We just did DE with SG (after 2 failed IVF's with them). We did not use their fresh donor pool. Instead we used their Frozen Egg Bank (they have a relationship with Donor Egg Bank USA). We wanted a specific ethnic group that SG does not have a lot of, so frozen eggs from across the country expand the donor base. And they do show adult and child pictures.

FYI- if you choose to use the frozen egg bank and shared risk, you pay the 2:1 rate (which at this time is about $40,000 + your meds which was not very much, maybe $300)

We had a great experience with them and Donor Egg Bank USA. We used the same doctor that did our IVFs, but a different nurse and we had 2 other SG people on our team-- financial coordinator and donor egg coordinator. Plus, since we used frozen eggs, we had a contact a DEB USA.
All of them were great to work with.

Using frozen eggs was AWESOME! I highly recommend it. I just told my nurse when I wanted to transfer and she worked up the calendar--so much easier on my work schedule!

We got 6 eggs, 6 thawed, 6 fertilized, 1 was transferred and 2 frozen embryos. On our first try we got a BFP and I'm 15 weeks now.

I was a success, but a friend at SG had failure. She couldn't afford Shared Risk, so she paid for one cycle. Which in the end has cost her almost as much since you have to pay something like $18,000 plus the donors medication plus your own medication AND each FET is a separate cost. She did 1 fresh cycle and 2 FET, all BFN.

The problem in her case, seems to be that the donor is known successful donor who produces lots of eggs, but so far no one has gotten pregnant with those embryos. So if you are not doing Shared Risk, make sure you choose a Known Successful Donor (so you know they produce enough eggs) and ask your RE to check their pregnancy or live birth rate (only they can see that info).

We worked with SG for the 1:3 egg program. We absolutely loved the clinic, very professional and helpful. We loved our nurse, Karen and Dr. Stillman. This was our first attempt and our currently 12 weeks pregnant for every negative review, there are positives one. Wishing everyone success!!

Just want to chime in here. We just worked with SG

20% cancellation for the third recipient, not the third donor, in previous post.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it's the 3-1 share that lowers their statistics so much.

Unfortunately price matters, and with their shared risk and shared help, there aren't many clinics that can beat the price.

How would that lower their stats? From what I understand the "best" donors are often in the 1:3 pool.

Well, there's a 20% cancellation rate for the third donor. That has to lower the live-birth-per-initiated-cycle rate. There are also just less embryos from which to choose when you divide eggs three ways.

Strangely enough, their success rates seem to be almost the same (some small decreases the more couples that share a donor), on their website, for the 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3.

I'm not a statitician, so I'm just pontificating.

I wonder what makes other clinics so much more successful. SG is at the national average, but it's supposed to be so "stellar" I'd think it could have beat the average by at least a little bit.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it's the 3-1 share that lowers their statistics so much.

Unfortunately price matters, and with their shared risk and shared help, there aren't many clinics that can beat the price.

How would that lower their stats? From what I understand the "best" donors are often in the 1:3 pool.

I wonder if it's the 3-1 share that lowers their statistics so much.

Unfortunately price matters, and with their shared risk and shared help, there aren't many clinics that can beat the price.

SG used to have better rates but the last few years they have gone down and down. This may be due to their limited donor pool. Maybe donors are registering elsewhere in the area? We had two different donors at DE - the first only produced 2 good embryos, the second produced none! We are looking elsewhere now.

Bad results, plus the fact they do not give personalized treatment but treat everyone the same regardless of any issues and the poor standard of the nursing care means I would not recommend them. I think they are living on a past reputation.

I agree with PP. I'm seeing some clinics with success rates in the high 70s and 80s so it makes me very hesitate to go with SG. Also, other places monitor things like progesterone levels (insist on shots and not suppositories) and other small things that lead me to believe it ends up making a difference.

Anonymous wrote:18:11: the important monitoring is on the donor, not the recipient. If your out of town donor will travel here, the late stage monitoring is done by your clinic. Or you can travel an IVF center local to the donor to do the transfer and probably save some money.

When we looked at stats on donor egg transfers, the various clinics seemed to have similar success rates. I guess getting a big crop of eggs from a young donor is not that tough, and the success rate for implantations with young eggs are always pretty good.

Although there are many clinics that have success rates for DE in the 50s, there are also some that are MUCH higher, like 70-85%. It is a LOT of money to spend, and you should really do your research.

18:11: the important monitoring is on the donor, not the recipient. If your out of town donor will travel here, the late stage monitoring is done by your clinic. Or you can travel an IVF center local to the donor to do the transfer and probably save some money.

When we looked at stats on donor egg transfers, the various clinics seemed to have similar success rates. I guess getting a big crop of eggs from a young donor is not that tough, and the success rate for implantations with young eggs are always pretty good.

I've found SG success rates much lower that others. Does this concern folks using them? Others are reporting live birth rates of 75 - 85%.

Not sure what the cost is, but so far I like Prospective families donor pool. It is and agency in Boston. I think depending whether the donor is willing to travel, she can come to your clinic(you will be responsible for the cost) or she will be monitored at a local clinic and you will travel there for transfer.

ippichic here, this is my first post. We're just getting signed up to start DE at Shady Grove. We did 2 IVF's at VCRM and had 2 BFP's but I MC'd the first at 8 weeks and the second was chemical. UHC dropped VCRM from my insurance so I had to change to SG, but I think that's a good thing since VCRM probably wouldn't have a big donor base anyway.

We're not impressed with the small selection in the SG donor base either though, but until I read this thread I didn't realize you could use an outside agency. How does that work, exactly? Do you contact the agency and they contact the donor, then they send the donor to the DC area to cycle? How do you know how much it will cost?

Thanks much,
ippichic