Donor egg ivf

[Mseddy]

Just after some experiences from people who have had ivf with donor eggs. It's our next next step (I'm having one more go with my own eggs since it's already paid for, but consultant isn't holding out much hope due to low amh). Because its not our next direct step the clinic hasnt told us much about the process. I'm the kind of person who needs to keep my head one step ahead. So I'm just after some practicalities of the process, would be even better if anyone has done it in Leeds. I get that medically for me it would be like a FET. But I'm just wondering about where the eggs are sourced, do they try to match to you and your partner in terms of eye colour ect, can we still do icsi on donor eggs? Our clinic only mentions embryo donation not egg. Thanks if anyone can help

[AliceAbsolum]

Don't have embryo donation if there are no sperm issues!
Yes you can have icsi.
We went abroad as couldn't afford £15k, didn't want to wait 1.5 years and didn't agree with the ethics of egg sharing. It's very different abroad so I can't say more than that really.
Emotionally it's not easy for me, I'm doing it because I want to be a mum, but I wish I could pass on my own dna. Read "three makes a baby" it's a good read.

[Mseddy]

We have sperm issues too. It's been frozen for 10 years pre chemo and isn't defrosting well so it has to be icsi. We can't go abroad for that reason unless it's full embryo as it would cost us a fortune to get the sperm there. Thank you for your reply and I'll look the book up :)

[Ilikeviognier]

How low is your amh? Mine was 2.8 and I had Ivf at Leeds in 2014. It worked first time. It’s not impossible.

Incidentally I also got pregnant naturally twice with that amh score so if that’s your only issue it definitely is far from impossible.

Good luck.

[Ilikeviognier]

Apologies - I should read before posting - I see you say above you have sperm issues too.

I hope it works out for you. X

[AliceAbsolum]

Its about £5k all in, in a lot of places, so unless transferring sperm is £10,000 its worth looking into.

[Lauren83]

Every clinic will be different some offer frozen egg banks, some egg sharers, some altruistic donors and occasionally donor embryos which are harder to source in the uk, some clinics may create them from double donation and some from surplus treatment cycles although couples donating don't often have a lot of surplus and those that do won't often meet the criteria for donation

Matching is usually
Height
Eye colour
Blood group
Skin tone
Hair colour etc
Used to be CMV status too but most have stopped this

The donors will often have a goodwill message and pen portrait you can view if you wish, child can request this from the HFEA at 16 and then at 18 the donors contact details including if there were any partial siblings at the point of donation

You aren't often given occupation or education but if they disclose it the clinic will often share

Costs usually frozen egg back is cheapest as you pay per egg but no guarantee they will thaw, altruistic cycle around 11- 13k, look at Access fertility packages if you were doing egg share cycle

[Lauren83]

Also to add if frozen yes protocol will be like a FET, if fresh once matched often one or both of you is on the pill, you may or may not down regulate and if confirmed you are the donor starts stims and you start lining preparation.

[SashaC10]

Can anyone provide info on going abroad for donnor egg fertility treatment. I am 43 and we have been told that is our only option. No sperm issues. Roughly what is the cost to do this on the UK, im in glasgow if anyone has had treatment there. And what is the difference in price if you go abroad. I was looking into Prague and Spain. If anyone has experience and recommendations...or list of places to avoid, i would be very grateful. Dont know where to start.

[TintinandSnowy]

Hello Sasha - we had donor egg IVF at Reprofit in Brno, Czech Republic. I was 45 at the time.
Have you seen the website Fertility Friends? It's a great resource, with message boards for all the different clinics and countries.

[TintinandSnowy]

We looked at a lot of different clinics, and got totally confused with all the statistics, procedures and prices! In the end we went with Reprofit as they got back to us really quickly and offered a good all inclusive price for their package.
It was around 4000 euro for us around 10 years ago - looking at their website it seems to around 5000 euro now.

[SashaC10]

@ @TintinandSnowy thanks for your reply. I find it all bit confusing top so really appreciate any advice and to hear of others experiences.

[Oldandsad]

Also considering this as a possible next step. Thank you all for sharing information and experience.

[Lauren83]

With abroad yes it's often cheaper and there's some great clinics however you don't know if they are screening the donors as extensively as in the UK as they adhere to HFEA guidelines, do consider if it matters to you that should the child wish to find out more about their donor or possibly contact them at 18 that you won't have that option in most countries as you would in the UK, to some it doesn't matter but think carefully before you do as when the child turns 18 it could be a big thing and they may be curious and you have forfeited their right to further info should they wish for it

[SashaC10]

@Lauren83 thanks for your input and agree it's something to think about. Can anyone tell me a rough idea of the cost for the treatment in the UK I'm in Glasgow so anyone who has experience of treatment there would be good.

[Lauren83]

No problem, I do actually have a donor egg son from treatment abroad and my experience was good and I had my reasons for going abroad but I do have worries now about it

[EarlGreyT]

@Lauren83
Me too. When it was all hypothetical I thought there were compelling reasons to have treatment abroad rather than in the U.K. In hindsight this was largely for selfish reasons. Now it’s not hypothetical and we’ve created an actual person with thoughts and feelings, I have significant concerns about having gone abroad and them not being able to find out anything about the donor.

[Lauren83]

Exactly the same Earl I just wanted a baby and was so desperate I didn't give it much thought, now he is here and nearly 2 I worry so much and hope he understands my reasons for doing so, I only knew the donors hair colour up until recently and went back to the clinic and got height/eye colour and occupation a few weeks ago and that's it. I see so many UK born babies with these amazing pen portraits and goodwill messages to see when they are older, it's even more of a worry as I have a 6 month old conceived naturally too so that's an extra worry how my first born will feel about having no info on the donor

[fool11]

Hi @SashaC10, you've mentioned that you have no sperm issues and that you are 43, were you told that the donor egg is the only option just because of your age or because of the blood tests, scans..health issues. Many clinics don't do the ivf with own eggs if you are over 42, chances are small and they don't have any experience, we were told as well at some clinics that the only options would be using DE, however there are clinics (in UK) which do the ivf for older women using own eggs (if no other health issues, decent AMH levels etc).

[SashaC10]

@fool11 there were no issues with my scan or my blood tests. In fact I was told my AMH was good for my age group (4.6) but the issue would be quality of the eggs and the chances were so minimal there wasnt any point trying. Can you recommend clinics in the UK that may be happy to try with my own eggs?

[fool11]

Yes quality of the eggs is the issue and chances are very small but it’s not impossible, you just don’t know how your body will react. We visited few clinics, some would only do the donor eggs as I was almost 45, we were deciding between ACU Guys London and Evewell London, went with the the Guys which was recommended to us and they have experience with older women. I had the ivf in October and currently 9w pregnant, still long way to go and many things can go wrong but I wanted to give it a go...good luck.

[Oldandsad]

@SashaC10 I've no success so far, but everyone is different and I have low ovarian reserve (high FSH, low AMH). I was accepted for treatment at CREATE Fertility, they have stats for 43-44 y.o. with own eggs.

[SashaC10]

@fool11 Congratulations. And thank you
Thats encouraging