Differences between egg donation and embryo adoption

Although the two terms are similar, egg donation and embryo adoption are two completely different assisted reproduction treatments. Egg donation involves carrying out the fertilization process with a donor’s eggs and the partner’s sperm.

Embryo adoption, by contrast, is when the transfer is carried out using embryos that have been donated by other patients. These donated embryos come from patients who did not need to use them in their own treatment. This is because, in an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or egg donation cycle, several embryos are incubated simultaneously. Among those that reach the blastocyst stage, one is transferred to the patient and the remaining ones are vitrified for later use. In this case, if the patient achieves pregnancy and has more embryos but does not want to undergo further treatment, she can donate them.

Egg donation and embryo adoption: are they the same?

The main differences between egg donation and embryo adoption are that, while in the first case the egg has to be fertilized in the laboratory until a blastocyst is obtained and then transferred, in embryo adoption a previously frozen embryo is transferred. Thanks to egg donation treatment, women who cannot become pregnant with their own eggs can do so with donor eggs. Ovobank, in addition to having a large donor base, follows rigorous donor selection protocols in order to achieve high success rates.

Is egg donation the right treatment for me?

As our specialists advise, egg donation should be the treatment you turn to if you are a woman with:

• Insufficient ovarian reserve or egg quality.
• Early menopause.
• Repeated miscarriages due to poor oocyte quality.
• Previous unsuccessful treatments due to poor oocyte quality.
• Genetic diseases

How is the donor selected?

Ovobank carries out donor selection following a very rigorous protocol:

First, a donor is sought who is compatible with the blood group of the patient or the couple. In addition, the donor is checked to have physical characteristics similar to those of the recipient. Thanks to the Ovomatch facial recognition app, it is possible to look for the donor who most closely resembles the recipient physically. If patients so wish, a Genetic Compatibility Test (GCT) can also be requested in order to reduce the risk of the baby developing genetic diseases. Being between 18 and 32 years of age, although the law sets a maximum of 35.

Second, a specialized team will check that the egg donor meets the following requirements:

• Psychological evaluation.
• No personal or family history of serious hereditary diseases.
• No history of gynecological conditions.
• That she is not a carrier of infectious diseases.
• Genetic studies to rule out more than 30 recessive diseases, including the most common ones in the population.

Ovobank has the largest donor pool, thanks to its collaboration with centers all over the world, which makes it possible to access multiple donors of all races, nationalities and phenotypes.