FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR TREATMENT WITH DONATED EGGS
Why do young women decide to donate oocytes?
Egg donation, blood and plasma donation are few of the many ways how to help. During a personal interview, potential donors are asked about their motivation to donate and the most frequent responses include:
- I want to help.
- Someone close wants to get pregnant and has trouble conceiving.
- Now that I help, it’s likely that when I need help, someone else will be willing to help.
How are donors chosen?
Our requirements for potential donors, in addition to all negative tests (blood tests to exclude infectious diseases – HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, genetic tests – karyotype and cystic fibrosis carrier, SMA, blood group for blood grouping and Rh factor, hormonal examination, gynecological examination) include:
Female age – between 18 and 35 years of age, BMI – up to 25, at least completed secondary education, in the past absolutely no drug use, no permanent medication, no personal and family history of any psychiatric disorders and no known hereditary diseases.
Is donation anonymous?
Egg donation in Slovakia is mutually anonymous.
How does ReproMedica assign a donor?
Our clinic has a large database of donors and therefore we can meet the wishes of our patients almost 100%. The more information we get from you, the more precisely our team can match the right donor.
Does ReproMedica have donors of a different ethnicity?
ReproMedica Clinic also has young women in the oocyte donor database – potential donors (Slovak citizenship) who are different ethnic groups.
When exactly is a donor selected?
A suitable donor is selected six weeks prior to retrieval of the eggs.
When do I get more information about my donor?
Information about the donor (such as age and blood group) is available two to three weeks prior to egg collection.
What is the maximum age of the recipient?
There is no recipient age limit in Slovakia, it always depends on the specific case.
Who is legally the parent of a child born after treatment with donated sperm or oocytes?
According to the law, IVF treatment in Slovac Republic is only possible for heterosexual couples. The woman and man who signed informed consent to treatment are, by law, mother and father of the child/children with all parental rights and responsibilities.
What examinations will I undergo before treatment?
For women over 40, we recommend mammography, oncological examination of the cervix uterus, and the recommendation of the gynecologist that it is possible to become pregnant. Furthermore, we require you and your partner’s STD tests (tests for sexually transmitted diseases) which are not older than 6 months, hormonal profile, cultivation, blood group. We also require your partner’s spermiogram test results.
Which day is considered as the first day of my period when there is spotting at the beginning?
Spotting is not the start of menstruation. The first day of menstruation is the first day of standard menstrual bleeding. If the menstruation starts after 8 p.m., the following day is considered as the first day of period.
How many days of partner ́s sexual abstinence are best for sperm quality?
Three days of sexual abstinence are recommended to assure sufficient volume of ejaculate. There is no need for long-term sexual abstinence because it can have a negative effect on sperm morphology.
Is there a way to increase sperm quality prior to collection?
Sperm quality is a result of all affiliated conditions and effects within the last three months prior to collection. Therefore there is no need for any special regime in a short time prior to collection.
When exactly is embryotransfer done?
Embryo transfer is scheduled by the physician in cooperation with the embryologist and the patient. The transfer is on the 5th day following egg collection. You will be informed by your coordinator about the exact date and time of embryo transfer.
How many embryos will be transferred?
Usually one, maximum of two embryos. We do recommend freezing any surplus good quality embryos.
What should be the quality of embryos day by day?
Embryo ́s quality can be assessed from the second day of their development. The two-day embryo should have 3-4 cells. The three-day embryo 6-8 cells. By the fourth day of development, the embryo becomes a morula and the lowest success rate is observed(through Embryoscope), for that reason the transfer is performed on the fifth day of development when the embryo becomes a blastocyst.
What should I bring with me for embryo transfer?
There is nothing special you need to bring for embryo transfer. Make sure you have all signed consents with your treatment with you, also, if you wish to freeze embryos, bring signed consent for embryos ́ cryopreservation.
Do I need to have a full bladder before embryo transfer?
It is not necessary to have an extremely filled bladder. However, we don’t recommend emptying the bladder immediately before embryo transfer. A medium-filled bladder helps to straighten the uterus and this makes it easier to transfer embryos into the uterus.
How long the transfer takes itself?
The uncomplicated transfer takes 2-3 minutes. After embryo transfer, you should remain lying on the transfer surgery for about 10-15 minutes. Then you can go home.
Can my partner be with me at the transfer?
The presence of a partner during the embryo transfer is allowed.
Do I have to stay in bed after an embryo transfer?
After embryo transfer, there is no requirement to stay in bed. We recommend a regular daily routine but with reducing stressful factors such as physically demanding sports or heavy manual work. It is not necessary to stay on sick leave.
When can I travel home after the embryo transfer?
There is no restriction for traveling after embryo transfer. Usually, patients travel home on the day of embryo transfer or the day after using all possible ways of transport.
When is the embryo actually implanting in the womb?
The embryo is “nesting“(NIDA) into the endometrium usually 6-8 days after fertilization, so in the next 24-48 hours after embryo transfer.
I have started spotting, is it normal?
Within 10 days after embryo transfer, “spotting” may occur. It could be caused by minor injury to the cervix during transfer and also by “nesting“ of the embryo. The “spotting“ has no effect on the result. Heavy or prolonged bleeding, consult with your physician.
Do I still have to take all the medicines?
Continue to take any medication that you were taking before embryo transfer.
When should I take a pregnancy test?
14 days after the transfer, it is important to do a HCG test (blood test)
I have a positive pregnancy test!
Continue to take all medication, which you used before embryo transfer and make an appointment for ultrasound check 14 days after the positive test
I have begun “spotting” what do I do?
Do not stop using any medication. In case of complications, your doctor needs to consult your condition.
When should I go for an ultrasound examination?
Ultrasound examination is to be performed 14 days after embryo transfer.
How do I continue taking medications?
Take all medicines unchanged (unless your doctor has instructed otherwise before transfer) until the first ultrasound scan, which is done 14 days after the positive pregnancy test.
Who should I contact for further instructions?
To discuss your unsuccessful treatment, contact our doctor or coordinator after 10 to 14 days to make another appointment, and consider another therapeutic strategy.
Shall I continue taking medications?
If all pregnancy tests are repeatedly negative, all medications can be discontinued at once. The only exception is the use of prednisone at a dose of 10 mg (2tbl) per day. To find out how to discontinue this medication consult the doctor who prescribed it.
When can I start next treatment?
If there are frozen embryos available from previous cycles you can plan a frozen embryo transfer in the following cycle. If you need a new treatment, please consult it with your doctor.
