Donor Egg

Egg donation is recommended when a patient has diminished ovarian reserve, genetic conditions she does not want to pass on, or has experienced repeated IVF failures with her own eggs. An egg donor (typically age 21–34) undergoes ovarian stimulation and retrieval; her eggs are fertilized with the recipient's partner's sperm (or donor sperm) to create embryos.

The recipient prepares her uterus with estrogen and progesterone before the embryo transfer. Success rates with donor eggs are among the highest in ART — often 50–60% per transfer — because egg quality is the most age-sensitive factor. Donors may be anonymous, known, or semi-known depending on the program.