Donor Egg cycle - anyone done this?

[alo]

Has anyone done a cycle with donated eggs before? I'm looking at the possibility of one in the future, and I'd really like to ask someone some questions.

Thanks for the help.

[2kCougar]

oops, read this wrong the first time.
PM me with questions--I'd rather not post specifics.

[Scooter]

Alo, I don't know if you've been over to ivfconnections, but they have some extensive IVF boards over there, and lots of knowledgable women. There is one board just for women using DEs. (http://www.ivfconnections.net/board/forumdisplay.php?f=50) You'll have to register to view the boards. Good luck, and I hope between that board & this that you get some questions answered. :)

[Sazoo]

My friend works in the egg donation industry, for a company called The Donor Source (www.thedonorsource.com). I don't personlly know much about it, but their website has quite a bit of info, I believe. If you are interested in talking to my friend to get more specific information, send me a PM with your email address & I'd be happy to pass it along to her. She's super-knowledgeable on the subject & I'm sure would be happy to chat with you via phone or email.

ETA - The Seattle page of their website has my friend's contact info on it (her name is Jennifer - she's the case manager for their western region) so you could email or call her directly, if you want.:

http://www.thedonorsource.com/seattleeggdonor.htm

[melissafromnc]

Alo--feel free to pm me if you'd like. I was a donor years ago and have many friends who've done donor egg cycles. I'm currently on several waiting lists for donor embryos.

There's a great book that's fairly recent called Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation. There are also helpful boards at network54 that you don't have to register for. Check them out at http://www.network54.com/Forum/57451/

[tigerest]

Do the RE's usually allow you to have egss donated from someone you know? My best friend has offered to donate her eggs to me and I was just wondering if RE's would allow that? Anyone know?

Thanks

[melissafromnc]

tigerest Most RE's (if not all) allow known donors. It partially depends on the donor (espcecially things like age). There are pros and cons to using a known donor. I know many women from the Network 54 Board have used sisters/nieces/etc and I think there are separate threads as well for this over on IVF Connections. (It can also lower the cost of a donor cycle dramatically because you wouldn't have donor fees much less agency fees). You would still have attorney fees and many REs require all parties to undergo a psychological evaluation.

It could be a great thing.

[Fireside Girl]

Hi alo,
I'm actually starting one this month.

You can PM or post your questions here. I'll try my best to answer any questions you might have.

[alo]

Thanks for all your comments, I appreciate them.

I have an appt. on the 10th with my RE, and we'll see what he says then. My husband doesn't want to "jump into" egg donation, so I'm trying to be laidback about it.

I did call and ask about the next available egg donation seminar at my RE's office though. Guess when it is? APRIL 2006!!! Holy moly, is it normal to have to wait that long? That's not even including the time for choosing the donor and making sure she has all the tests done and getting our cycles matched up - that all comes AFTER the seminar!

[Fireside Girl]

Good luck with your appointment on the 10th.

We didn't have to go to an egg donation seminar through Yale. We did have to meet with a social worker, though.

Our timetable went like this;
12-04;Failed IVF,decided to move on to DE
01-05;contacted social worker to make appt.
02-05;social worker doesn't have any appts until 02-28,is totally unhelpful,requests letter from mental health professional stating we are stable people
04-05;send letter from mental health professional/social worker says now we can actually make an appt with another RE
05-05;meet with RE
06-05;mock cycle and endometrial biopsy
07-05;social worker calls and aks us if we are willing to wait until 11-05 for DE cycle (states she found the perfect donor).meet with RE to lock in donor
11-05;cycle is moved to the middle of the month for begin date
12-05;hopefully transfer occurs...

[alo]

Thanks for the help, I really do appreciate it.

It looks like we're still going to be waiting even longer than I thought - I didn't realize all the "extra" costs that weren't included in the main DE cycle. How is anyone able to afford this?!

I'll check out those sources, thanks.

[alo]

On my way to work right now, but I'll post specific replies tomorrow when I have more time. I do have lots more questions, now that this seems to be becoming a reality.