Should You Choose Fresh or Frozen Eggs for IVF

Until recently, fresh eggs were the popular choice used in assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, thanks to recent advances in the egg freezing and vitrification process, frozen eggs are now becoming a more viable option. As a result, numerous established donor banks are now available in different states and counties. Especially in Orange County. Here is an honest overview of Fresh Vs. Frozen Eggs and which one should you choose for your IVF treatment.

Fresh Eggs VS. Frozen Eggs

The main question that bothers Donor Egg recipients is whether they should go for fresh or frozen eggs. So, which of these are a better option? Frozen egg cycles are more straightforward and have many physical, legal, and financial benefits.

Whereas, fresh egg cycles are unpredictable as they involve two individuals – the egg recipient and egg donor. The more the number of involved people, the double the risks. The Egg Donor may face disqualification, which can pose a great risk. Would-be donors need to undergo a series of tests and those with a negative result become unfit to be a donor. Donors also pass through a mental evaluation to ensure their psychological state.

At this time, In some Egg Donor programs, donors can undergo genetic testing, thorough physical examination, and bloodwork. If the donor changes her mind, she can abandon the process at any time. The recipients, however, will still have to cover the costs.

Frozen egg donation cycles are less risky since the eggs are already collected, and no one gets disqualified at the last minute. Plus, the time between donor selection and treatment reduces by 4 to 9 months.

How Much Do Frozen and Fresh Donor Egg Cycles Cost?

The cost of the entire process for frozen eggs can be 50 percent less than the fresh egg cycle. The fresh cycle can cost around $30000 to $40000; this includes the money for donor recruitment, medical screening, medication, and treatment. On the other hand, a frozen egg cycle ranges from $14000 to $20000. The reason for such a gap in costs is the major differences in these two processes.

IVF Treatment with Fresh Donor Eggs: The Process

1. Search for a Donor

Most people prefer to hire an agency to find a donor. The donor egg cost for recruiting someone via agencies can be between $5-8k per cycle. Based on what the recipient wants in a donor, this process could take a month or even more.

2. Egg Donor Testing

Once admitted, the donor will start her evaluation and undergo various tests to determine her suitability. She will need to go through physical and mental screening. She may also undergo genetic testing as well as communicable disease testing.

3: Contracts & Attorney visit

After screening, it’s important to create a donor/recipient contract. This is to make sure that the donor relinquishes her eggs, and during this, an attorney is necessary. 

4. Recipient Workup

The egg recipient will get a comprehensive medical evaluation to get acquainted with the possible risk factors. Generally, the test may include a hysteroscopy, a cervical culture, and a saline sonogram to determine her womb health. It can take up to 3 months or more to complete the workup.

5. Prep Cycle

This involves hormonal therapy and a trial transfer to make sure that the treatment achieves the desired results.

6. Suppression & Stimulation

Before ovarian stimulation begins, the donor receives contraceptive pills for a couple of days. It suppresses and synchronizes her monthly menstrual cycle with the egg recipient. She will then need to self-administer hormonal injections, such as Bravelle, Follistim, etc., every day to boost egg production.

7. Endometrial Lining Development

While the donor gets ready for the egg retrieval procedure, the recipient receives administers a combo of progesterone and estrogen. This is to prepare her womb for implantation. In some rare cases, additional medications may be necessary.

8. Triggering Ovulation &Retrieval

When the ultrasound indicates that the eggs are ready for retrieval, the donor will receive an HCG injection, also referred to as the trigger shot. The egg retrieval process begins within 36 hours of the “shot.”

9. Fertilization & Embryo Transfer

Following retrieval, fertilization of the eggs with the donor’s or partner’s sperm takes place in an IVF laboratory. The embryos formed are incubated and then transferred into the recipient’s womb. This usually occurs approximately five days after retrieval.

10. Post-implantation Check-up

Recipients undergo tests of pregnancy, usually two weeks after implantation with a blood test. Once she’s confirmed to be pregnant, an ultrasound will be performed.

Benefits of Using Fresh Eggs on IVF Treatment

Using fresh eggs for IVF treatment can have several benefits, including:

• Higher success rates: Fresh eggs have a higher chance of developing into healthy embryos than frozen eggs, which can result in higher success rates of IVF treatment. This is because fresh eggs have not been subjected to the freezing and thawing process, which can potentially damage the eggs.
• Immediate availability: Fresh eggs can be retrieved and fertilized right away, which means that the fertilized eggs can be implanted in the woman’s uterus without any delay. This can be helpful for couples who are trying to conceive as soon as possible.
• More viable embryos: Fresh eggs can result in a higher number of viable embryos, which can increase the chances of pregnancy and live birth.
• More control over the process: With fresh eggs, the IVF process can be timed more accurately, which allows for better control over the process and can improve the chances of success.
• Possible use of ICSI: Fresh eggs can be fertilized using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which can be helpful for couples where the male partner has low sperm count or other fertility issues.

It’s important to note that using fresh eggs also has some potential drawbacks, including the need for ovarian stimulation, the risk of hyperstimulation syndrome, and the need for synchronization with the woman’s menstrual cycle.

IVF with Frozen Donor Eggs: The Process

Since the donor has completed her part, the IVF treatment with frozen eggs is now much easier. 

1. Search for a Donor

To get frozen eggs, intended parents (IPs) can use an agency. At our fertility treatment center, we allow parents looking for frozen eggs to go through donor profiles for free. 

2. Full Medical Evaluation

As a matter of fact, This step is for recipients only. The would-be mother is going to undergo a comprehensive physical and mental screening to get acquainted with the risk factors. 

3. Prep Cycle

This optional cycle involves hormone therapy. It may also include an endometrial biopsy to determine the thickness of the endometrium. 

4. Endometrial Lining Development

The egg recipient takes a combo of progesterone and estrogen to prepare her womb for implantation. In some rare cases, additional medications may be necessary. 

5. Fertilization and Embryo Transfer

Frozen eggs are thawed and then fertilized with donor’s or partner sperm. Then the embryos formed are incubated and transferred into the recipient’s womb for implantation. This usually occurs approximately five days after retrieval.

6. Post-implantation Check-up

Recipients undergo testing for pregnancy, usually two weeks after implantation. Once she’s confirmed pregnant by the test, an ultrasound will be performed.

7. Legal Issues with Donated Eggs

The fresh Egg Donor cycle involves more risks and has a broader range of legal implications. For Frozen eggs, legal counsel is not necessary because the donor donates it anonymously.

Benefits of Using Frozen Eggs on IVF Treatment

Some of the benefits of choosing frozen eggs over fresh ones include:

• Neither egg recipient nor donor needs to synchronize cycles with each other.
• Any issue that may arise while taking ovarian stimulation medications has already been resolved.
• These eggs help cut down the cost per cycle.
• When using frozen eggs, fertility treatment can start immediately. It does not depend on how available the donor is.
• Some extra frozen eggs may be available for use without the donor having to undergo another cycle.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, in 2012, declared that the egg freezing process was no longer experimental. Egg Freezing has positively resulted in a considerable number of births. Scientists faced many challenges in their earlier attempts to develop frozen egg donation. Originally the process included using a slow-freeze method, which gives unreliable results. However, after the discovery of flash freezing, the success rates improved greatly. Now that the egg freezing option is available, young women who were not ready for motherhood can freeze their eggs and use them any time they want. 

Ultimately, the decision of whether to use fresh or frozen eggs for IVF will depend on individual circumstances and preferences. It’s important to discuss the pros and cons of each option with a qualified medical professional who can provide personalized advice based on your specific situation. Do you want to know more about the egg donation process or whether using fresh or frozen eggs would be the right option for you? Visit our website or contact us for a Schedule a consultation using the link below or call us at 949-726-0600.