The Egg donation process
Your Initial
Consultation
Before we can get started, we have to get to know each other better. The initial consultation affords us the opportunity to do this and is an essential preliminary step to treatment.
We highly recommend coming to our clinic for your consultation. This way, you can see our facilities first-hand and meet face-to-face with one of our doctors who will personally assess your case, describe the treatment plan in detail, and address any queries you may have. We are likewise able to perform sperm collection and freezing at this time, if the sperm sperm is of sufficient quality (in a state of ‘normozoospermia’).
However, if you cannot travel to Prague, we do offer consultation online with our doctor, free of charge.
We can generally schedule your in-person initial consultation within 1-2 weeks of request and offer appointments Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For many, it is possible to fly here and back home on the same day. Remote consultations can be arranged even faster.
Egg Donation Treatment
Following your initial consultation and deposit, treatment may commence. With egg donation, the first matter of importance is to synchronise your menstrual cycle with that of your donor. This is typically accomplished using oral contraceptives and helps ensure your body is ready to receive the embryo(s) when the time comes.
After synchronisation, we begin with ovarian stimulation for your donor, using special medications to help her body produce a larger number of eggs than usual. On the 10th day of the cycle, an ultrasound checks the thickness of your uterine lining in preparation for embryo transfer. This may be conducted by your physician back home or at our clinic.
Your donor’s eggs are collected on approximately the 15th day of the cycle. On the same day, your partner’s sperm is collected—unless already retrieved at the first visit—and used to fertilise the donated eggs. This is followed by embryo culture, in which your embryos are allowed to mature for three to five days in preparation for transfer.
During this time, your coordinator will keep you informed of any developments in the lab. After embryo culture is complete (around day 20), one to two mature embryos are transferred to your uterus, with the goal of implantation and, ultimately, pregnancy. Any healthy, unused embryos can be frozen and preserved for later use.
In the days following transfer, prescribed medications are taken at home to facilitate pregnancy. Two weeks after transfer, a HcG pregnancy test is taken to determine the outcome of the cycle. If the result is positive, medications are continued up to the 12th week of pregnancy, but are otherwise discontinued.
Length of Stay
Short
If you opt to use frozen sperm and have your ultrasound scan performed back home, this option allows you to arrive in Prague just one day prior to embryo transfer, which means your total stay will be about two days. Before arriving, you must provide us with the results of your scan.
Recommended
If you opt to use fresh sperm and have your ultrasound scan performed back home, you may arrive in Prague two days prior to egg fertilization, which means your total stay will be about seven days. Before arriving, you must provide us with the results of your scan.
Extended
If you opt to use fresh sperm and have your ultrasound scan performed at our clinic, you may arrive in Prague on the day of the scan itself, which means your total stay will be about 10 days. This is an especially good option for those interested in touring Prague.
*The above options apply to the female. The male may reduce his stay in Prague to a single day for purposes of sperm collection.
Pre-treatment Tests
for Egg Donation
In preparation for treatment, it is important for us to have as much information as possible regarding your health and that of your partner. Tests for these purposes fall into two categories: compulsory and recommended. These may be conducted here at our clinic at the time of your initial consultation or in your home country (required in the case of remote consultation). If you have your tests done at home, we will need the results emailed to us prior to the consultation.
Compulsory:
Blood group and rhesus (Rh) factor
TSH and PRL hormonal levels
STD testing for Hepatitis B and C, HIV and syphilis
Pelvic ultrasound with a clear image of uterus and fallopian tubes
PAP test
Breast examination for women over 40 (not performed at the clinic, not included in the price of the package)
Recommended:
Ureaplasma/mycoplasma hominid culture and smear test for chlamydia (these two should be performed when not menstruating)
Compulsory:
Blood group and rhesus (Rh) factor
Sperm analysis (spermiogram)
STD testing for Hepatitis B and C, HIV and Syphilis
