Patients of Fertility Solutions who are using an egg donor to help build their families may be unsure which donation route is best – fresh donor eggs or frozen donor eggs.

There are benefits to each type of donor egg, and ultimately it is up to the intended parent(s) to decide, of course with their fertility specialist’s recommendation in mind.

What is the difference between a fresh donor egg and a frozen donor egg?
In a fresh egg donation cycle, the egg donor is selected and matched with the intended parent(s). The donor’s menstrual cycle is then synchronized with the recipient’s cycle so the collected eggs can be fertilized and implanted. In a frozen egg donation cycle, the donated eggs have already been retrieved from the donor and frozen using a process called “vitrification.” Once the intended parent(s) have chosen the egg donor, six of the frozen eggs are sent to Fertility Solutions where they are thawed and fertilized prior to implantation. The frozen donation process does not require cycle synchronization.

Which form of egg donation is best for my family?
Your preference of fresh or frozen donor eggs is a personal choice. Your physician may recommend one route based on your individual situation, but in many cases, it is ultimately up to the patient. There are advantages to both options, so patients are asked to carefully consider which route is best for their current family planning needs, now and in the future.

Frozen donor egg advantages:

• No need for cycle synchronization; eggs are available immediately
• Treatment cycles are scheduled at the recipient’s convenience
• 100% chance of receiving mature eggs
• Egg donors are fully screened
• Generally a lower cost per cycle

Fresh donor egg advantages:

• More one-on-one time between your physician and the donor
• The opportunity to ask questions of the donor
• The pool of eggs will not be divided or shared across other intended parents
• Greater chance of having additional embryos frozen, and a higher chance of biological siblings if desired

Do success rates differ between fresh and frozen egg donations?
Generally, success rates for donor eggs that have been frozen and those that are fresh are quite similar. This is thanks to the vitrification process that “flash freezes” the donated eggs. Your fertility clinic can provide its success rates for fresh egg donation and frozen egg donation.

If you’re interested in learning more about egg donation cycles, please contact Fertility Solutions today.