Donor Buddies Group

[NickiMark]

Hello, thought that this would help anyone who's in my same boat and using a donor (either sperm, eggs or embryo)
It's just an idea to have a thread so people looking for advice, support, chats on this subject have some where to go......

Using a donor was a hard decission, and in the start we weren't going to but as time has happened situations have changed and now Donor is our only chance of being a mum and dad.
We are using Donor Sperm due to Dh having azoospermia.

I will look forward to hearing from any other people who are using a donor.

[Katie12563]

Great Idea.
I will try IUI 1 or 2 times more but if it fails I've been given some really good news:
My clinic has on site for 4 frozen embryos that "would be perfect for Me"....the nurse said. I couldn't believe my ears...then guess what??????

The nurse had a photo of 2 children from the same embryo batch.
they looked just like me and others in my family!!! I almost feel like it may not matter much which way I get pregnant. My eggs with donor sperm or donor embryo. The kids were adorable!!! The couple donated the embryos after having their 2nd child.

Down side:
Success rate much lower with frozen embies vs. fresh eggs from a donor
Embies have been frozen for a few years (maybe 3???)
Some may not make it through the thawing process (there are only 4)

Up Side:
I'll be giving a wonderful chance at life to embies that are waiting to be adopted.
Cheaper than egg donor.
Siblings were born completely healthy and are very smart.
Have seen photo of siblings...wonderful

Any thoughts?????

[NickiMark]

Hi Katie,

You are at the same stage as me, we had Iui with Donor in May we had -ive
When are you trying again? We are going again in august.....
We are going to give it 3 goes then think about moving to IVF with Donor sperm.
I would consider Donor embryo's as you mentioned. They are waiting to live aren't they? I know what you are saying about the freeze though would they survive the poor little things.

What are doing then? Are you going with the Embryo's.

Are the donor laws the same for sperm, egg and embryo donors??
We ddin't know anything about the man who donated sperm, only his blood group, height, hair colour and eye colour. How did u get to see such a photo? We wouldn't be alowed to do so. Only the child once he/she is 18 has any rights to trace the father......

[Katie12563]

NickiMark,
I'll start meds (Bravelle) in about 14 days and then insemination in about 9 days after that (based on my last insenination cycle).

Question:
How many times did the doctor inseminate you?
****My doctor did it on the day before I was scheduled to ovulate (with my final injection). ..then the very next day(during my ovualtion day). Two hits. I got a postive. They called it s"showering me with sperm." 1st insemination in my cervix...next day it went directly to my uterus. Boy did I pray !!!

Yes, I want to use the embryos after 1 or 2 more cycles of IUI. My doctor may discourage it because of low success rate but if I insist he'll go along. They really do respect your desires unless its medically harmful to you.

The parents of the embies were patients there and donated the embies. The nurse incharge of the embies/ donor egg program had a teeny tiny photo that was given to her by the parents. These wonderful kids are mixed race (latino(spanish), chinese, african-american) I'm sure they wanted to be sure the right Mommy would adopt them. I am also all mixed up (big smile). So they are perfect and look just like me (skin color, hair color and texture, light eyes etc.

About the Sperm Donor (for my IUI): I used the cryobank.com in California USA. It is a huge sperm bank that does offer baby photos(extra charge) of donors that submit them.
They also offer you, audio tape or cd of their voice(extra charge), facial report (extra charge...shape of nose eyes etc.), personality profile (extra), and a complete long profile medical history(about $12.00 US) which include physical descriptions of all their family members.
~*~*As an extra bonus they rate them on attractiveness 5?? - 8.5)
They even have staff member that will write up their personal opinion of the donor. Sperm count is guranteed. Cost: 295.00 or 355.00...washed sperm (US dollars) per vial. shipping is about $150.00 US money to US locations for any amount of vials. They have a great website and alot of info is free if you're interested in taking a look...oh and I almost forgot to mention the matching service. You can send them a picture of your husband or anyone for that matter and they will match the photo with a donor. You can give them some to choose from or they will go through all of them for you. It's about $50.00 per half hour and it can be done in a hour or less (they told me).
IF YOU LIKE SOMEONE PLEASE ORDER THE LONG PROFILE. YOU GET THE WHOLE STORY THAT WAY (short profile is free). They ship everywhere and directly to your clinic. They are acredited.
***The trace your sperm bank allows at 18 is great if you desire it. This bank has a few open donors that will allow 1 contact at 18 years of age. There are only a few open donors.
Can this be any longer?? Please let me know what you think.
I'm so happy to talk to someone else in the same boat!!!

[ogr1]

wow this is amazing..
we had been waiting for donated embies for a long time.. none had been
doanted to our clinic..
i will call them and ask if they would do some oneelses donated embies..

[Katie12563]

Hey There Ogr1,
Just want to clarify that the cryobank.com does sperm. I'm not sure if they do any other services. I do believe there are agencies, law firms and non profits like Snowflakes??? etc. that does have embies. I believe they ship to your clinic for IVF. Are you interested in this? Is is much cheaper unless a broker or agency charges some inflated fee for matching you.
Some women on this site also are considering donating their embies...once their family is complete. You never know where your blessing may come from.

I can't imagine it being easy for me to find a good (racially mixed) match like the one my clinic has inhouse. That's why I feel so strongly about giving them a chance at life. I will love them so much. I pray to God everyday about my hopes of loving my own children

[elleR]

Another nice thread you put up Nicki! Hello Katie,

I did donor IUI because of the same reason as yours-azoospermia. At first DH and I were hesitating to go this route last year. It was after our miscarriage that DH and I talked about it after our RE suggested it since we couldn't do IVF/ICSI until early next year. One of our biggest concerns was what if we didn't get the right sperm???? UH-OH!

[Katie12563]

elleR: Hey nice to have you on board too!
Have you picked your donor yet?

When do you begin a cycle?

Hey There Nicki!!!! Sorry that last post was so long. I get carried away (smile).

[NickiMark]

Hi Katie!!

Things are different in the states! Are all sperms tested for HIV and other diseases?
I did look breifly at cryobank.com will look in more detail later when I have more time on my hands. Thanks xx

Katie u are cycling with me I start cycle on 29th Jul (17days away) then insemination is about 14 days later (about 11th Aug)

Our last IUI was done once...... only! I might consider 2 iui if this doesnt work.... I had 2 scans and got lh surge on day 13 went in on day 14 for it. I thought that it was too late as I got Lh surge at 6am on day 13 had IUI done at 10am on day 14.

Our clinic chose our sperm basis on me and dh. We knew the height, hair/eye colour, hobbies and occupation. also it was from London sperm bank. Thats all I know....... We had a choice of 2 thats it.

[Katie12563]

Hey Nicki,
Yes they test for Hiv and a host of other tests including a chromosome test. I also asked about sexual perference and they said that if they are bisexual or gay that are excluded from the donor program.

FREEBIE: If you see a donor you like, mention that you saw their ad in CONCIEVE magazine and they will e-mail you or mail you a free long profile (may be up to 30 pages) of the donor.

I can call for you if you like. Contact me privately. There may be a mailing fee to the UK.
PS I love these colors. Hope I don't drive you guys crazy. Let me know if its annoying.

[taylorjools]

Hey ho ladies

Nicola - you don't want to know how many tmes I wanted a thread just for "us" donor babes, well done you for setting it up, thank you

we are off to immunology clinic on Thursday, I guess all our tests will be back by end August ( ), so we either go ahead again with donor eggs and dh sperm, or if there is an issue that means big risk them we'll go for donor sperm too.

So far we seem to be able to get most tests here in Germany on our health insurance, but one where we have no clinic yet is the sperm studies where they haev to take a testicular biopsy and they look at the sperm evolution. Apparently studies have shown that a l;arge no ~40% of men with low fertilisation rates in ICSI and/or repeated m/c have problems in meiosis (more on www.institutomarques.com click english (doh) and then look under egentic studies in male infertility. I found their description very good).

Anyway, nice to haev our own thread

Love and kisses from very sunny beachy (am of surfing as much as I can right now) Germany

bigJ

[Katie12563]

WELCOME BigJ...so happy to have you join us. Good luck with the testing.

Surfing...how wonderful!!!

[elleR]

Hello Katie, Big J and Nicki,

Katie, I just had my DIUI and I test on the 22nd. I got my donor sperm from Fairfax Cryobank.

If our first one (natural cycle) is unsuccessful, Dh and I agreed to try it 2 more times with meds. Can't wait 'til my test date!

[Katie12563]

elleR: Did you compare our signatures? We were both pregnant at about the same time...and our little ones were about the same age... I hope this doesn't make you too sad to read. Maybe our little ones are together looking at us share our thoughts through e-mail.

I pray for good news on the 22nd!!!

[taylorjools]

Ahhhhh just noticed that Katie, and Elle, we lost sweeties

we are so brave you know, also nicola for trying again, and our sweeties will always be with us I am sure of that.

Love and the biggest cyber hug to all of us and our sweeties {{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

bigJ