Please share donor experiences

[DALLAS]

After much thought and consideration I think that DH and I are going to opt for using donor eggs. I met with my RE this week and she thinks it is my best option, as do I. I have been thinking about this for some time. She only gives me less than 50% chance with my eggs (my AMH .68). If I do a donor cycle it will be greater than 60%. I am really ok with this decision. My question is for those who have done this before..... How many eggs/embryos did you get? Did it work on the first try?? I am hoping to use a donor just for me so that I can get some to freeze. I am concerned about doing a shared donor cycle b/c there may not be enough eggs for both couples to share and have some freeze. Anything you can share about your experience will be greatly appreciated!

[brit1612]

I have not used donor eggs, but we used donor embryos. It was the best decision we ever made! Once you have the baby in your arms, it will not matter where he or she came from. We were unsure what our feelings would be, but to us he is "our" little boy and nothing will ever change that. I beleive that being open minded to using donors could help a lot more people start the family they have always wanted. We had three miscarriages before having him and I was to the point of thinking it could not happen for us. Good luck to you!

[indigofire]

Dallas,

A very good friend of mine went through 7 IVF cycles. 1 worked but she miscarried. Her 8th cycle was with donor eggs and she just had her baby last week! She was very happy she chose donor egg. She got 7 embryos on day 3 and 4 on day 5. She transferred 2 blasts on day 5 and has 2 frozen.

Hope that helps.
Indigo

[katieb1231]

Dallas - I think even with donor cycles they vary...my BFF got many eggs but only ended up with 2 blasts and no frosties she transferred both & had one live birth, ours was lots of eggs (17) & we were left with 8 transferred two last cycle & probably two this next cycle. My clinic mentioned I was lucky since they hadn't had such luck with others....I think it depends on if your donor is a known donor (meaning have they donated before then you have past history)if you use a first timer then it can be a lot or a little, anyone's guess. I think the big difference is they usually go to blast & are usually very high quality, my clinic did have a refund plan if things didn't go as planned, check to see if yours does that might make it easier if things don't go as planned.

[Ghost]

After much thought and consideration I think that DH and I are going to opt for using donor eggs. I met with my RE this week and she thinks it is my best option, as do I. I have been thinking about this for some time. She only gives me less than 50% chance with my eggs (my AMH .68). If I do a donor cycle it will be greater than 60%. I am really ok with this decision. My question is for those who have done this before..... How many eggs/embryos did you get? Did it work on the first try?? I am hoping to use a donor just for me so that I can get some to freeze. I am concerned about doing a shared donor cycle b/c there may not be enough eggs for both couples to share and have some freeze. Anything you can share about your experience will be greatly appreciated!

Typically, patients who opt to use an egg donor have less than 20% chance of success with their own eggs, often very near zero. Most IVF patients have less than 50% chance of success, and the national average live birth rates are <50% in every age group. I am not sure why she would recommend donor egg because your chances are <50%.

As for the 60% figure, check their SART rate for donor cycles. Keep in mind that is a per transfer success rate. Then reduce it a little bit to account for the occasional canceled cycles.

Cycle cancellation in egg donor cycles are usually to avoid OHSS. Egg donors are often young high responders and might produce 30 eggs, maybe even more. With response like that, many clinics will cancel the cycle because of OHSS risk, and you are stuck for the bill, with no eggs and no pregnancy. To avoid any need for cancellations in donor cycles, see if your clinic puts donors on antagonist cycles and then uses Lupron triggers if they have a very high ovarian response. I would not do a donor cycle at any clinic that did not do it that way, because I would not want to get stuck for the bill for a canceled cycle and have no eggs to show for it.

[Ghost]

I have not used donor eggs, but we used donor embryos. It was the best decision we ever made! Once you have the baby in your arms, it will not matter where he or she came from. We were unsure what our feelings would be, but to us he is "our" little boy and nothing will ever change that. I beleive that being open minded to using donors could help a lot more people start the family they have always wanted. We had three miscarriages before having him and I was to the point of thinking it could not happen for us. Good luck to you!

Donor embryo is the best bargain in IVF. Congratulations!

[to_have_fun08]

I used a known donor and didn't do a shared cycled. We got 22 eggs, 15 were mature, 13 fertilized. We did CGH testing and on Day 5 I had 3 left. Later on this week I am going to get my embryo report and my CGH report because i am interested in how many made it to blast and how many out of the 13 were actually chromosome normal. We transferred 2 and I am currently waiting the results. One was supposed to be frozen. I believe my donor was close to OHSS but my RE wasn't too concerned since they were not doing a transfer to her. she did the long lupron protocol. I had to purchase capergoline for her to help ward off OHSS.

[brit1612]

Thanks ghost! Unfortunatley we spent a fortune trying with our own embryos before we turned to the best bargain out there! Not complaining, he was worth every penny of that. I think that donor embryos are not talked about enough in the IVF world.

[DALLAS]

Tohavefun- Not sure if I am understanding correctly... Out of 13 fertilized you only ended up with 2 for transfer and 1 to freeze?? That doesnt seem like a lot.

Brit- I agree, I think that donation shouldnt be so hush, hush. We opted for only the egg since my husband is a great specimen. That way it will at least biologically be one of ours.

[to_have_fun08]

Dallas - yep i ended up with 3 on day 5. I did CGH testing so that eliminates some of the embryo's because regardless if it is a egg donor or your own eggs, all the eggs are not going to be genetically normal. Millions of embryo's make it to the blast stage and are not normal, that is why so many get BFN.

[DALLAS]

Ghost or anyone- How many embryos do you think most end up with for transfer/freezing? My RE said that some donors make 12,16,20+ eggs.

[Ghost]

Ghost or anyone- How many embryos do you think most end up with for transfer/freezing? My RE said that some donors make 12,16,20+ eggs.

Varies all over the place. At my center, most donors produce more than 20 eggs. Most recipients have enough to transfer 1-2 good blasts and also a few more good ones to freeze just in case. It's very common for a donor recipient to have more blasts than they can use in one cycle.

[to_have_fun08]

Hey Dallas, i finally got more info on my embies. 22 were retrieved, 15 were mature and 13 fertilized. all embryo's were CGH tested and 7 were abnormal, 1 blast wasn't good enough to freeze, 2 were transferred and they froze 3. initially i was told we only had one frosty but i guess 2 more perked up and were good. So out of 13 only 5 are good enough to transfer. my donor was 25, has 2 kids and did 3 other donations before this one. Yes, if you pick the right donor you can get a lot of eggs and you should have at least a couple good to transfer and hopefully a few to freeze. I guess it all depends on the donors age and the protocol they are on. plus if you are doing a shared cycle or a cycle where you get to keep all the eggs. Good Luck!!

[chilipepperrose46]

Hi All,
We did donor cycles for my last 2 and they both were negative. We used a 27 year old with 2 kids and she only got 8 eggs with 5 fertilized. Out of th 5, 4 were good 1 fragmented. We transferred 2 in Dec and 2 fosty blasts in Feb both neg! So disappointing!!! That was 11 grand down the toilet. The RE said we were of the 10 to 15% that fail with donor cycles. He also said the embryos weren't the best quality. I'm 47 and at wits end with this whole thing. I also had 2 failed cycles with my own eggs. We're going to try again with my own eggs but this is our last chance. We're out of money and I'm running out of time. Sorry to be so negative but it's been a rough road for us! Why does it have to be sooo hard?!! Best of luck to everyone!!
Love,
Chili

[DALLAS]

Sorry for such bad luck chile. i am trying to go into this with an open mind. I figure it cant hurt to try, it at least gives me better odds then I have on my own.