asked questions about the European Donor Egg Programme
Q1. What is the timescale from starting to complete a donor egg cycle?
A1. The timetable is between 4 & 6 months from freezing of the males sperm depending on donor recruitment and other factors.
Q2. Are there donors available and what information is made available to us?
A2. There are donors available on whom non-identifying information is provided. This will include whether the donor is of proven fertility, hair colour, eye colour, blood group and a brief characteristics summary of physical attributes .
Q3. Is there independent verification of the samples during this treatment?
A3. As with any fertility treatment involving sperm and eggs there are established clinical and laboratory systems for verification. These principles of good laboratory practice apply both in Ireland and Europe.
Q4. What are the overall clinical pregnancy rates?
A4. The success rates of the European Donor Egg Programme in 2007 was 50% Live Birth Rate per transfer and over half of our patients have embryos frozen which provides additional chances for achieving pregnancy.
Q5. Can you tell us about the development of the new European program?
A5. Couples in Western Europe are generally older when they have children. This increases the need for egg donation (i.e. there are more recipients) and reduces the number of suitable donors. This also applies in Ireland/UK and, as a consequence, the number of recipients far exceeds the number of donors. The converse applies in Eastern Europe and this explains why we have developed this facility for our patients.
Q6. Are the European egg donors paid?
A6. Donors are compensated for expenses incurred and for their time and inconvenience as well as the risks of the procedure of donating.
Q7. Then why do they donate?
A7. For similar reasons to Irish and other European women donate, i.e. altruism plays a significant part. This is particularly so for donors who have children of their own and therefore know the pleasure that children and family bring.
Q8. What led you to choose the clinic you are working with in Europe?
A8. We chose a modern leading IVF facility similar to our own with whom we could work well, who had an existing donor program, and who had suitable egg donors available.
Q9. Can you tell us about the donors who have been recruited for the European program?
A09. They are generally in their twenties and are of proven fertility. They are screened according to internationally recognised standards (EU Cell and Tissue Directive)
Q10. Can we see photographs of the donors?
A10. Photographs of the donors are not rountinely available as this could prejudice donor anonymity.
Q11. Can you tell me about infectious screening of the donors?
A11. The donors are screened for HIV, Hepatitis A, B & C, Clamydia,Gonorrhoea and Syphilis – just like you are.They are also screened for Cystic Fibrosis and Karyotyping.
Q12. How will this program compare to the existing programs in Europe?
A12. There are a number of specific benefits to this program. Firstly there less travel involved which will help to reduce the stress (and expense) of treatment. Secondly, the donors are of proven fertility (often not the case in other programs). Thirdly, unlike many European programs which split the eggs from one donor between two or more recipients, this is one-to-one donation where all the embryos are for the treatment of the commissioning recipient couple. Thirdly, we have incorporated Blastocyst culture and transfer should further improve the results. Finally, the cost covers a further embryo transfer in the event your first transfer is negative and there are surplus embryos frozen so we anticipate that the net cost per live birth will equal if not exceed those of other programmes.
Q13. If this treatment does take place in Ireland, there will presumably not be a fresh embryo transfer. Will this not reduce the chances of success?
A13. No, the first transfer is of fresh blastocysts following thawing of the fertilised eggs with any surviving surplus blastocysts frozen for future use.
Q14. If I am interested in considering this program what should I do?
A14. Contact Sims Clinic and you will be referred to Kathy, our Donor Programme
Co-ordinator.