Donor Oocyte Part IV

Selection criteria for an oocyte donor are personal and couple-dependent. Some medical parameters may influence a couple’s decision when narrowing their choice from a group of acceptable donors. The donor’s age may be one such variable. In one reported study, for every year increase in donor age, the number of mature oocytes decreased by 0.39 and the number of embryos decreased by 0.25 resulting in 1 less embryo for each 4-year increase in age. Prior oocyte donations from a donor may also provide data to assess oocyte quality and pregnancy outcome.

Recipient couples need to be aware of the risk of twin pregnancy with donor oocyte IVF. No more than two embryos will be transferred to the recipient’s uterus. Remaining embryos, if viable, are stored or cryopreserved. Nationally of the 6609 pregnancies that resulted from donor oocyte in 2007, 52% were singleton pregnancies, 39% were twins, and nearly 4% were triplets or more. About 5% of pregnancies ended in miscarriage. In 2010, the Fertility Centers of New England reports a 0 % triplet rate.