Donor Egg

[journey2motherhood]

Hello everyone - I'm looking for anyone out there who has exhausted their ability to use their own eggs and have now decided to go on to donor eggs.  I'm considering it after the last two years of unsuccessfully trying to become pregnant.  I've had 4 IUI"s and 3 retrievals - only 1 of them made it to implantation but no BFP's.  I'm just trying to figure out if its time for me to move on.  I'm 44 years old, my husband is 38.  
Any opinions, advice would be really appreciated!

[angell777]

Hi I am 47 and considering doing donor egg cycle this fall.. I tried getting pregnant naturaaly for 5 years and no doctor would try to use my eggs.. I am excited and nervous about it.. I just didn't find a donor yet still looking, do you know of any good donor agencies?

[mhv]

I was just checking in to see how you are doing, and to see where you are in the process.  I was thinking about you and just wanted to drop you a quick note : )

[journey2motherhood]

Great, I will check it out.

[mysty2001]

No, I have only used donor embryos.  I am anti- IVF I think creating more embryos than you can use is just not right!  ANd if you use a young donor - what are you going to do if there are 31 good embryos?  So, my philosophy is use donor embryos to help with some of these embryos that have already been created and are begging for parents.  You will still carry the baby and feel it kick and give birth.  Your name will be on the birth certificate!  It is truly a wonderful feeling!

[usuk]

only real thing in my way is the $$$. you are free from so many age risk factors. yes we can all maybe get preg and then it's 5 mos. worrying and waiting to see if there is an abnormality. my chances would go from 10% to 75%. and i could have more than one. trust me if i win the lottery for as little as $5,0000 i am doing it.

you can also share a donor and reduce the costs. which is pretty good if you do not plan on a big family and most likely not a whole lot of embryos will be left over to freeze, maybe just enough for a second or third chance in case of a MC that was not due to egg quality.

[mhv]

nope shady grove has an awesome program for outta state people... 2 visits!  : )  check them out!

[journey2motherhood]

Really? Interesting, I didn't even know that.  Ok its the Attain program? I guess you have to be in that area for the Shady Grove one?  

[mhv]

Another thing to consider... there are 2 really really good refund programs for donor egg use.  one is the attain program available in every state... 100% refundable excluding meds. and the other is Shady Grove in MA/VA.  They have a 3-1 donor program that is 100% refundable including meds!  Just something to think about.. to maybe make your decision easier

[mhv]

I can honestly tell you, that as soon as they called me and told me that I had 19 embryos... they became mine.  I only have 7 left... but each and every one of those 7 I think of as MY child... I don't even think about that they didn't come from me!  It was amazing how much I fell in love with them and they often I pray that 1 day, 1 or 2 of them will be my child to hold : )

[journey2motherhood]

Thank you.  I have to say the more I listen to these experiences that have been so positive the easier the decision is becoming.  What a wonderful friend you have, you're very lucky.  
I was told yesterday the longer I struggle with this child not being mine biologically, the longer it will be that I'm childless.  I think I have come to realize that I will get to experience the pregnancy and birth, by that time I will long forget that the egg was not mine.  Thank you again, best of luck to you, please keep in touch.  

[mhv]

I went into IVF using donor eggs. I just wanted the best chance to have a happy, healthy baby, and being 41 at the time, I didn't think that would be with my eggs.  ( I have a long extensive story that you could probably figure out by my profile/posts/journals)... I think it is an amazing wonderful thing.  I had a selfless friend donate for me, to me the most amazing thing ever!  You get to carry the baby, feel it kick and move... and give birth!  I cannot imagine that being any different then me getting preggers on my own.  I think donor embryo's are a great idea too!  Whatever you decided, I pray you get your little one to hold soon!  

[journey2motherhood]

Thank you.  Have you used donor eggs and what has your experience been like if you have?  I appreciate your input as I am trying to decide now if I should move on with this.

[journey2motherhood]

Hi, yes, I'm sorry that wasn't very clear.  I did three retrievals, the first time, I had two follicles, on the second day, one was implanted but no pregnancy resulted from that.  The second embryo didn't make it.  The second retrieval I only had one embryo made it to day 7 but than did not make it to be frozen.  This last one didn't even fertilize.  I'm guessing right now it is my eggs.  I think its time for me to move on if I ever want to have a child, donor is probably the best bet for me at 44.  
I'm so sorry for your losses, this process can be very hard.  I hope your next IVF results in a BFP and a healthy pregnancy and baby!  Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.

[Kricket212]

We are going to do one more IVF & then will most likely do donor.  I am 38.
I have already done 3 IVF's & Had 2 m/c so I think it's my eggs.
When you say you did 3 retrievals, do you mean IVF?  

[mysty2001]

I highly recommend donor embryos
It is more cost effective
It saves babies and it prevents any more unwanted embryos from being created!
GOod Luck
Your local RE can probably do it, there is a national storage bank, and teh cooper center in New jersey has a geat stock