Some couples, in order to conceive, need donor eggs. To confirm that, your fertility specialist will first order a panel of tests. An alternative to donor eggs would cryopreservation a.k.a. egg freezing earlier in your life.
WHO MIGHT NEED DONOR EGGS?
The main category of patients who might benefit from donor eggs are the so-called “low responders”. Those are women, who do not respond well to ovarian hyperstimulation due to their age or premature ovarian failure, or women who have not frozen their own eggs.
WHO CAN BE AN EGG DONOR?
In Bulgaria, according to Ordinance 28 on Assisted Reproduction, egg donation „can be from anonymous donors or from related donors (sister, cousin)“ In both cases, the donor must meet strictly defined criteria: age, to have at least 1 live-born child, and to have negative test results for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis.
WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE TO FREEZE MY OWN EGGS?
There are a few situations where your doctor might recommend egg freezing. For example, if you’ve been diagnosed with premature ovarian failure or you have family history for premature menopause. Also, cancer patients can greatly benefit from egg freezing, as life-saving chemo- or radiotherapy can impact ovarian reserve and fertility.
CAN I FREEZE MY EGGS WITHOUT MEDICAL INDICATIONS?
There is also the so-called egg freezing for social reasons, which is becoming increasingly popular. It is suitable for women who would like to postpone motherhood for later in life due to career development, studying, lack of a suitable partner, etc. We know that as you get older, not only does the quantity but also the quality of eggs decreases, which affects fertility, as well as the success rate of assisted reproduction. When you choose cryopreservation, the eggs remain at the age at which they were frozen, which gives women great freedom to choose the best moment to become mothers.
EGG QUALITY- HOW CAN I HAVE THAT ASSESSED? (newlifeclinic.bg)
Egg freezing – Ин витро клиника, акушерство и гинекология България (newlifeclinic.bg)
Asked questions about New Life’s donor egg program (newlifeclinic.bg)