Prerequisites for Donor Egg IVF

There are very few prerequisites before your treatment can start.

• Recipient mother's age

  Pregnancy complications increase significantly with age and could compromise the mother’s and baby’s health. You must be 48 and 11 months or younger at the time your treatment begins. If you are between the ages of 44 and 48, we will need a letter from your OB/GYN, internist, or your family physician stating that it is medically safe for you to become pregnant.

• Select your egg donor

  The egg donor can be a relative, a friend, or you may wish to find an egg donor through an egg donor agency. Egg donor agencies have a number of pre-selected egg donors for you to choose from.

  Most Donor Egg IVF treatments are anonymous, as it is not medically necessary to meet the egg donor. The donor you select will become a patient at Bay IVF.

  If your egg donor lives outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, please see Out of Area Patients for additional important information.

• Pathogen testing

  This testing is required by the State of California and FDA. You, your partner, and the egg donor must be tested for several pathogens.

  Recipient partners: Hepatitis B-Surface Antigen, Hepatitis C-Antibody, HIV I&II, HTLV I&II, RPR, and possibly Cytomegalovirus (CMV) if your egg donor is known to be positive for CMV.

  If you have had any of these tests done within the last 12 months, they do not need to be repeated.

  Egg donor: Hepatitis B-Surface Antigen, Hepatitis B-Core Antibody IgG, Hepatitis B-Core Antibody IgM, Hepatitis C-Antibody, HIV I&II, HTLV I&II, RPR, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea. The blood for these tests will be drawn at our Center.

• Ovarian Reserve Assay (egg donor)

  ORA assesses the likelihood that normal quality eggs can be produced. It consists of the measurement of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), estradiol (estrogen, E2), and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) blood levels.

  FSH, estrogen, and AMH levels reflect the quality of eggs, and are used to optimize your donor's ovarian stimulation.

• Uterine measurement and saline ultrasound

  Knowing the uterine length is necessary for accurate embryo placement; the saline ultrasound is used to rule out intrauterine polyps and fibroids.

• Semen evaluation

  The male partner will have a semen evaluation at Bay IVF to determine the best laboratory method for future semen preparation.

• Genetic testing

  All potential egg donors are genetically screened for over 100 genetic diseases.

  The male partner should consider genetic screening. Please let us know at the time of your initial appointment at Bay IVF if you wish to have your blood sample sent for genetic screening.

• Psychological counseling (required for donors)

  Egg donors that are referred by an egg donor agency will have a psychological evaluation in their medical records. If the donor is not referred by an egg donor agency, she will need to have a psychological evaluation. If applicable, her partner may also attend the session.

  If the egg donor is related to the recipient mother, she and the recipient couple will need to have a psychological consultation.

• IVF diet and lifestyle

  Environmental factors have a significant impact on reproductive health. Please review IVF Diet and Lifestyle page and Reproductive Health Check-off Form for a complete list of environmental reproductive health requirements and a source for dietary supplements.