Qualifications for Admission
Recipient and Husband
- The recipient and donor will remain anonymous unless a known donor is involved.
- The recipient’s general and psychological health should be normal.
- The recipient should have a normal uterus or a uterine abnormality which can be treated and corrected.
- The recipient’s husband should have a semen analysis adequate for assisted reproduction procedures.
- Informed consent to participate in the program will be obtained from the recipient and her husband.
Application for Admission to the Program
To be considered for admission to this program, the recipient is requested to send the following materials to the attention of the Donor Oocyte Nurse Coordinator:
- The downloadable questionnaire is completed in its entirety.
- Pertinent information from her gynecologist:
- X-rays and films of the uterus and tubes (hysterosalpingogram)
- Operative notes of any past surgical procedures, including laparoscopies
- Results of endometrial biopsies
- Gynecologist’s final diagnosis of the condition requiring oocyte donation
- A photograph of the husband and wife
- Infectious disease testing of husband’s sperm before storage of backup sperm sample for cryopreservation. (Required by FDA)
- Bring all information to your initial visit
Initial Visit
You and your husband will be asked to come to Cary for a preliminary consultation. You should plan to spend a minimum of five (5) hours in our office for this initial visit. The following activities will occur at this visit:
- The husband will produce a semen specimen. You must abstain from ejaculation for 3 – 5 days before collection of the specimen. This sample will be cryopreserved as a backup sample if the husband cannot give a fresh sample on the day of egg retrieval.
- You will meet with the nurse coordinator for an education session.
- You will be seen by one of the NCCRM physicians for a history and physical. If further laboratory evaluation is required, it will be scheduled later. A saline ultrasound and sounding of the uterus will be performed.
- A psychological evaluation will be done.
- You will discuss your plan of care with one of the NCCRM physicians.
- Finally, you will meet with a financial coordinator to discuss policies.
Ovarian Function
If the recipient woman has ovarian function, her ovaries will be medically inactivated. If she does not have ovarian function, this treatment is not required. The woman will receive natural female hormone injections to prepare her uterus for embryo placement. Our program consists of fresh and frozen cycles available for our patients.
Insemination
The recipient and her husband should arrive in Cary the day before retrieval so fresh semen can fertilize the donor oocytes. It is essential that the husband’s sperm be available 4 -5 hours before the time required for insemination or about 2 hours after retrieval. The husband will be instructed on how to collect the semen sample properly. Since collection can sometimes be difficult under stress or the husband cannot be present during retrieval, a backup sample will be cryopreserved before retrieval.
Maturation and Fertilization of the Oocytes
The oocytes are inseminated with the recipient’s husband’s sperm. The embryos obtained are cultured for approximately five days before being transferred into the recipient’s uterus.
Transfer of Fertilized Oocytes into the Recipient
The transfer is accomplished using a small catheter. The procedure, which is usually simple and painless, is performed without anesthesia under ultrasound guidance. Therefore, you will be asked to come to the transfer with a full bladder. The recipient lies on her back in the operating room adjacent to the embryology laboratory where the embryo has been prepared. The recipient remains in bed in the center for 30 minutes, then returns to her lodging and remains in bed for 24 hours. Following the transfer, implantation may occur, and a pregnancy may ensue. However, as in natural reproduction, many fertilized oocytes do not survive.
Post-Transfer Care for the Recipient
One or two days after the transfer, the recipient may return home. She will continue hormonal support. Injections may be administered by the recipient’s husband or another qualified person and should be continued at least until the pregnancy test is done in two weeks. If the test is positive, hormonal support will continue for ten weeks. Women who achieve pregnancy will be referred back to their obstetrician/gynecologist.
The NCCRM Program is a Team Effort
The program’s patients will be cared for by a team of specially trained gynecologists and nurses, supported by a laboratory team that specializes in endocrinology, andrology, and embryology. This team approach coordinates clinical practice with assisted reproductive technologies to provide leading-edge care in all facets of fertility.
Costs
Since the donor is compensated for her participation in the program, you will be required to cover the donor’s costs, and the cost of her treatment preparatory to egg aspiration. NCCRM operates strictly on a cash basis and regrets that credit cannot be extended. Payment by check, cashier’s check, or Mastercard/Visa credit card is acceptable. The recipient will be asked to arrange payment with our financial counselor on her first visit. Details of the program costs are available from the financial office of NCCRM.
Additional Information
Medical matters should be discussed with the attending physicians. The program is under the direction and supervision of Sameh Toma, MD, Medical Director of NCCRM. The Donor Oocyte Nurse Coordinator will answer any questions regarding the program (1-800-933-7202). Consent forms will be provided to the donor and the recipient during the screening process. These will help to clarify the procedure.
Summary and Checklist
The use of anonymously donated sperm to initiate pregnancy has been common practice in the United States for many years. More recently, the advent of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer has allowed the development of programs for the use of donated oocytes (eggs). The North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine (NCCRM) uses anonymous and known donors. The evaluation and treatment process is identical for both.
To Learn More:
Call 1-800-933-7202 or
