5 Essential Facts You Should Know About Frozen Donor Eggs
Infertility is no simple battle. It’s a complicated experience that can weigh on an individual’s mental, physical, and psychological health.
One of the most difficult aspects of needing fertility treatment is figuring out which path is right for you and your family and accepting it. After all, most people don’t decide to become a parent hoping they’ll need to use methods like frozen donor eggs.
Despite this, egg donation can be a valuable option for many hopeful parents. Whether you’re struggling with unexplained infertility or have been diagnosed with nonviable eggs, this innovative assisted reproductive technology (ART) has the potential to bring your fertility journey to a close.
If you’re wondering whether frozen donor eggs are right for you, there are five essential things you need to know.
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1. Frozen Eggs are More Cost-Effective When Compared to Fresh Eggs
While many donor egg recipients are under the impression fresh eggs are the best option, this isn’t necessarily true. In fact, advancements in the donor egg process show the success rates between fresh and frozen cycles are almost equal.
One of the significant benefits of choosing frozen donor eggs over fresh is their cost.
Assisted reproductive technology solutions are costly, and most families can’t afford to spend large amounts of money on various treatments without the confidence they will have a baby. When using frozen eggs, you don’t have to worry about additional costs, such as travel and lodging fees for your donor. You also won’t have to compensate them for time off work. And thankfully, donor eggs are highly successful in helping you achieve a baby.
Some hopeful parents also turn to adoption when their own eggs don’t work for conception. Frozen donor eggs are also significantly less expensive than this option.
2. They’re Protected by Flash-Freezing Technology
One major concern about using frozen donor eggs is whether their quality decreases during freezing and storage.
In the past, this was true. Donor egg specialists used a slow-freeze method which would deteriorate the egg’s overall health and cause ice crystals to develop. Now, scientists use an innovative flash-freezing technology known as vitrification.
During vitrification, the eggs are not only flash-frozen, but they’re also exposed to cryoprotectants which prevent ice crystal formation.
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3. All Donors are Thoroughly Screened
Are you concerned about where your donor eggs will be coming from? When you work with a reputable frozen donor egg bank, you can put your worries aside.
Before being accepted as a donor, applicants undergo a rigorous screening process which includes various tests and examinations, such as:
Blood work
General health examinations
Drug tests
Psychological consultations
Background checks
Family history review
Education and career interviews
Infectious disease checks
Genetic screening
4. The Frozen Donor Egg Process is Simple
While a fresh donor egg cycle can become quite complicated, the frozen cycle's physical steps are alternatively simple.
When using fresh eggs, both the donor’s and the recipient’s cycles must be perfectly in-sync. Something as seemingly insignificant as a missed doctor’s appointment or medicine dose can throw the entire cycle off. This is one reason why fresh donor egg cycles are more at risk for cancellation.
Using frozen eggs is far less challenging.
The eggs will have already been screened, collected, and frozen. All the conception process will involve is the recipient undergoing general health screenings and taking medications, such as progesterone and estrogen, to prepare her body for an embryo transfer.
5. Parents Who Use Donor Eggs Can Still Have a Biological Connection
Being concerned about the lack of a genetic connection to your child is something donor egg recipients often face. While it’s true you might not share DNA with your child; this doesn’t mean a biological connection won’t exist.
After all, your body will be doing the important work of carrying and delivering your child.
Beyond just the physical process of being pregnant, more can occur in utero than you may think thanks to molecules known as MicroRNAs.
MicroRNAs are released into a person’s womb throughout pregnancy and can affect the genetic expression of their child’s genes. In layman’s terms, this means taking actions like making healthy lifestyle choices while pregnant can positively enhance your little one’s genes.
6. Frozen Donor Eggs: Are They the Right Choice for You?
From IUI to surrogacy, the number of ART options available can be overwhelming. It’s hard to determine which one is right for you and your family. If you’re looking for a beneficial option which has proven extremely successful among couples and individuals struggling with infertility, frozen donor eggs could be the right choice for you.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.