What will I go through next ?

Process and Procedure

At this point, all of your screening is complete and you are ready to begin reviewing donor abstracts, which are the anonymous donor applications. From an abstract, you will learn the following information about a potential donor:

  • General physical characteristics
  • Educational background
  • Likes and dislikes
  • Genetic history
  • Family medical history

While other clinics may choose a donor for you, at Long Island IVF you are personally involved in the selection process.

Once you have selected a donor, you will meet with the donor egg nurse to review a calendar. The calendar contains the information for your cycle. All required appointments and office visits, as well as medications to be taken, will be listed on your calendar. Some medications used are only available in the injectable form. Injection teaching is available for you and your partner so that the medications can be safely administered at home. Your cycle needs to be synchronized (timed together) with your donor. This may take up to six weeks. This process is achieved through the use of various medications. Medication protocols are individualized to each patient's specific needs and are decided upon by the physician.

Medications are used in order to prepare your body to receive fertilized eggs. Blood test and transvaginal ultrasounds are used to determine uterine receptivity.

When the uterine lining is sufficiently prepared...

  • Your donor will begin stimulation with medications to produce multiple follicles (fluid filled sacs that contain oocytes).
  • Egg maturity is estimated based on hormone results and follicle size. This is evaluated by sonograms performed on the donor.
  • When the donor's eggs are thought to be mature, the donor takes the medication HCG, which readies the egg for ovulation.
  • Eggs are retrieved before ovulation occurs. Egg retrieval is about 36 hours after HCG is administered.
  • Your partner will need to produce a fresh semen sample the same day the donor's eggs are retrieved to fertilize the eggs.
  • You will be notified regarding fertilization.
  • Embryos will be transferred into your uterus three days after egg retrieval.
  • Embryo transfer is done at the ambulatory surgery unit at John T Mather Memorial Hospital.
  • Embryos are transferred transvaginally with a thin catheter introduced into the uterus through the cervix under ultrasound guidance.
  • It is necessary for you to take certain medications to make the uterine lining more receptive to an embryo attempting to implant and nourish a growing pregnancy.