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If you are thinking about becoming an egg donor, you may have some frequently asked questions in order to decide if this is the right decision for you.

In vitro fertilization can be intimidating if you do not know what to expect. An overview of the process will help you to understand and look forward to this exciting experience.

In this article you will find a discussion of who is a good candidate for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. The best candidate for the treatment are the most likely to experience success.

Artificial insemination is an infertility treatment that first came in to common use in the middle of the 1970's. Since that time, the technology and methods of artificial insemination have improved greatly, and it is still a very popular method for combating infertility. The first methods of artificial insemination used were intracervical insemination, or ICI. In an intracervical insemination, the sperm is placed into a woman's cervix in an attempt to achieve fertilization. Artificial insemination methods have advanced however, and doctors can now use intrauterine insemination, which places the sperm in the woman's uterus. This method is often viewed as being more effective in fertilization than intracervical insemination, because the sperm is placed closer to the eggs, which increases the chance of fertilization. The sperm that is used in an artificial insemination procedure can come from the intended father, or a sperm donor. Sperm that is used in an artificial insemination is cleaned to increase the chances of the fertilization occurring, whether it is from the intended father or the donor. Of the various infertility treatments available, artificial insemination is one of the easiest, and often more affordable than other fertility methods such as IVF. Artificial insemination is virtually painless, and the procedure takes very little time. The woman may be given some type of medication prior to the insemination to stimulate her ovaries and help her to produce more eggs, which will further increase the chance of fertilization occurring. Intrauterine insemination is more expensive than an intracervical insemination procedure, but it has been shown to produce higher results. On the other hand, intrauterine insemination is much cheaper than other methods of infertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization, so it is often much more affordable for those that are paying for their infertility treatments out of their own pocket. Artificial insemination can be an excellent infertility treatment for those couples that suffer from male infertility, female infertility, or both. It has proven to be effective for many years, and has helped countless people to be able to have the child they desire. If you are a couple, or a single person wanting to conceive a child, artificial insemination may be the right option for you.

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a popular fertility treatment for those having trouble conceiving on their own. If you are interested in learning more about this procedure, read these frequently asked questions and contact your doctor to schedule an appointment to learn more.

Can in vitro fertilization treat my infertility?

If other fertility treatments, such as fertility drugs and artificial insemination, were unsuccessful, in vitro fertilization may be right for you. A number of issues can cause infertility, such as endometriosis, ovulation problems, blocked fallopian tubes, or a low sperm count. If you have been diagnosed with any of these conditions, you are likely an ideal candidate for in vitro fertilization.

Do I have to be a certain age for in vitro fertilization?

While there is no specific age limit on in vitro fertilization, the success rates are higher for women under the age of 35 than for older women. As technology advances, the success rates are starting to increase for the various age groups, so now older women have an adequate chance of getting pregnant as well.

Is IVF normally a successful treatment for infertility?

It's hard to measure an exact success rate from IVF since each individual case is different. Your success rate is generally determined by the woman's age, cause of infertility and the experience of the fertility specialist performing the procedure. In studies compiled by the CDC on assisted-reproduction technology (ART), over 30 percent of women achieved successful pregnancies.

Will my insurance cover in vitro fertilization?

Most insurance companies do not cover in vitro fertilization, but every policy is unique. Check your health insurance policy to see if your plan covers infertility and IVF or contact your insurance provider for details.

How quickly will I learn if I am pregnant?

After the embryos have been implanted, you should be able to confirm your pregnancy in approximately two weeks through blood tests or a home pregnancy kit.

If you are a couple who is struggling with infertility or you are a woman who wants to become an egg donor you probably have questions that need answering. The following are the most frequently asked questions regarding egg donation, along with the answers. This information should help you decide if the process is right for you.

What are the Legal Considerations Surrounding Egg Donation?

Egg donors are required in most cases to sign a consent form and/or a legal contract. It is important to read these consent forms and contract carefully so that you understand your legal rights and or obligations. If you are considering using an egg donor it is important have adequate legal representation to make sure all of your parental rights and wishes are consider when developing a contract.

What Happens to Donated Eggs?

The purpose of donating an egg is for it to be used in the formation of an embryo. However, it may be discarded or unused for a number of reasons including egg quality, sperm quality, or because it is not needed.

What are the Risks of Egg Donation?

When it comes to egg donation there are risks that are specific to the egg donor and there are risks that are specific to the recipient:

Egg Donor Risks

If you are considering donating eggs you need to know about donor complications like bleeding, and negative response to ovulation stimulating hormones. There may also be some long-term side effects to being an egg donor including early on-set menopause and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Egg Donation Recipient Risks

Along with the normal risks of IVF, recipients of a donor egg have other risks they should know about. For instance, egg donation recipients are at risk of contracting any transmittable diseases the egg donor may have. Testing done prior to donation can never be 100 percent accurate or accountable for diseases that have been contracted in very recent months.

Fertility drugs are a common treatment for infertility caused by ovulation disorders. There are several different types of fertility drugs, and they basically work by stimulating the release of the hormones that cause ovulation. Prior to prescribing fertility drugs, your doctor must pinpoint your exact hormonal/fertility issue; this is because the use of hormones is so prevalent with fertility drug therapy.

Clomid

The first fertility drug we will talk about is an oral medication called Clomid, or Serophene, which has been used for over 25 years. Clomid is often a doctor's first choice because it has been used for so long, and it has proven effective time and time again. This particular drug is an anti-estrogen drug that works by stimulating the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to release hormones that induce ovulation. Clomid is often used in conjunction with other assisted reproductive therapies such as in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination. An estimated 60% to 80% of women who take Clomid will ovulate, and about half will become pregnant, within three cycles. If you fail to ovulate or become pregnant with the Clomid therapy alone, your doctor will place you on injectable hormone therapy in conjunction with the Clomid.

What to Expect

A fertility specialist will train your partner on how to give injections so that your partner can deliver your medication for you. Injectable fertility drugs are hormone based and designed to work with, or against your specific hormonal problem. These hormones, like the Clomid, have a high rate of success, and with the mixture of the two fertility drugs you should find yourself pregnant soon! Once on fertility drugs, your fertility specialist will most likely perform several tests to monitor your hormone levels, and estimate an ovulation date. Don't forget many doctors and fertility specialists suggest the use of fertility drugs in conjunction with fertility procedures. This is because many of these procedures are extremely expensive and fertility drugs greatly increase the chances of conception, or implantation, which ever the case may be. Ultimately the choice of whether or not to take fertility drugs is yours. Just remember the doctor has your best interest at heart, and will perform many tests to ensure you receive the correct drug, or hormone necessary to conceive.

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, has come such a long way since the first successful in vitro baby was born just 30 short years ago. When IVF first became a reality, the procedure was very different. There were no fertility drugs given, instead women were monitored closely to figure out when they were going to ovulate. When the doctors thought ovulation was about to occur they would perform surgery to collect the eggs. Nowadays, the procedure is practically non-invasive and can be performed in the doctor's office.

How does IVF work?

There are several steps to the process of in vitro fertilization. The first is the administration of hormones to get your eggs ready to be harvested. It is at this time that the doctor will perform a "test run" to ensure that he or she can transplant the embryo without harming your cervix or uterus. After all the hormones have been administered, and the eggs are ready to be harvested, the doctor will get you set up for the egg retrieval procedure. During this procedure you will be given a light anesthetic, to ensure you feel no discomfort. After the doctor is sure you are comfortable, he or she will insert a needle through the top of the vagina. This needle is guided via ultrasound to the ovary, where he or she will aspirate the egg. The whole procedure takes about 30 minutes, and then about an hour and a half rest time in the recovery room. A fresh semen sample should be provided on the day of the egg retrieval. This is because the eggs will be inseminated a few hours after extraction. After the egg retrieval and prior to the embryo transfer, you will be given a series of injections and pills to ensure your uterus is ready for implantation of the embryo. The actual transfer of the embryo is said to feel exactly like a routine pelvic exam. During this part of the procedure a small plastic catheter is inserted through the cervix, and into the uterus. At this time a drop of fluid is inserted through the catheter. Inside this fluid are the tiny embryos. Embryo transfer takes place about three days after the retrieval of the eggs. Now, all that is left is to wait 17 days and take the pregnancy test, then at two weeks you will have an ultrasound to see how many little embryos implanted. To learn more about IVF, contact our at our Lubbock fertility center today.