The Carolinas Medical Center Program for Assisted Reproduction offers a comprehensive egg donation program. Egg donation may help a woman who is not able to have a successful pregnancy using her own eggs. Sometimes a couple chooses to use donor eggs if the woman has a genetic disease that could be passed on to a child. When the process is successful, egg donation gives a couple the opportunity to experience pregnancy and childbirth.

Some couples prefer an "anonymous" donor to be chosen by our coordinator. Detailed information about the donor's physical characteristics and family medical history are provided, but the identity of the donor is confidential. Our patients are always able to pass on a donor if they feel that the donor does not meet their needs. Some couples prefer to use a friend or family member as a "known" donor.

A few months before starting egg donation, we perform screening tests such as hydrosonography to make sure that the uterine cavity is normal, and a special semen analysis. We conduct a practice cycle, to make sure that the right amount of estrogen and progesterone are prescribed for the "real" egg donation procedure. This treatment is followed again for the egg donation cycle, with slight modifications if needed.

Egg donation carries a certain degree of risk and inconvenience to the donor. Therefore, our anonymous donors receive monetary compensation for their participation. All anonymous and known egg donors undergo medical and genetic screening including a comprehensive medical and family history, physical examination, psychological screening, and screening for sexually transmitted diseases.

Egg donation is done as part of an IVF procedure. The egg donor must receive a series of injections with fertility medications to help her produce a group of eggs, then undergo egg retrieval. During this time, the recipient receives hormone medications to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. After the retrieval, the donor's eggs are placed with sperm from the infertile woman's partner. After fertilization, one or more embryos are transferred to the recipient's uterus. The embryo inherits genetic characteristics from the husband and from the egg donor, and the recipient woman carries the pregnancy.

Egg donation is more expensive than IVF, since donor selection, screening, and treatment add additional costs. However, the relatively high live birth rate for egg donation, between 40 percent to 45 percent nationally, provides many couples with their best chance for success. Overall, donor eggs are used in nearly 10 percent of all ART cycles.

Considering the use of donor egg or donor sperm is a complicated issue that has lifelong implications. Talking with a trained counselor who understands donor issues can be very helpful in the decision making process. Our doctors and nurses can recommend mental health professionals that work well with our patients.

The Carolinas Medical Center Program for Assisted Reproduction meets and follows the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's guidelines. We are active members of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART), and we report our results to the SART Registry and the CDC.

SURROGACY/GESTATIONAL CARRIER
A pregnancy may be carried by the egg donor (surrogate) or by another woman (gestational carrier). If the embryo is to be carried by the surrogate, pregnancy may be achieved through insemination alone or through ART. If the embryo is to be carried by a gestational carrier, the eggs are removed from the infertile woman, fertilized with her partner's sperm using IVF and one or more embryos are placed into the gestational carrier's uterus. All parties benefit from psychological and legal counseling before pursuing surrogacy or a gestational carrier.