Donor Embryo Recipient Information
The following information outlines the steps for patients utilizing anonymous donated embryos for the goal of pregnancy.
Physician appointment
Existing patients need a consult with their Fertility Center physician to discuss donor embryo before proceeding. New patients must schedule a new patient appointment with one of the Fertility Center physicians to discuss the donor embryo recipient program—we request a copy of your current medical history from your physician’s office prior to this appointment.
Counseling
The next step is to schedule an appointment with our fertility counselor to discuss the emotional and psychological issues related to using a third party to achieve a pregnancy. There is no charge for this appointment. If the female recipient has a male or female partner, he/she is also required to be present for the appointment. This appointment is only available in our Grand Rapids, Michigan office.
Embryo recipient waiting list
We recommend you contact our Donor Coordinator Nurse for the current estimated wait to begin viewing embryo donor profiles. Following your physician and counseling appointments, you may contact our billing department to pay your non-refundable deposit to get on the embryo recipient waiting list.
Nurse consultation
After your deposit is paid, a nurse consultation is required to review the medical aspects of the program, required testing, embryo selection, and consents. If you have a male or female partner, he/she is also required to attend the nurse consultation. The cost of the nurse consult is covered by your deposit. This appointment is only available at our Grand Rapids, Michigan office.
Embryo donor screening
Potential embryo donors complete a history form documenting their social and medical information. We request a copy of their medical records from their physician(s) to: (1) confirm the information provided on their donor history form is accurate, (2) comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements, and (3) confirm they qualify to donate based on Fertility Center standards.
After these steps are completed, the donors must meet with our counselor to discuss their decision to donate. If they remain interested and eligible, they will meet with the Donor Coordinator nurse to complete remaining FDA requirements, including a physical examination, FDA screening questionnaire, and lab testing for HIV, hepatitis B & C, and syphilis. In addition, males are tested for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Human T-Cell Lymphotrophic Virus (HTLV). In rare cases, these tests are not required, but The Fertility Center still makes attempts to screen and test donors even in these situations. You will receive full disclose regarding results.
Selecting donor embryos
The donor coordinator nurse will call you once there is a set of embryos to present and will provide you with the number and quality of the embryos available by the donors, along with anonymous donor history profiles to review on both the female and male partner. Recipients may select or pass on any set they are presented—it will not affect their standing on the wait list. Anonymous donors and recipients must live a minimum of 30 miles apart.
Program guarantee
Your deposit into our program guarantees either (1) a uterine pregnancy verified by ultrasound and heartbeat or (2) two transfers—whichever comes first. Thaw and quality of embryos for transfer is not guaranteed. You may continue in our program if you desire additional embryo sets beyond those which your deposit guarantees, but a new deposit would be required. If you accept a set of embryos and have only one transfer with no pregnancy (and no remaining embryos), you are eligible to be matched with another set. Each subsequent transfer after your first requires a small deposit to secure your chosen procedure month and the cost of any donor FDA requirements, medications, ultrasounds, blood tests, embryo preparation, and transfer.
Embryo donors and recipients remain anonymous through The Fertility Center. Donors have no knowledge of who accepts the embryos. If a donor desires to know the results of his or her donation, they are asked to call a year or longer after the donation. Donors are only told whether or not there is a live birth and the month of that birth. We do not provide birth date(s), sex of the child or children, or other identifying information.
If you accept donor embryos and do not use them all with the first transfer, those embryos will be reserved for you to attempt future pregnancy as long as you continue to pay the quarterly cryopreservation storage fees. If you do not want to reserve the remaining embryos, you will need to sign a release and they will be offered to another couple on the waiting list. You do not have the choice to donate them to research, discard them, or transfer them to another facility, as this goes against the original embryo donors’ decision.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Cycle
Most embryo recipient medication protocols involve Lupron injections and estrace pills by mouth. Closer to procedure time, you will also take an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, valium, and progesterone (either by vaginal suppository or intramuscular injection). Bedrest is required the day of and day after transfer.
Legal issues
There are currently no laws relating to donor embryo transfer at this time and we cannot predict what will occur in the future. Legal counsel may relieve any concerns you have in this matter. In Michigan, current laws state that the female delivering a baby is the legal mother and her husband is the legal father.
Additional information
If you have additional questions about donor selection or the medical aspects of using donor embryos, contact our Donor Coordinator at (616) 988-2229, ext. 131.
If you have billing or cost questions, please contact Amy at (616) 988-2229, ext. 130.
