Indications for egg and embryo donation

Abstract

Egg donation was first introduced as a treatment for infertility in 1983, with its popularity steadily increasing over the past three decades. In the USA, egg donation accounted for approximately 10 % of all assisted reproductive therapies in 2009 compared to 8 % in 2000. In 2009, nearly 15,000 transfers (both fresh and frozen combined) were performed using donated eggs. Because uterine receptivity appears to be unchanged as a woman ages, pregnancy occurs in greater than 50 % of embryo transfers using donated eggs in the setting of a hormonally prepared uterine lining. This pregnancy rate is remarkable since most recipients are often older and typically would not be capable of conceiving with their own eggs. According to the 2009 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data, the majority of recipients are older than 40 years of age. Because egg donors are women at the peak of their fertility potential, aged 21-32 years old, the percentage of live births from anonymous donated eggs is >50 % regardless of the age of the recipient.