Donor eggs, fresh or FET?

[minnesota_girl]

Hi ladies, I'm moving to donor eggs and I was wondering if those who used DE tended to have a fresh transfer or FET?

I imagine FET is easier from a timing perspective? Is one better than the other?

Thanks xx

[FertileMind]

Hi hun, I’m also looking into it. Just started research but perhaps some ladies who have already been in this journey can help... I believe the results with a synchronised donor and fresh transfer are better than frozen, but I’ve not done enough research yet. Also looking at prices and different countries. Xx

[minnesota_girl in reply to FertileMind]

Thanks it's all a lot to go through isn't it?!

I've definitely been told that fresh eggs are best for ICSI but I was wondering about doing synchronised donor but FET. It may come down to logistics as it's my little sister donating and she lives in America and has a clear 4 week window when she can come for about 2+ weeks of that. So I'd like to prioritise getting here here at that time even if it means we freeze embryos and get me sorted later.

But just trying to look into it all and trying to think of potential pitfalls and ways round it xx

I've heard that Greece and Spain come out top for donor programs if you're looking abroad? The donor lists in the UK can be longer but I've also heard stories of women getting matched quickly so 🤷‍♀️ 💕💕

[Vicster80 in reply to minnesota_girl]

My sister and I had a similar situation. I donated eggs to her and she lives in Australia. Logistically for us the best option was for her husband to come to the UK to give a sperm sample to my clinic who froze it so that it could be used once I’d had egg collection. We figured sperm freezes and thaws very well but eggs less so.

Then the created embryos were frozen and sent to Australia for my sister to use when she was ready. Embryos also freeze and thaw well. All worked perfectly. Obviously a fair bit of stress though!

[ToughCOOKIE78 in reply to minnesota_girl]

Bear in mind that the matching is only step 1, it means they find the donor. Once they have matched you, in the U.K. you go on a waiting list that before Covid was 9-12 months (at the Lister). So that’s the problem x

[vicky7752 in reply to FertileMind]

Hi, I have been given succefully frozen embryo.. I have been in Prague, the Czech Republic with Praga Medica, you can see their results on: facebook.com/groups/ivfabro...

[LouCollier]

We went with frozen as we though this would be quicker but all the egg banks now seem to be empty due to covid so for us it seems to be taking longer (we are private and we have already been waiting 3 months and they have advised due to the back log it could be another 2 months before we are matched).

If you go with LEB & LWC then they still have eggs to choose from so this would be quicker but you pay more - over 10k for 1 batch of eggs and only one transfer.

Alternatively there is aboard.

Good luck xx

[minnesota_girl in reply to LouCollier]

Thanks Lou, I have a named donor but there are some travel logistics involved which is why I'm wondering about fresh egg donation but frozen embryo transfer!

[LouCollier in reply to minnesota_girl]

if you can get your partners sample to them before egg collection then I think the success rate is about the same for frozen and fresh xx Good luck xx

[ChloeDE]

I had fresh transfer. I think the odds are slightly higher for fresh. The clinic put me on birth control to sync my cycle with the donor's.

[minnesota_girl in reply to ChloeDE]

Thanks, Chloe. How long did the process take for you end to end? x

[ChloeDE in reply to minnesota_girl]

We went to Czech Republic for treatment. It was faster and cheaper than the UK. I had a date in mind that was about six months in advance but, for others about 3 months from contact to transfer. It takes about 6 weeks to sync cycles (on average but depends on when your next cycle begins and on donor's cycle).

[JenRoy]

I was advised fresh eggs better than frozen.

And fresh synchronised transfer pretty similar in outcome to a FET. So I guess it’s down to logistics and what works for you.

Good luck! We’re waiting for a donor 🤞🙏

[minnesota_girl in reply to JenRoy]

Thanks Jen - how long have you been waiting? I'm going to use my sister but she's traveling from far away so just trying to think about how to make it easier without reducing chances of success too much!

I hope you get matched soon xx

[JenRoy in reply to minnesota_girl]

Really not been waiting long. Just feeling impatient 😆. So much waiting with fertility treatment 🤦‍♀️. Feeling a bit in limbo at the moment with no end in sight. Just praying the right person is found 🤞🙏. Good luck to you xx

[jengi]

We did frozen transfer. You might find this useful hfea.gov.uk/treatments/trea...

[minnesota_girl in reply to jengi]

That's really interesting! So that was for donor eggs? So you did a synchronised donation for IVF but then froze everything? x

[jengi in reply to minnesota_girl]

Our donor’s eggs (16 of them) were harvested, her fresh eggs were fertilised with hubby’s sperm producing 6 excellent 5 day blastocysts. All blastocysts were frozen. It was so reassuring & exciting to know that we had 6 blastocysts. Then when I was ready, I started the drug protocol & flew out for a frozen embryo transfer. Our first transfer with one embryo failed but our 2nd with two was successful. Our little boy was born on 3rd of this month. There are pros & cons of doing fresh/frozen transfer. For me it really helped stress levels knowing that we had viable blastocysts to transfer. It was one less thing to worry about during the drug protocol. Hope this makes sense? Xx

[jengi in reply to jengi]

I should say that at our initial appointment at the clinic in Greece, hubby left a sperm sample & it was this sample that was used for fertilisation with ICSI.

[minnesota_girl in reply to jengi]

Thanks that does make sense and I understand what you mean by it being less stressful because you weren't also worrying about the embryos while you were getting yourself ready! That's what I like about it.

I'll speak to my doctor!

[FertileMind in reply to jengi]

Huge congratulations Jengi 🙏🥂💕 when you have time, please could you kindly PM me the name of your clinic and costs. I’m doing my research. Xx

[jengi in reply to FertileMind]

I’ve done this for you, any questions, don’t hesitate to PM back Xx

[ToughCOOKIE78]

My clinic did fresh, they said it has a better chance to work xxx

[minnesota_girl in reply to ToughCOOKIE78]

Thanks cookie was that both fresh eggs and fresh embryos??

[ToughCOOKIE78 in reply to minnesota_girl]

Yep fresh eggs and fresh embryo and transfer! X

[Mazzath1]

My clinic. Told me fresh. Better success rate. Xxx

[minnesota_girl in reply to Mazzath1]

Was that fresh eggs, or fresh embryo??

[Mazzath1]

Embryos. Xxxx

[Lillilly]

Fresh eggs are definitely better for fertilisation but as for transfer following fertilisation, frozen embryos have a slightly higher success rate. With our first donor we were going to have a fresh transfer. I was taking the drugs to prep my uterus etc. which we obviously paid for. Unfortunately we only got 4 eggs, 2 fertilised and none made it to blastocyst stage. So we had nothing to transfer despite me being ready and having spent the money on the drugs. So my only caution for fresh transfer is that if the transfer needs to be cancelled/rescheduled for any reason, that’s money gone. With our second donor we had the embryos frozen and I was able to just continue with my cycle until I was ready a few weeks later.

Once you’ve found a clinic you’re happy with, ask them what they recommend and review their success rates of fresh vs frozen. Xx

[Maisie234]

Good question and one I'm thinking about. I'm leaning towards frozen now. All the fresh cycles I've had have not had any success, also there are so many other things to affect the chances such as the environment, quality, medication, that I don't think fresh is the be all and end all. I could be wrong but with mounting costs too and maybe less stress involved, I'm going to change it up next time. Good luck to you. Xx

[Hidden]

I hate to say it but I think it depends on the clinic - I have seen two clinics now where they say their frozen success is actually better than fresh - and it gives you the convenience of doing it when it suits you rather than having to try and sync cycles etc - particularly when you have a limited window of opportunity x

[minnesota_girl in reply to Hidden]

I think you may be right, Daisy, there are so many factors and it's probably not a clear cut thing.

How are you doing, lovely??

[Social-Butterfly]

I had my clinic register me for fresh & frozen egg donation and when they matched me, it was by a chance with a frozen egg donor. I am happy as it resulted in pregnancy. Just take your time and all the cons and pros into consideration and make your decision based on what is best for you and your family. I am sure it will work out fine. Good luck!!

[vicky7752]

Hi I have been successfully given frozen embryo in Prague, I was with Praga Medica - they have perfect service - you can see the results on their FB facebook.com/groups/ivfabro...