3rd Party Reproductive Options
Among the many fertility treatments provided at our Allen, TX, fertility clinic is the option known as “third-party reproduction.” In this technique, the eggs, sperm, or embryos may be donated by a third person. An infertile individual or couple also can enlist the aid of a third party through gestational carrier arrangements (surrogate mother). While a sperm donor simply produces a sample used for fertilization, a gestational carrier would carry the pregnancy for the couple until birth.
Egg Donors and IVF
Modern assisted reproduction therapies have resulted in a notable increase in women donating their eggs in order to help others conceive through in vitro fertilization. Healthy egg donors are first identified (usually women between the ages of 21 and 30), their eggs are extracted and donated to the prospective parent. Sperm obtained from the recipient’s partner, or a third party (a sperm donor), is then used to fertilize the eggs, through a process of insemination. The recipient female may be able to have the embryos implanted in her own uterus to carry to term, or a surrogate may be used.
Donors of healthy eggs may be:
- Anonymous women donating to an assisted reproduction facility. (This is most common.)
- Women who know the recipients or donate specifically to a certain recipient.
- Women in IVF programs who agree to donate their excess eggs to infertile patients
Typically, individuals or couples seek out a donor who matches their physical characteristics so that the child will likely resemble their natural inherited traits such as race, height, hair color, eye color, etc. Women may donate through confidential agencies, which allow prospective parents (recipients) to view a profile and photo. Confidential information is not shared, but recipients will know the donor’s pertinent information.
Sperm Donation
Another type of third-party infertility treatment is when a male provides a sperm sample for the purpose of inseminating eggs for an infertile reciepient. Currently, therapeutic-donor insemination (DI or TDI) is appropriate when the male partner has some sort of abnormality in his semen or reproductive system. Male infertility could be caused by obstructive or non-obstructive problems, such as testicular failure and azoospermia (absence of sperm).
Fertility Using a Donor Embryo
Embryo donation is a fertility procedure that enables embryos that were created by couples undergoing treatment to be transferred to infertile patients to achieve pregnancy. In order for embryos to implant into the recipient’s uterus, the endometrium (uterine lining) must be prepared using fertility drugs. Dr. Beshay and his team can then transfer the embryos to the recipient using a small catheter.
Surrogacy
A surrogate is a woman who carries an infertile couple’s baby to term in her own womb. The embryo is fertilized in the Allen fertility lab using sperm and eggs from the intended parents, then implanted in the surrogate’s uterus. Donor sperm or donor eggs may be used as well. A gestational carrier typically has no genetic relationship to the child. This surrogacy option may be recommended for women with normal ovaries but a nonfunctioning uterus.
Learn more about 3rd Party Reproductive Options
When other infertility treatments fail, DFW Center for Fertility and IVF provides several third-party reproductive options to patients in North Dallas. Contact us online about surrogate mothers, egg donors or sperm donation programs, or call 469-854-0305.
