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: 1) I want to help. 2) Someone close wants to get pregnant and has trouble conceiving.
How are donors chosen?
Our requirements for a potential donor are strict. All donors undergo:
- Blood tests to exclude infectious diseases (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, cytomegalovirus)
- Genetic tests (karyotype and cystic fibrosis, SMA, Connex 26)
- Blood tests to determine blood group and Rh factor
- Hormonal tests
- Ultrasound scans
Our donors are between 18 and 32. Their BMI must not exceed 25 and must be non-smokers. They have least secondary education. There must be no drugs use in past and no permanent medication use. They must have no psychiatric disorder and illness and no known hereditary diseases in their family history.
Is donation anonymous?
Egg donation is mutually anonymous.
How does ReproGenesis 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 ReproGenesis have donors of a different ethnicity?
Yes, ReproGenesis clinic has egg donors with different ethnicity.
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?
Treatment can be performed until the recipient’s 49th birthday latest.
Who is legally the parent of a child born after treatment with donated sperm or oocytes?
According to the law, IVF treatment in Czech 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 45, we recommend a mammogram examination and recommendations by a gynaecologist that there is no problem with conceiving. Furthermore, we require you and your partner’s STD tests (tests for sexually transmitted diseases) which are not older than 6 months. 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 heavy menstrual bleeding. If the menstruation starts after 8p.m., the following day is considered as the first day of period.
When do I start with injections‘ application?
The injections´ application starts second or third day of the second cycle (2nd or 3rd day of menstrual bleeding). In the case of so-called long protocol the start of the injections will be clearly indicated in the schedule provided by your doctor.
How do I store the medication?
Stimulant medications which require dilution (containing powder and dilution water – MENOPUR, Fostimon, Merional) can be stored in a dry place at room temperature, the same as Orgalutran and Cetrotide. It is recommended that medications administered by an injection pen – Puregon and Gonal are stored in the refrigerator (2-8 °C). This is also recommended for Pregnyl (medication for ovulation induction). Ovitrelle – another medication used to induce ovulation, can be stored at room temperature below 25 °C.
How do I transport medications?
There is no problem travelling with stimulation medications. Even medications which require storage in the refrigerator will last at room temperature for a period not exceeding three months (Puregon) and 1 month (Gonal).
Is there a best time in the day for medication‘s application?
Most important is the regularity of the application of medication – about the same hour every day. Preferable are morning hours.
There is left a bit of liquid in my injection pen, is it OK to use?
Each pen has a margin given by the manufacturer in a range about 75-100 units, so it is perfectly fine if you are left with something in the pen. This “reserve” can be used in further stimulation.
I broke the medication ampoule!
In the case of breaking the ampoule, spilling its content, or uncertainty about the proper application, please contact us. We will advise on how to proceed. It is essential to maintain applications´ continuity.
When exactly during stimulation should I go for an ultrasound examination?
Ultrasound examinations are performed about 10 days after starting the treatment.
How many days of partner´s sexual abstinence are best for sperm quality?
Two 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 embryo transfer done?
Embryo transfer is scheduled by the physician in cooperation with the embryologist and the patient. Transfer is on 5th day following egg collection. You will be informed by your patient coordinator about the exact date and time of embryo transfer. You will be informed about the development of your embryos.
How many embryos will be transferred?
Usually one, maximum 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 its quality evaluation is difficult. By the fifth day the embryo should have developed to the blastocyst stage.
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 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?
Uncomplicated transfer takes 3-5 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 (not if you wish otherwise).
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 travelling 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?
Embryo is “nesting“(NIDA) into the endometrium usually 6-8 days after fertilisation, 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 is 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 medicines?
Continue to take any medication that you were taking before embryo transfer.
I do not feel well after taking Utrogestan, what can I do?
If you use Utrogestan orally, start using it vaginally (the same dose) twice a day (morning and evening). If you are already using vaginally, you can change to the progesterone gel (Crinone), or injections.
When should I take pregnancy test?
Take the pregnancy test two weeks after the embryo transfer, the exact date is stated in your medical report.
Urine pregnancy test is negative, what do I do?
In case of a negative urine test you can have a pregnancy test using blood to make sure of the result. If the negativity of the test is confirmed, discontinue all medications used in connection with treatment here.
I have a positive pregnancy test!
Continue to take all medication. If it is a urine pregnancy test, it is possible to confirm the result by blood test, but not necessary. Make your appointment for an ultrasound examination –14 days after the positive test.
I have begun “spotting” what do I do?
Do not stop using any medication. It is advisable to keep to a resting regime. Increase the dose of progesterone (Utrogestan) by two tablets at noon. In case you are “spotting” before the pregnancy test date, wait and take the pregnancy test when you are supposed to. In case of a confirmed positive test make an appointment for a control blood test following three-days interval.
When should I go for an ultrasound examination?
Ultrasound examination is to be performed 3-4 weeks earliest after embryo transfer.
How many weeks am I actually pregnant?
Day of egg retrieval is the 14th day of pregnancy.
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.
I am in week 10; do I still take all medications?
We recommend taking all your medications unchanged until the end of the 12th week of pregnancy. Of course, each patient is taking different medications and their withdrawal is always individual. The dosage of estrogens and progesterone can be reduced after the 11th week after consultation with the doctor. Always consult your doctor with regard to the exact timing of the withdrawal of medication after successful IVF cycle.
I have a negative urine test, but I am not bleeding. Is there still hope?
All urine tests are not sensitive enough, please try another urine test in two days, and if it is still negative and you start to bleed, your treatment was unsuccessful. If the test is negative and there is still no bleeding, or only very slightly, it is necessary to do a pregnancy test from the blood.
Who should I contact for further instructions?
To discuss your unsuccessful treatment, and consider another therapeutic strategy please make an appointment with the doctor who prepared your treatment plan within 10 -14 days. You can make an appointment by an e-mail or telephone.
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, it can be performed after an interval of 3-4 months. Please consult your doctor about starting your next treatment.
