Programs & Services - Donor Egg Program

Egg Recipients

Process & Procedure

Once you have selected a donor, you will meet with the donor egg nurse to review your treatment calendar. The treatment calendar contains the information for your cycle. All required appointments and office visits, as well as necessary medications to be taken, will be listed on your calendar. Some medications used are only available in the injectable form. Injection teaching will be made available to you and your partner so that the medications may be safely administered at home. Your cycle needs to be synchronized (timed together) with your donor. This may take up to six weeks. This process is achieved through the use of various medications.

Medication protocols are individualized to each patient's specific needs and decided upon by your physician. Medications are used in order to prepare your uterus to receive embryos. Blood tests and vaginal ultrasounds are used to determine uterine receptivity. When the uterine lining is sufficiently prepared:

  • Your donor will begin stimulation with medication to produce multiple follicles (fluid filled sacs that contain eggs).
  • Egg maturity is estimated based on hormone results and follicle size. This is evaluated by blood tests and transvaginal ultrasounds performed on the donor.
  • When the donor's eggs are thought to be mature, the donor takes the medication HCG, which readies the eggs for ovulation.
  • Eggs are retrieved before ovulation occurs. Egg retrieval is performed about 36 hours after HCG is administered.
  • The egg retrieval takes place at our Melville office at 8 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 101.
  • If possible, your partner will need to provide a fresh semen sample on the day of the donor's retrieval to inseminate the eggs.
  • You will be notified regarding fertilization, the day after the retrieval, by one of our nurses.
  • You will also need to come to our Melville office for your embryo transfer.
  • Embryos are transferred transvaginally with a thin catheter introduced into the uterus through the cervix utilizing ultrasound guidance.
  • It may be necessary to take certain medications to make the uterine lining more receptive to an embryo attempting to implant and nourish a growing pregnancy.
  • Approximately 12-14 days after your transfer, you will be scheduled for a blood pregnancy test to determine if you are pregnant. Should your blood tests indicate you are pregnant, you would continue medications, and schedule an ultrasound with your physician.