Gene x donor matching

[Tarasunny]

Hi all

I've been a silent member of this forum for a while how but really could do with some advice. A bit about me I'm going through fertility treatment alone using donor sperm. I've had 4 failed IUI's, and 2 rounds of IVF both retrieved 4 eggs and 1 blastocyst. Both fresh transfers ended in missed miscarriage. All of these rounds were using the same donor. For my next round I decided to change donor and do gene x matching looking at recessive genes however I've chosen 3 different donors and I've not been a match to any. Has anyone else had this happen? I'm so upset and frustrated I don't even know what to do. There are so few donors out there I'm struggling to find a fourth 😫

[AuroraXen]

Hi Tara, I'm afraid i won't be much help to you as I've actually never heard of people doing these gene x matching procedures. It sounds very sensible though, as you're doing well in terms of getting that initial implantation at least. Are you in the UK? If so, are you using a UK sperm bank or an international one (just thinking that the latter will give you much more choice in donors) I'm sorry you're having to deal with this though, it must be super hard to navigate , especially solo. I did two rounds solo (and before that 3 home attempts at insemination using sperm sent cryogebically from a European bank) and I know firsthand how complicated it all is... and that's without gene matching xx

[Tarasunny in reply to AuroraXen]

Thanks yes I'm in the UK using European Sperm Bank. Basically they test you for 12 x-linked disorders which I'm free of 🥳. Then they look at both you and the donor for 391 recessive disorders if you are both carriers for the same one you are not a match due to the risk of passing that onto any future children. Decided on a 4th last night so hopefully we'll match although trying not to get my hopes up.

[AuroraXen in reply to Tarasunny]

Oh I see. Wow, what a clever process. Unless it leaves you with no matches of course 😔 I'm really hoping this new choice is a match 🤞🤞🤞 xx

[Shireen1]

Hi Tara. I am sorry for your losses. I never heard of the gene x matching process you mention but I did change a donor after unsuccessful transfer. I also did PGS testing of embryos. Perhaps that could be an alternative if you don’t manage to find a matching donor?

[Tarasunny in reply to Shireen1]

Thanks, I think if I produced more than 1 embryo in each round PGS might be an option but it doesn't really seem worth it. Hopefully my 4th choice will be a match.

[Shireen1]

I understand. Good luck! I hope fourth is the lucky one.