Fertility Event in New York: Building families Through Egg Donation and Gestational Surrogacy

Dec. 2, 2009 - PRLog -- Dr. Gad Lavy, Medical Director of the New England Fertility Institute, Melissa Brisman Esq., and a panel of parents familiar with egg donation and gestational surrogacy will answer  questions regarding the medical, emotional and legal aspects of building families through third party reproduction. This is a free, informational event for individuals and couples. Additional speakers include an egg donor and a gestational surrogate.

A meet and greet reception will be held prior to the presentation. Wine and cheese will be served. Fertility Resource Kits will be available to those who attend.

March 18, 2010, 5:30 PM

Crowne Plaza Hotel, 66 Hale St. White Plains, NY

Presented by the New England Fertility Institute

For more information or to register for the free event please go to http://nefertility.com

Or email mwelch@nefertlity.com

Below is an interview with Dr. Gad Lavy on this topic.

Question: Dr. Lavy, please tell us what patients you typically recommend for the egg donation program? Is there a criteria you use?

Dr. Lavy: There are 5 main categories in which we find women and men needing egg donation.

1. Women who have age related decrease in ovarian function. Most of these women are in their early 40’s whose ovarian function does not allow successful pregnancy.

2. Premature ovulation failure which is the cessation of ovarian function at an early age as a result of genetics, disease conditions, surgery or environmental factors. Eggs lost cannot be replenished. However in the absence of ovarian function the uterus under certain hormonal control retains its’ ability to carry a pregnancy.

3. Repeated IVF Failure due to poor egg quality.

4. Genetic Conditions which include genetic abnormalities that are carried by the female partner may preclude a normal pregnancy and require egg donation.

5. Gay couples and single men that are would like to have children who are genetically related to both partners.

Question: Egg Donation is a relatively a new program in Reproductive Medicine. Can you give us an overview of the process and the technology involved?

Dr. Lavy: Egg Donation has been practiced in the United States for over 20 years. The process is becoming common place as the rates of success improve and the availability of donors increases. Rigorous screening has brought standardization to this area and ensures “high quality” donors. The FDA provides an additional measure of security by regulating screening of donors.

The process includes the following steps:
1. Consultation with your doctor and the egg donor team.

2. A mock cycle or trial cycle may be prescribed. This allows the physician to evaluate the hormones estrogen and progesterone on the uterine lining. The mock cycle is to make the necessary adjustments to the drugs thus maximizing the chances of success.

3. The Recipient Couple will meet the psychological coordinator. Usually the same counselor also meets with the donor. The psychological counselor will answer questions regarding the emotional impact of egg donation and assist you in making the decision that is right for you.

4. The recipient couple will be screened. Both partners require blood tests to rule out infectious disease. In addition the female partner will have hormonal tests.

5. The recipient couple will start the process of choosing a donor. Usually the couple is required to list the important characteristics they are seeking in a donor. Couples can either choose to work with our own egg donor registry or use an outside egg donor agency.

6. Before you are ready to start, a review of your treatment plan , consent signings and injection teaching will be presented so that your familiar with the details of your treatment plan and are ready to administer your medications.

7. Next your cycle will be synchronized with the donor’s. The donor will begin her stimulation medications and the recipient the hormonal preparation of her uterus.

8. Retrieval of the egg will be scheduled as soon as the donor’s eggs are mature and ready. The male partner is asked to submit a fresh semen sample on the day of the retrieval.

9. On the day of the retrieval eggs are usually fertilized. The embryos are observed for 3-5 days prior to transfer. The transfer procedure is simple, takes about 10 minutes and does not require anesthesia.

10. Two weeks following the transfer a pregnancy test will determine if the cycle was successful. Once pregnant you will continue the hormone therapy or 6-8 weeks.

Question: What is your criteria for selecting egg donors?

Dr. Lavy: Approved donors must be between the ages of 21 and 30, have a healthy family history, must be a non-smoker with a normal body mass index. A full review of the information gathered from the donor’s screening will be reviewed by myself and the third party team for final acceptance.

Question: What screening is completed on the donors?

Dr. Lavy: Screening of egg donors include a medical review, evaluation of egg reserve, a medical examination, a psychological assessment , genetic screening and final assessment where the team reviews the information and comes to a decision on the eligibility of the donor into our program,

Question: Are egg donors and recipients anonymous to each other?

Dr. Lavy: In the case of anonymous donation, yes. If a couple is using a directed donor, then the identity is known. Donors will undergo the same screening as anonymous donors.

Question: How are egg donors chosen to match a couple?

Dr. Lavy: A partial profile of each of the donors is available on our website as well as photos of the donor.

Our anonymous donors provide us with a detailed history of themselves and their family. This information is summarized in the donor profile. A 15 page document is available to the recipient couple to review. The donor file also included photographs ( current as well as childhood pictures) . A final collaborative review of the selected donor is conducted with the third party team , recipients and myself.

Most of are donors are recruited and tested by us. By doing so we are able to control donor selection, improve quality and improve success. Our anonymous egg donor pool is the largest in the region.

Question: How many cycles can a donor participate in?

Dr. Lavy: American Society of Reproductive Medicine advises IVF clinics to only allow 6 retrievals per egg donor.

Question: How is the intended carrier prepared for the transfer of the embryo?

Dr. Lavy: The recipient is prepared with estrogen and progesterone to prepare her uterus for embryo implantation.

Question: What are the success rates for egg donation?

Dr. Lavy: At our clinic approximately 7O% success rates using our donors.

For more information on New England Fertility Egg Donation Program please contact Marion Welch at mwelch@nefertility.com or go to http://nefertility.com

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The New England Fertility Institute strives to stay on the cutting edge of reproductive technology and has pioneered innovative fertility therapies such as ICSI, PGD, and Egg Freezing in our area. We have recently celebrated the birth of the first frozen egg pregnancy in the state. We provide IVF, IUI egg donation, surrogacy, and gender selection services to couples from around the world.

Whether you are beginning your fertility journey or at a point in your treatment where you need to make important decisions, a consultation with Dr. Lavy or one of our clinicians will help you make a more informed decision and formulate a treatment plan.

NEFI’s offices are located in Stamford, Shelton, and Hamden, Connecticut. These locations provide easy access to patients from Fairfield, New Haven, and Litchfield counties as well as Westchester and upstate New York. We also are affiliated with local physicians who can assist with monitoring your treatment and thus minimizing your travel.