IVF Michigan, P.C. matches potential egg (oocyte) donors to recipient couples who are otherwise infertile due to certain medical conditions. These women have the capability of carrying a pregnancy but because of conditions such as premature menopause, genetic disorders, or failure to produce adequate numbers of normal eggs, have not been able to conceive.
The identity of the egg donor and the recipient couple are not known to each other. All information given to each participant is on an anonymous basis.
Potential egg donors will be included on a waiting list. Some donors may be asked to participate immediately, while others may not be asked to participate for months or years. It is dependent upon matching an egg donor with an infertile woman in our program. If at any time you decide not to participate in our program, please let us know so we may remove your name from our file.
Egg donors are consenting, healthy women between the ages of 22 and 32 who ovulate normally. Women approved for being an egg donor in our program have completed an application for review, have a normal health history, are psychologically screened, and have no family history of genetic disorders. They have a normal physical examination and laboratory screening for sexually transmitted diseases; this is done at our office.
The recruitment of our egg donors is run under the direction of Michael Fakih, M.D. The nursing staff works closely with Dr. Fakih, a team psychologist, and the coordinator to match the donor and the recipient.
A nurse will conduct a telephone interview. A questionnaire and description of the program are sent to the potential egg donor. (Or download the DONOR APPLICATION here.)
The questionnaire covers the medical, social, and family history of the applicant. When the form is returned to us the coordinator reviews the form. If the applicant meets the qualifications to be a potential donor an interview with the program coordinator is arranged.
The interview will include confirmation and clarification of the information from the telephone interview and questionnaire. Other aspects of egg donation and the exact procedures involved will also be discussed. A contract between the donor and IVF Michigan, P.C. is given to the donor. The egg donor signs this contract after she reviews and agrees to its contents. You may consult an attorney about your contract.
A physical exam and laboratory evaluation will be performed by this office to include:
HIV
Hepatitis
RPR syphilis
Blood type and Rh factor
HIV for partner
Chlamydia and gonorrhea culture at the time of Pap smear and exam
Other tests may include indicated tests such as screening for Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, and Tay-Sach traits. You will incur no charge for this screening.
The potential egg donor husband or significant other will also be screened for HIV and Hepatitis.
You will have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Fakih or an IVF Michigan, P.C. physician. You will be required to have a psychological evaluation.
Since the medications you will be taking enhance fertility you must use a barrier method of contraception (condoms and foam) during the egg donation cycle and the month after that cycle. Birth control pills cannot be taken during the time of stimulation. Of course, abstinence is the only sure way to prevent pregnancy.
Once the donor is screened and matched to her recipient(s), we do shared cycles at our program, IVF Michigan P.C. will initiate the egg donation process based on the menstrual cycle. Because the success rate is improved when more than one egg is obtained per cycle, hormones are used to stimulate the growth of more than one follicle (containing an egg). By using the injectable medications, Lupron and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), multiple follicles, and therefore, multiple eggs develop.
Vaginal ultrasounds and hormone testing (blood serum) will monitor follicular development. You will need to be available to come to our clinic 4-5 times during the stimulation cycle, in the morning, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. The monitoring begins at the time of menses and continues to about mid cycle.
Once it is determined that the eggs are mature and ready for retrieval, while you are under anesthesia the eggs are collected by inserting a thin (ultrasound guided) catheter through the top of the vagina into the ovarian follicles. All mature follicles will be aspirated. The retrieval takes approximately 20 minutes. This procedure is done at our surgical facility by an IVF Michigan, P.C. physician. You will remain at our clinic for one-hour post procedure. You must have someone drive you home. Risks of hyper stimulation will be discussed with you.
For your time and participation in our program you will be reimbursed a fee of $3,000.00; this will be paid at the time of your retrieval.
The identity of the donor and recipients, as so deemed, as well as all other information obtained in the screening process will be kept strictly confidential. The identity of the donor will not be made known to the recipient, nor will the recipient be identified to the egg donor.