How is the procedure of sperm/egg/breast milk donation?
Sperm donation:
Once you have decided on sperm donation, first you choose a sperm donor on our website. You contact them, get to know each other, negotiate the terms and details of the donation. The sperm is usually collected by ejaculating into a sterile container, either at a sperm bank, where the sperm is prepared for further processing and frozen, or optinally directly at the fertilization clinic or at home.
Sperm insertion is usually done in a clinic that specializes in fertilization therapies with IUI or IVF, using frozen sperm supplied by a sperm bank or fresh sperm collected at the facility where the IUI or IVF is performed. Artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization (IVF or ICSI, IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection) are types of assisted reproductive technology. Whereas IUI involves artificially introducing sperm into the uterus, IVF and ICSI involve taking both sperm and an egg out of the body and combining them in a petri dish. When the egg becomes fertilized, the resulting embryo is placed back into the uterus to hopefully become a pregnancy.
Optionally, artificial insemination can be performed at home. This has the benefit of lowering the cost of the procedure and adding privacy for the woman. Home insemination kits are available online or from some healthcare providers. Home artificial insemination is usually done by intravaginal or intracervical insemination. The chances of success are slightly lower than intrauterine insemination (IUI) because the semen is not inserted as deeply as with IUI, but they can still be effective. However, since no medical intervention is required, this method is a valuable option for couples who prefer a less clinical approach but do not choose the “natural way” as described below because they live in a monogamous relationship and want to avoid potential problems that this option might bring in these circumstances.
Another option is “the natural way” (intercourse), which is why we added this option under “delivery procedure” in the search/enroll settings. Since couples who want to raise a child together usually live in a monogamous relationship (e.g. marriage), this option is of course only possible if both partners explicitly agree and are aware of the possible psychological issues that may arise. For singles, this could still be the easiest way. There are also countries where intercourse is the only legal option.
In any case you have to consider the legal requirements of the country where the process takes place.
Egg donation:
Once you have decided on egg donation, first you choose an egg donor on our website. You contact them, get to know each other, negotiate the terms and details of the donation. To donate eggs, the donor is given medications that will cause her to develop multiple eggs (usually between 10 and 20) over a single cycle. The eggs are then removed from the donor by placing a needle that is attached to an ultrasound probe through the vaginal tissues. Then they are gently aspirated (suctioned) from the ovaries. Once the eggs are removed, they are evaluated by an embryologist. Then sperm from the male partner or a sperm bank is placed around or injected into each egg. This process is called in vitro fertilization (IVF).
The recipient’s uterus (womb) must be synchronized with the donor’s stimulation so that they are ready at the same time. There are several ways to achieve this. If the woman still has regular menstrual cycles, a medication is often used to suppress her ovaries and her menstrual cycle. Once the donor starts the medication to stimulate her ovaries, the recipient begins taking estrogen to develop her uterine lining. Around the time of egg retrieval, the recipient will begin taking progesterone to enable implantation of the embryo (fertilized egg). The embryo(s) will be transferred to the recipient’s uterus three to five days after fertilization. Hormones continue to be given until the pregnancy test and then, if the test is positive, during the early part of the first trimester of the resulting pregnancy.
Please note that egg donation – unlike sperm donation – is a medical process that also involves a risk for the donor. Since there is always hormone treatment involved, it can have an impact on every process in the female body in which hormones play a role, including the menstrual cycle and fertility in general. Please make sure your doctor explains you the risks as well as the benefits.
In any case you have to consider the legal requirements of the country where the process takes place.
Breast milk donation:
Once you have decided on breast milk donation, first you choose a breast milk donor on our website. You contact them, get to know each other, negotiate the terms and details of the donation. Breast milk is collected in the same way as it has been for hundreds of years: You can express milk by hand or with a breast pump.
You can then store it in a sterilised container or in special breast milk storage bags:
- in the fridge for up to 8 days at 4C or lower (you can buy fridge thermometers online) – if you’re not sure of the temperature of your fridge, or it is higher than 4C, use it within 3 days
- for 2 weeks in the ice compartment of a fridge
- for up to 6 months in a freezer, if it’s -18C or lower