5 important questions about 'adoption'.
Oocyte adoption is known and offered all over the world. Every year, the number of in vitro fertilisations with donor cells is increasing. The method is gaining acceptance even among those who were previously sceptical about it. What information is worth checking before making a final decision? We suggest!
In vitro with donor egg cells gives women who do not have their own egg cells a chance of motherhood. The reason for this can be premature menopause, too low ovarian reserve, past operations and illnesses, including cancer, or genetic burdens. The method is also used when previous attempts at IVF from one's own egg cells have failed.
The decision to join an oocyte adoption programme is never an easy one. Therefore, the more you find out before you make your decision, the more confident you will be in proceeding.
What should you ask? Here are 5 factors that determine the safety and success of treatment.
- How are donors selected?
By asking this question, you will find out whether donors are fertile and healthy. Women donating ova should be between the ages of 21 and 35 and have a fertility confirmation test. Ideally, they should already have a child. The clinic must check the blood type and Rh to ensure compatibility between donor and recipient. The donor must be tested for various diseases, including viral, venereal and genetic diseases. This ensures the safety of you and your baby.
One of the easiest ways to assess a clinic's 'adoption' programme is to compare its donor recruitment policies with the guidelines of ESHRE - the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology - and ASRM (the American Society for Reproductive Medicine). The guidelines help to protect both donors and the women who wish to use their egg cells.
- What tests do I need to undergo?
Women who want to get pregnant undergo a series of routine tests. These include:
- cytology
- TSH level
- blood group and rhesus
- tests to exclude genetic and venereal diseases.
Your doctor may recommend additional tests.
- What support from the clinic can I count on?
The decision to receive an egg from another woman is not an easy one. That is why you and your partner can seek advice from a psychologist to help you make the decision. During the meeting, you can discuss its impact on your future life. Even if the donation is anonymous, you may have a lot of questions about accepting an egg from another woman.
- Does the clinic have and keep full donor medical records?
The medical records of the donor woman, which were collected during the qualification for the donation programme, should be permanently stored in the clinic. It contains information on the health status of the donor woman at the time of oocyte donation.
- Will I know who the donor is?
Currently, donation of reproductive cells in Poland is anonymous. This means that neither the recipient nor her child will ever know the donor. However, as information about the donor is very important for parents-to-be, who want their child to be similar in appearance to them, clinics such as Invimed go out of their way to meet them without violating the principle of anonymity. Therefore, ask whether you will be able to base your choice of donor not only on her blood group, but also on the similarity of her phenotype, i.e. anatomical, morphological and physiological characteristics, to your own.
Remember that you have the right to ask. By answering your questions, you will be able to enter the oocyte adoption programme without much stress.