What are frozen egg donor cycles?
A frozen donor egg cycle is an IVF cycle using donor eggs that have already been retrieved, frozen and stored. Instead of waiting for an egg donor to complete a new treatment cycle, you select from donors whose eggs are currently available. Frozen donor eggs are typically reserved in a batch containing a specified number of mature eggs. The eggs are sent to your fertility clinic, thawed and fertilized with sperm from an intended parent or sperm donor. The resulting embryos are monitored as they develop. An embryo can then be transferred to the intended mother or a gestational carrier.
For many intended parents, the biggest advantages are a faster start and a more predictable initial commitment. The main tradeoff is receiving a smaller number of eggs than may be available through a fresh donor cycle.
Who may need donor eggs?
Donor eggs may be recommended when someone cannot conceive using their own eggs or has a low likelihood of success with them. This may be related to age, diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, a genetic condition or previous IVF cycles that did not produce viable embryos.
Donor eggs also allow male couples and single men to create embryos for transfer to a gestational carrier. The reasons for needing donor eggs are generally the same whether the eggs are fresh or frozen. The choice between the two is usually based on timing, cost, the number of eggs desired and plans for future children.
Who may prefer a frozen egg donor cycle?
Frozen donor eggs may be a good fit if you want to begin treatment without waiting for a donor’s stimulation and retrieval cycle. They may also appeal to intended parents who want to know how many eggs they are purchasing and prefer a lower initial cost than is typically associated with a fresh donor cycle.
You may prefer frozen eggs if:
- You want to begin treatment sooner.
- You only want or need one batch of eggs.
- You prefer a more predictable initial cost.
- You want to choose from eggs that are already available.
- You need the eggs shipped to a fertility clinic in another location.
If you hope to have more than one child using the same donor, you may need to reserve multiple batches before treatment begins.
What are the advantages of frozen eggs?
The donor has already completed the medical screening, ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval process. This removes the need to coordinate your treatment with her schedule and eliminates the possibility that her upcoming retrieval will be delayed or canceled. You also know the number of mature eggs included in your batch before moving forward. This can make the initial financial commitment easier to understand. Frozen eggs can be transported to fertility clinics throughout the United States, allowing you to work with your preferred IVF physician and laboratory.
Modern freezing methods have made frozen donor eggs a well-established option. Research has found no significant difference in pregnancy rates per embryo transfer between fresh and frozen donor eggs. However, individual results still depend on several factors, including the number of eggs thawed, egg survival, fertilization, embryo development and the IVF laboratory.
What are the disadvantages of frozen eggs?
The most important limitation is the number of eggs. A frozen batch usually contains fewer eggs than an intended parent may receive from an entire fresh donor retrieval. Because not every egg will survive thawing, fertilize normally or develop into a viable embryo, a smaller batch may result in fewer embryos.
This can be especially important if you want more than one child. Additional eggs from the same donor may not be available later, and purchasing multiple batches can reduce or eliminate the initial cost advantage of choosing frozen eggs. Neither a frozen batch nor a fresh retrieval can guarantee a specific number of embryos, a pregnancy or a baby. Before purchasing eggs, ask your fertility clinic about its experience with frozen donor eggs and how many eggs it recommends based on your family-building goals.
Frozen or fresh donor eggs: Which should you choose?
Frozen donor eggs may be the better choice if speed, flexibility and a lower initial commitment are your priorities. A fresh donor cycle may be more appropriate if you want the eggs from an entire retrieval and hope to create multiple embryos for future children. There is no single right choice for every family. The best option depends on how soon you want to begin, how many children you hope to have, your budget and how many eggs your fertility specialist recommends.
Texas Egg Donor offers both fresh and frozen donor egg options. Our team can explain the differences, help you review available donors and coordinate the next steps with your fertility clinic.