Egg donation is the first choice for any of the following situations:

• After surgical removal of both ovaries.
• After chemotherapy or radiation of the pelvic area.
• After the treatment of malignant diseases.
• After premature ovarian failure.
• In cases of genetic disease.
• If there are repeated pathological embryos under  IVF/ICSI  treatment.
• After repeated  IVF/ICSI  failure.
• When there are repeated negative pregnancy tests after the transfer of good embryos.

Approximately 1% of all women have POF before they are 40yrs old.  POF may result from 1. decreased number of follicles, 2. early degradation of the follicles caused by resistance to the stimulation preparation (gonadotrophin),3.disease of the egg cell and/or the surrounding cells. In most cases POF is idiopathic (cause unknown) or genetic.

A functioning uterus is necessary for egg donation.

The lining of the uterus is prepared with oestrogen and gestagen, either orally or with intramuscular or subcutaneous injections, to imitate the normal mucosal structure. It is fairly easy to achieve a pregnancy with egg donation, assuming that the woman  is ideally under 30 yrs, has a normal uterus, and  has healthy egg cells.

At the moment, egg donation is not legal in Austria, Germany, Italy or Switzerland, but in Czech Republic it is allowed.
 

Egg Donation - Safety aspects in Pilsen (CZ)

There are basically 2 possibilities to achieve a pregnancy with egg donation:

1.) Follicle stimulation and oocyte pickup of the egg donor and IVF/ICSI with the sperm of the partner of the receiving patient – all of this is synchronized with the receiving patient, meaning that fresh egg cells are being used, since the procress of deep-freezing could have a negative effect on the quality of the embryos. 

Therefore, choosing the right donor is very important:  

• Chromosome analysis
• Genetic testing for Mucoviscidosis
• Genetic questioning (Anamnesis) up to the second degree of relationship 
• Infection clarification (including Anti-HIV-1,2, HBsAg, Anti-HBc, Anti-HCV-Ab Cytomegaly, Lues)
  
  Only donors at the age of 20 to 30 with a normal Body-Mass-Index, hormone test results without pathological findings, inconspicious body features and a height of approx. 160 cm to 175 cm can be taken into consideration.

Carelessness and unprotected intercourse are endangering the donors health and increases the risk of infectious diseases. This is brought to the donor's attention.

Therefore it is necessary to get to know the donors personally in order to get informed about their reliability and inform them about these risks as well. It is also important, that the donor grew up in healthy surroundings, that she either studies or has a regular job. 

Generally, we are trying to recruit donors, who are non-smokers. The egg cell receiver also has a right to ask for a HIV-test of the donor 6 month after transfer.

2.) In order to be in the clear about the transmission of Aids (HIV) etc., you can have the embryos fertilized and deep-frozen right afterwards. Six months after deep-freezing the embryos, the HIV-test will be done (as it is done to the sperm of the donors).  If the test is negative, the embryos can be transferred.

Disadvantage: The deep-freezing reduces the quality of the embryos and the amount of embryos maturing to blastocysts, which also reduces the pregnancy rates with deep-frozen and thawed-up embryos worldwide about 20%.  

Nevertheless, we are offering this technique to couples, who would rather be on the safe side and take the risk of a reduced chance of pregnancy. We achieve pregnancy rates of about 35% to 40% with deep-frozen egg cells and embryos cultivated to the blastocyst stage, considering a transfer of 2 embryos. 

The pregnancy rate with fresh embryos in the blastocyst stage is about 60% after a transfer of 2 embryos, and 42% after a transfer of one embryo. 

Details about advantages and disadvantages of our methods and information about the transfer of one or two embryos can be given in a personal consultation.

 

Individual Consultation

In some cases, a specific analysis of the factors, that are causing fertility problems, is necessary. In this case, patients from the East of Austria can consult Dr. Thomas Fiedler (Specialist for Gynecology) in Linz, Upper Austria.