Ghost: Another question about egg donation

[Brooklyngirl]

First, thanks so much for answering all of these questions! You are a life saver!!

Here is the dilemma:

I like the clinic with which I have worked, but its success rate hovers around 50% for de cycles. I would leave for another clinic (though I am in NYC and none of the clinics get near the success rates of those West Coast ones). However, I met with the coordinator of donor eggs just to discuss things with her. I hadn't started the process of really looking, when she called with what seems to be a wonderful match -- a young, talented woman who looks a lot like me (appearance was going to be difficult as no one looks like me!). The donor feels completely right, the timing is completely right, and everything seems to be working, but I am nervous about the success rates. Obviously I can't take the donor with me to another clinic.

Thoughts? How married should I be to success rates, especially when the success rates at other clinics in the area max out in the low 60% range?

Many thanks!

[Ghost]

First, thanks so much for answering all of these questions! You are a life saver!!

Here is the dilemma:

I like the clinic with which I have worked, but its success rate hovers around 50% for de cycles. I would leave for another clinic (though I am in NYC and none of the clinics get near the success rates of those West Coast ones). However, I met with the coordinator of donor eggs just to discuss things with her. I hadn't started the process of really looking, when she called with what seems to be a wonderful match -- a young, talented woman who looks a lot like me (appearance was going to be difficult as no one looks like me!). The donor feels completely right, the timing is completely right, and everything seems to be working, but I am nervous about the success rates. Obviously I can't take the donor with me to another clinic.

Thoughts? How married should I be to success rates, especially when the success rates at other clinics in the area max out in the low 60% range?

Many thanks!

Especially for donor cycles, I would give a lot of weight to success rates. There is one in Somerset, New Jersey (near Edison) that had 65% live birth in 2009 and 73% in 2008. That may be the best in that general area.

Alternatively, consider a donor cycle at a more distant clinic. The donor needs to be there much of the time, but you only need to show up for the embryo transfer.

[Brooklyngirl]

Thanks for the quick reply. What do you think accounts for such a variation in success rates? I know that my clinic treats a wider range of patients (meaning those turned away at other places) than most other NYC clinics. Could that effect things?

[Ghost]

Thanks for the quick reply. What do you think accounts for such a variation in success rates? I know that my clinic treats a wider range of patients (meaning those turned away at other places) than most other NYC clinics. Could that effect things?

I believe some clinics heavily screen their non-donor patients, but there is very little screening for donor cycle recipients. Perhaps some clinics get better egg donors? Maybe.

[Brooklyngirl]

Okay. A lot to think about. Many thanks!