Can someone give the timeline and approximate cost for using donor eggs?

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

We're considering moving to donor eggs after a number of failed FETs. Could you let me know your timeline and protocol--e.g. is it like choosing sperm in that you can choose from an online catalogue and get it shipped quickly, or does it take months?

From the time you chose your egg donor to the time of FET, how many weeks passed? I'd love to see something like:

Week 1--chose donor
Week 2 and 3 created and tested embryos
Week 4 and 5--waited for period
Week 6--Lupron, etc. etc. etc.

Anyway, I'd love to understand how long it takes from choosing the donor to the FET, typically.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It very much depends on whether you are using fresh or frozen eggs. Frozen eggs are faster in that they already exist so you just have to decide on a donor and prepare for transfer, whereas fresh obviously still have to be retrieved. Beyond that, with fresh eggs, it depends on if you want to do a fresh or frozen transfer - fresh embyros require syncing your cycle with your donor's and means that the embryo you use can't be tested and could potentially take the longest because of the cycle syncing. I know this isn't the timeline you asked for, but if you can answer these decisions I think it would help.

[Anonymous]

NP Also depends on if you change clinics to use eggs. We switched to SGF to use frozen eggs and since I was new to their system (from GW) they made me go through some procedures and testing GW had not so that took time. We used frozen because I didn't want to go through the hassle and uncertainty of a live donor. It was a total cakewalk compared to IVF and seemed quick and easy once we selected the egg batch.

[Anonymous]

PP--I'm wondering why you switched from GW to SGF.

We did IUIs at Columbia Fertility, but switched to GW for IVF, mostly because I couldn't deal with the inept billing department at Columbia--they were infuriating. GW has been fine. It's hard to know if they're doing the best medically, since I have no comparison. But they're nice, and the whole system works for me (i.e. early monitoring in foggy bottom, etc). That said, if there's a reason to switch for egg donation, I would (if we go in that direction).

How many weeks was it from the time you started the process at SG until your FET? We'd use frozen to save time and hassle.

[Anonymous]

We did the shared risk frozen egg at Shady Grove, $39,000 without PGS. The rate-limiting step was choosing the donor. The rest was very quick. They shipped the eggs within a couple of weeks and we went to transfer in a couple of months.

[Anonymous]

i posted on your other threat -- we did shared risk 3:1 at SG. not frozen egg. i can't remember the cost, but around $35,000 -- not quite as much as FE.

for the first donor, it took a while because i wanted someone who looked very similar to me. and when that didn't pan out, i wanted my main priority was someone young and proven. although, i did want her to look somewhat similar to me -- petite, blue eyes. we were the first family to choose our donor, but after we chose her, the other 2 families came on quickly. (she was 22 and a proven donor.) it happened pretty quickly after that. I'd say within 2 months we did the transfer. (and i have to say, i wasn't optimistic, we transferred 2 morula. i was so pessimistic that it wasn't going to work...but it did!)

best of luck to you!

[Anonymous]

We needed not to share a donor and use fresh eggs b/c of MFI. We also used an agency and the donor we selected wanted to do her retrieval in California (she had done her prior cycles there and was comfortable there), so we switched to an RE there. The donor had timing restrictions, so we did have to wait about 6 months until transfer, but normally the agency wants the cycle to be complete (at least egg retrieval) within 3 months of selecting the donor. We also did PGS testing, so that added time.

The RE was $17K (which included a second shot if the first didn't work), PGS was about $8K (we had to pay extra b/c we ended up with a lot to test), my meds were in the 100s. Agency fee was $10K, which included the lawyer fees. We were required to talk to a counselor, which was just a 1 hr consult, so probably $150 or so. You also pay for donor meds and insurance. Donor meds were the typical costs for IVF and I don't remember the insurance cost. Then we had the donor fee and her travel (with a companion) and our travel. I don't remember those exactly, but in the $10Ks. Total was definitely over $50K spread over about 6 months since our timing was stretched out.

I initially picked a donor with frozen eggs, but REs told us that b/c of MF, we needed fresh and shouldn't share. I only looked at proven donors (and ones with exceptional results - using an agency was helpful to get more detailed info on prior cycles), who tend to have a bit higher of a donor fee. It was also more important to me to pick a donor that was a good fit overall than to be local, hence the travel. In hindsight, we probably could have used frozen or done a share, but it wasn't recommended and spending more to get as close to a sure thing seemed smarter than spending a lot and then failing and either not being able to do another round or spending a ton more on another round.

Picking the donor took me months, and b/c of our criteria we had a pretty narrow pool. We did find someone who was a perfect fit, though.

[Anonymous]

My sister did at GIVF and picked donor from their ‘catalog ‘ and was successfully pregnant on first and only try. All happened in 3 months. I think this was just a perfect set of timing working out well but it matched what they said was their usual protocol. She had switched into the practice so timing may have slightly shortened up because they accepted some of her previous medical ‘all clears’

[Anonymous]

Prices mainly depend on clinics and countries. Here is a good article

[Anonymous]

if fresh - 2-3 months. Frozen are faster, but they are also not as good as fresh.

[Anonymous]

We did frozen donor eggs via RBA in Atlanta and had a smooth long-distance experience with them.
I first reached out to them in October, had a phone consult with doc mid-month. November was spent on all the required paperwork, deposit (which got me full access to egg database) and did whatever remaining screening tests were required. We had interest in two donors that didn't pan out before securing our egg donor on Dec 4. Started the cycle meds. Husband flew to Atlanta to do sperm and then I followed 4 days later for transfer during the last week of January (had an 8 egg lot -- ultimately only 2 fertilized). Picture perfect embryo didn't take. Gut wrenching. Skipped a cycle and then started meds for 2nd transfer in March, flew down for 2nd transfer in early April and (as in the words of my doc) my "crappy-looking embryo" was transferred. You just honestly never know what will work out and why. Transfer took and I had a very uneventful pregnancy and gave birth that December. My daughter is somehow a near spitting-image of me, even my mother comments at times how crazy it is. I can't imagine anyone else being my daughter - not even a genetically related child - and it's truly amazing how it really does work out for the best in the end. The days can be long during the process and the yearning great. It is the most humbling experience I have had undergone, in the best way possible. I have learned a whole new meaning for the word "gratitude."
I wish you well and peace on your journey.