Egg donor clinic recommendations/ success stories?

[TheGlitterFairy]

Hi, after an unsuccessful 4th round of IVF - cancelled over the weekend due to my low ovarian reserve/ poor response, DH and I are looking to move to DE.

I’ve been scouring the boards looking for info on the best places to go, and know that anonymous donor vs non anonymous is probably the starting point for the discussion but I’d be grateful if anyone could share their story and/ or if anyone would be able to recommend the clinic they used?

I’ve seen lots written about IVI Spain/ Alicante and clinics in Cyprus too - and have been looking at egg donation friends. Equally, my clinic in London offer this too so lots of info but great to hear from others.

Thanks in advance!

Oops posted too soon! We’ve got our counselling appointment scheduled for a couple of weeks time at G & St T, following our NHS consultation, so will try to get their thoughts on it then too!

Hi yes the outcome doubled in success rate if we went to Cyprus and the anonymous side of things I got my head around fairly quickly- and when I spoke to friends they were very supportive. When time is restricted like mine is we just went with the success rate to increase our positive outcome chance . I had an option of donor too followed my gut instinct in choosing but asked for some likeness which they found so fingers crossed for less than two weeks xx

I don't know what % of clinics have their own donors, Foxy but the Care clinics definitely do and there are quite a few of them. I wonder if you'll see the same counsellor at G&St T as us!

Cocorocky I understand. It's making me tempted to just sod it and go abroad! In reality it's not so easy because of my job as well as preference for Donor ID but throwing everything at it and keeping an eye on the end result seems sensible. How did you choose Cyprus? There seem to be so many good clinics in Greece/ Spain, Czech... It's overwhelming. Are you having any other procedures before or just going straight into IVF?

No had an ectopic last April which really was the wake up call list four very early since and only went for the MOT so I knew if we could naturally conceive without loosing them- never had any intention of IVFor donor eggs. Going straight to IVF and ICSI is standard treatment in Cyprus.
The way I have processed it is that little egg is nothing without me doing the growing, it’s an empty glass for me to hopefully fill. I can’t ever share who the kind donor is but what I can share is the love that pushes you to do these things and that’s from all of us. I can share where they were from and the bits I know and I hope if we’re successful knowing how wanted will be enough

Hello everyone, I have not posted in a while. I am still trying to navigate and find the right place for Donor egg - who won't rip me off but will have good chance. Still inclined to stay in England, but it is sooo much more expensive than elsewhere when you factor in agency costs etc. Looking at Manchester fertility -- Anyone had success there with fresh or frozen. Their prices seem to be all inclusive - which is reassuring as there can be so many add ons elsewhere. Like the idea of frozen for reassurance that the eggs are already collected and no worry about whether they will get enough as well as they are ready quickly and less waiting but of course concerned that they have lower success. Anyone gone to Spain / Czech for frozen or fresh. What are your experiences?

I haven't RTFT or at least not all of it so apologies if it has moved on since page 1 but I thought brief details of my experience might be helpful. DH and I used the Institut Marques in Barcelona in combination with a consultant over here who monitored my lining etc and followed up on the pregnancies after they were positive. I had three DE transfers, one of which was sadly ectopic, and the other two were successful. We now have two children of 9 and nearly 2. One child looks like DH at the same age, and the other is often said to look very like me, so no worries about that side of things. While the downside of going abroad is the lack of information about donors, we have been talking about how she came to be with DD since she was about 3/4 and will aim to do so with DS too, so it doesn't come as a complete shock when they are old enough to really understand.

Good luck to all starting off on this journey.

CleopatrasMum, thank you for your input. Coincidentally after much thought we have now almost settled on institute marques as well, they have satellites near Dublin and will do the same treatment without travel (except to Dublin which is OK for me as I am Irish and travel regularly from the UK to Ireland). They freeze the sperm sample, send it to Barcelona and fertilise the donor eggs there and then freeze at day 5 blastocysts then send to Dublin for transfer. The rates seem to be good for frozen blastocysts. I have worries at length about using anonymous versus non-anonymous donor and which country is most ethical in its treatment of donors. I initially wanted to try in England but the costs are so much more and the donors mostly older. I have decided that I need to give myself the best chance with the youngest donors - treated in an ethical manner so I think we will chose Institue Marques via their clinic in Ireland. I will let you all know how we get in when we start planning. I have found the whole process of looking for the clinic for us so difficult but I hope we are finally there and can get going with things now. Good luck with the journey everyone.

Thought I would update I’m in Cyprus we got twelve eggs from our donor and after 24 hours 7 have fertilised so update tomorrow from the clinic on where we are up to the then implanted Wednesday they have been good given us lots of information sheets to take away.

Cocorocky1 that is fantastic news. 7 is a great number. Wishing you all the very best.

Update today three top quality three medium quality and 1 lost- feel a bit sad for the lost one. The cyclogest pessaries have given me my very own flotation system in the sea- crikey Dolly Parton has nothing on me. I’m nervous, excited but have everything crossed with a good chance of having Frosties

Cocorocky1, great news. Sounds very positive.

Hi Cocorocky1 - thanks for the live update! I'm trying to get my head round what you are saying about the flotation system... but maybe too tired after a bank holiday . This is all very exciting - it seems that with the overseesers that things move quite quickly whereas those of us who are thinking UK are doing a lot more hanging around. I hope you can keep letting us know how you are getting on. I'll be sending positive thoughts to those little embryos.

Thanks for sharing your situation CleopatrasMum- I really appreciate hearing from people who have been there and done it! And good luck to you IceRuben it must be such a relief to have made a decision and be moving forward at last. It is a coincidence that you are looking into the same clinic as CleopatrasMum.

We went to the DCN conference last Sunday and it was absolutely packed. Really well organised and a comfort really to see and hear from people who were in similar situations to us and having the same emotions. Also there were so many people who have been members for years. It didn't seem like such a new thing at all. I'm wondering whether to bite the bullet now and register with Altrui- have you done that yet Glitter? I think it is mostly the money before we are matched that is making me nervous!

Sorry IdeRuben- typo!!

Hi - sorry for not posting in a while - work has been busy busy. Hello to everyone new also - thanks so much for taking the time to write with your stories.
Cleopatra great to hear that you have 2 children now - thanks for sharing!

Coco amazing to hear of your journey and that you had 3 embryos last week going strong - I'm hoping they made it to day 5 and you're getting ready for a FET.

totalnamechanger - great to hear that you went to the DCN conference and found it useful. I've read a lot online but not attending a meeting. To answer your question re Altrui - yes! We have finally registered, sent our cash (!) and had a call with Alison yesterday in fact, so they are now on the hunt for a donor for us! Very exciting and a bit scary in equal measures at the moment!

I know what you mean in terms of paying up front and I guess it's a bit of a gamble but this whole process seems to be very much a gamble anyway! They reckon it'll take about 4-6 months to find someone so I think that nothing will be happening until the end of the year/ beginning of next perhaps. But I guess we'll see!

Hope you're doing well - did you decide to take the plunge?!

Hi Glitter
My three made it so last Wednesday I had one in and two frosties so my test day is the 20th and 22nd. Really pleased with the service and even got a text from Cyprus telling me they all had their fingers crossed which is lovely. I feel sick tired and have heartburn but I’m still trying to be grounded that it could be the drugs. So we carry on waiting hope everyone is good xx

Cocorocky1, that is great news, fingers crossed for you.

IdeRuben Hope you hear good news soon re dates etc once the wheels are in motion time passes so quick 😃

Thanks Cocorocky1 - we have just gotten our first appointment - 3rd June. So all going ahead now too. Thanks. I hope you can stand the wait for the next week. It is nerve wracking waiting. It is brilliant you got some frosties. After 4 IVF's I never had any - going the full round each time over. It is brilliant relief to know you have back up. Take care.

Thanks Cocorocky1 - we have just gotten our first appointment - 3rd June. So all going ahead now too. Thanks. I hope you can stand the wait for the next week. It is nerve wracking waiting. It is brilliant you got some frosties. After 4 IVF's I never had any - going the full round each time over. It is brilliant relief to know you have back up. Take care.

Thanks Cocorocky1 - we have just gotten our first appointment - 3rd June. So all going ahead now too. Thanks. I hope you can stand the wait for the next week. It is nerve wracking waiting. It is brilliant you got some frosties. After 4 IVF's I never had any - going the full round each time over. It is brilliant relief to know you have back up. Take care.

Thanks Cocorocky1 - we have just gotten our first appointment - 3rd June. So all going ahead now too. Thanks. I hope you can stand the wait for the next week. It is nerve wracking waiting. It is brilliant you got some frosties. After 4 IVF's I never had any - going the full round each time over. It is brilliant relief to know you have back up. Take care.

Thanks Cocorocky1 - we have just gotten our first appointment - 3rd June. So all going ahead now too. Thanks. I hope you can stand the wait for the next week. It is nerve wracking waiting. It is brilliant you got some frosties. After 4 IVF's I never had any - going the full round each time over. It is brilliant relief to know you have back up. Take care.

Thanks Cocorocky1 - we have just gotten our first appointment - 3rd June. So all going ahead now too. Thanks. I hope you can stand the wait for the next week. It is nerve wracking waiting. It is brilliant you got some frosties. After 4 IVF's I never had any - going the full round each time over. It is brilliant relief to know you have back up. Take care.

Thanks Cocorocky1 - we have just gotten our first appointment - 3rd June. So all going ahead now too. Thanks. I hope you can stand the wait for the next week. It is nerve wracking waiting. It is brilliant you got some frosties. After 4 IVF's I never had any - going the full round each time over. It is brilliant relief to know you have back up. Take care.

Thanks Cocorocky1 - we have just gotten our first appointment - 3rd June. So all going ahead now too. Thanks. I hope you can stand the wait for the next week. It is nerve wracking waiting. It is brilliant you got some frosties. After 4 IVF's I never had any - going the full round each time over. It is brilliant relief to know you have back up. Take care.