Egg Sharing IVF cycle

[Scottishgirl85]

Hi!

We have severe male factor infertility following testicular cancer and although we somehow miraculously conceived our little girl, now 1.5 years old, we think it's very likely we'll need ICSI to have another. We'll go ahead next year once we're at the 2 year mark for trying for number 2, and I'd really like to do an egg sharing cycle if possible. Having been in the awful position of thinking we'd never have children, I really want to help someone else potentially realise their dream.

I just wondered if anyone on here has done an egg sharing cycle, and had any advice? I guess I'm worried that it could somehow compromise the success rate of our own cycle (do the 'best looking eggs' go to the recipient? What's the minimum eggs collected below which the egg share would be cancelled?), or if synchronizing cycles makes the process more difficult, and again success less likely? I'd also like to know if I would be informed if the recipient had a successful cycle, and also if it resulted in a live birth. I don't think I'm too worried about 'never knowing' who the potential child might be, as in my view I flush my eggs down the toilet every time I have a period, so I'm not too protective over them! But it would distress me not knowing if there was a child out there, I'd like to know if it worked for the recipient, so I could imagine how the child turned out and know that I'd helped someone have their family.

Thanks so much for any advice!

[Scottishgirl85]

Bump!

[WootyWoo]

Hi, I gathered some info from my NHS clinic in Scotland some time ago about this (they also do private). I was querying from a recipient perspective though.

Their aim was to get 8 eggs so that 4 would go to the recipient and 4 to the egg sharer. If there were less than 8 then the egg sharer had the option to cancel the donation and continue with her own IVF paying full price, or still share 4 of her eggs and continue her IVF (funded or part funded due to egg share?) with the remaining eggs.

I don't think the synchronising of cycles would affect your success as it's the recipient who is treated with additional drugs to time with your egg collection.

I'm sure I've heard that you get to hear the outcome but only from reading forums so not 100%.

Sorry to hear about your DH's cancer. All the best for your future plans.

[Scottishgirl85]

Thanks so much Wooty! That gives me so many answers! I really hope I can help someone have a baby. I'm not sure where you are with treatment but wish you all the very best x