When someone discovers they’re struggling to conceive and suffering from infertility, planning the next step in their treatment, which can often involve the use of frozen donor eggs, can feel like an impossible challenge.
It’s easy to become lost in a world of acronyms like IUI, IVF, or ICSI, and have no idea which option is the best one for your unique situation. While some may discuss solutions like adoption or surrogacy, the concept of using a frozen egg donor can feel more obtuse.
Thankfully, respected egg banks like Donor Egg Bank USA are here to help you understand the benefits of frozen donor eggs and determine if it’s the right treatment for you.
What is Frozen Egg Donation?
From nonviable eggs to unexplained infertility, there are many reasons why someone might need to consider using frozen donor eggs —but what is it?
Frozen egg donation is when someone donates their eggs for prospective parents’ future use. When a person or couple is looking to start a frozen donor egg cycle, they can sign up with an egg bank to look through their database of possible donors and choose someone who fits their needs.
Once selected, their eggs will be shipped to their fertility clinic for thawing, fertilization, and implantation.
Can Anyone Be a Frozen Egg Donor?
Not exactly.
While most esteemed donor egg banks pride themselves on hosting an inclusive collection of donors, this doesn’t mean ‘just anyone’ can sign up to donate their eggs.
Before a potential donor is accepted into an egg donation program, they must pass an arduous screening process, which includes various tests like:
- Drug screenings
- STD testing
- General health examinations
- Genetic testing
- Psychological evaluations
- Gynecological evaluations
- Family medical history evaluations
- COVID-19 screening
Who’s a Good Candidate for Frozen Donor Eggs?
While anyone struggling to get pregnant might benefit from frozen donor eggs, common factors often seen in people choosing donor eggs as a treatment option include:
- Unexplained infertility
- History of genetic diseases
- Low ovarian reserves
- Premature ovarian failure
- Being over the age of 40
- Recurrent miscarriages
- Women with fertility-related conditions, such as PCOS or endometriosis
- Blocked fallopian tubes
What are the Benefits of Frozen Egg Donation?
When someone is hoping to have a child, the inability to do so can be devastating. Thankfully, many assistive reproductive technologies (ART) exist to help these individuals become the parents they dream of being.
Unfortunately, certain circumstances can prevent someone from getting pregnant using their eggs. In cases like these, adoption and surrogacy are often considered as options for future family building.
There’s nothing wrong with choosing to adopt or use a surrogate—both solutions are admirable. However, what they lack is the chance for you to carry your child.
With a frozen donor egg cycle, you’ll not only have the child you’ve been longing for, but you’ll also be able to experience pregnancy, labor, and delivery. After all, many people don’t spend their lives dreaming solely of having a baby. They hope for the days when they’ll watch their belly grow and feel gentle kicks from the inside.
If you decide to use an egg donor, you won’t need to forego these experiences to have your child.
Frozen donor eggs can also be a quicker, more successful and affordable treatment option than adoption and surrogacy.
Are Frozen Donor Eggs Right for You?
When you grow up expecting getting pregnant will be easy, it’s disheartening to learn your body can’t do what you’ve always assumed it could do.
Rather than be consumed by the grief this realization can cause, stay focused on the opportunities which still exist. Whether you choose frozen donor eggs, surrogacy, or adoption, it’s comforting to know there are other ways to build your family.
Determining whether egg donation is the right option for you is a personal choice.
Final Thoughts on Considering Frozen Donor Eggs
If you relish the thought of experiencing pregnancy and everything it entails – despite issues like low ovarian reserves and blocked fallopian tubes – choosing an egg donor might be your ideal fertility solution.
While frozen donor eggs may not be the storybook fairy tale you previously pictured, all that matters is receiving the happily ever after you’ve been hoping for.