screening, including medical, genetic, and psychological evaluations. The donor screening process takes about 2-6 weeks.
Legal contracts (3-5 weeks)
Once the donor has completed all screening, you will begin legal contracts. We can provide referrals and recommendations for reproductive attorneys, or you may use the attorney of your choosing (we do require that the attorney have experience drafting egg donation contracts.)
The donor will be represented by separate counsel from the recipients.
Cycle coordination and recipient screening (approximately 2 weeks)
Once legal contracts have been completed, the donor’s protocol and cycle calendar will be confirmed.
During this time, the intended mother or gestational carrier will be completing any screening or cycle coordination required. Recipient screening and cycle coordination will be based on specific patient requirements and cycle types.
Donor ovarian stimulation (2 weeks)
Once all the above steps are completed, the donor will start her ovarian stimulation (IVF) cycle.
During this cycle, the donor will begin taking injectable fertility medications. She will be monitored through blood work and ultrasounds to ensure that all follicles (eggs) are developing at an appropriate rate.
The donor’s stimulation cycle will take 10-14 days.
Egg Retrieval (1 day)
Once the donor’s eggs are mature, the donor will complete an egg retrieval at our outpatient surgery center.
The egg retrieval procedure is a minimally invasive surgery performed under sedation.
The eggs are retrieved using a thin needle guided by ultrasound imaging.
Fertilization and Embryo Development (approximately one week)
The retrieved eggs are fertilized with the intended parent’s sperm or donor sperm in our laboratory.
The embryos are developed until day 5 when they will be biopsied and frozen for PGT-A and future frozen embryo transfer.
Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A) (10 days)
The biopsies will be sent to an outside lab that will determine which embryos are chromosomally normal, and if any embryos have a chromosomal abnormality.
PGT-A also informs the intended parents of the gender of each embryo, should they desire to know this information prior to embryo transfer.
The results from PGT-A typically take 10 days to receive.
Embryo Transfer
Once the PGT-A results have been received, the intended parent (or their gestational carrier) will prepare for their frozen embryo transfer or FET cycle.
During an FET cycle, the endometrial lining is thickened through medication, and monitored through weekly linking checks.
Once the endometrial lining is ready for a transfer, one embryo will be transferred.
Pregnancy Test and Follow-Up
Approximately 9 days after the embryo transfer, a pregnancy test is performed to determine if the procedure was successful.
If pregnancy is achieved, we provide ongoing support and monitoring to ensure the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby.
The egg donation process at the Fertility Institute of San Diego is a comprehensive and supportive journey towards parenthood. Dr. Hosseinzadeh and our team are dedicated to providing the highest quality care and support throughout the entire process. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your dream of starting or expanding your family.
Fertility Clinic in San Diego
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