Hi all, I'm fairly new and this is my first post. For some background, we've done 2 rounds of IVF, first with DH sperm, sadly got no blastocysts from that. 2nd we used donor sperm, got 1 embryo to transfer but BFN. We've decided that with all our various complications (which I won't bore you with!) we're going for double donors. Our clinic recommends donor embryos, but its super expensive, you get one embryo per chance and knowing our luck, we'll need more than one go! Then our councillor told us that was mad, the success rate is much higher with donor eggs and sperm, and cheaper if you go abroad. I'm so confused now as we've got two professionals telling us different things - any advice or previous experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thank you all so much, this place has been a massive support over the last few months!
Donor embryo or donor eggs and sperm?? - Fertility Network UK
Donor embryo or donor eggs and sperm??
Heya. First of all, let me confess that I’ve got no idea, as I’ve never used donors at all - so please feel free to skip this response altogether 😂
But my thought is this: people who donate eggs and sperm do this altruistically. So there’s a good chance they are healthy and have no fertility concerns.
But where do donor embryos come from? Presumably from a couple who’s gone through IVF, but then got their babies and don’t want any more, so they donate any remaining embryos. And then - how do you know why they needed IVF in the first place? Is there a higher chance of something being wrong?
I’m really sorry if this seems mean or offensive, it’s really not meant to be, but it comes from me wondering what we’d do if we ever had extra embryos (which we don’t), and thinking ‘why would anyone want the embryo of an older couple who struggled so much’ 🤪 .
Some (many?) donor eggs come from women undergoing fertility treatment-if you’re under 37, some clinics give you a massive discount for donating some of your eggs. I actually have no idea what proportion of donated eggs come from IVF patients, just that it’s definitely a ‘thing’ xx
That’s a fair point actually 
x
Hi McQueeny, yes that is a really good point which I hadn’t really considered. They do say that most donated embryos are from couples where the female is under 30. But you’re right, why are they there is the first place? I think our clinic might be pushing it because they have so many embryos waiting to be donated. I’m a bit upset that they brushed over donor eggs without explaining how it works or that the success rates could be higher? Anyway- will research it myself I suppose!
Thank you!
I agree with McQueeny, the donated embryos are likely to come from a couple with infertility issues. They probably have had success and donated the rest. As you know usually not all of the embryos created in one cycle have a chance of developing to a baby, in fact it's more embryos that won't. So i am guessing that the remaining embryos of a successful cycle are more likely to fail. Now I am not saying this because I saw any research, it's just a reasonable assumption which agrees with what the counsellor said too.But there are people even in this forum who had success with donated embryos.
I would ask from the clinic to show you statistics from both So you can make a more informed decision.
There is also pgt testing (not sure that is the correct name?) and I am assuming they would only use pgt tested donated embryos.
Anyway all the best!
Not sure why donor embryos cost more, I thought it was cheaper because all work was done and these are just frozen leftover embryos from other people's IVFs. Check overseas. I think, it's much cheaper there to get embryos. Some may even be PGA tested. As for donor egg and sperm, it gives you more flexibility in terms of selecting hair, eye color etc. Also, you can have them tested prior to freezing.
Yes I really don’t understand why they need to be so expensive either? There aren’t many drugs involved and fewer scans needed. Well we have booked a consultation with a clinic in Spain. So I’m going to see what they suggest before making any decisions.
Hello I couldn’t read your message and not reply. we are a double donor couple. We have opted for donor sperm and donor eggs. We are at a clinic in Spain and have got female and male donors that match us. I’m not gonna lie though we have had 2 double donor transfers so far and both were chemicals with top grade pgs tested embryos. I think it’s more likely to be me than the embryos to be honest. It is expensive but we were happier to get matching than have one just from the freezer. It’s definitely cheaper abroad I can 💯 vouch for that xxx feel free to pm me if u have any questions xxx
Thank you, I really hope the third transfer is the one that works for you - good luck! Xx
Hi,I have looked into both and was surprised at the cost of embryo donation too. If it works first time it's cheaper, but you can go to Greece and get a double donation for 2k more and I found a clinic who guarantee 2 day 5 blastocysts. Also within that you can specify, height, hair colour etc.
It all depends what is important to you and what you think your chances are.
I am leaning away from embryo donation, on the basis that you take what you get verses having some level of matching and the cost isn't too dissimilar, if you consider that you have about 50% chance of it working.
X
Hi, Yes I think we're leaning the same way, if you go double donor it's a bit more expensive but you should 🤞end up with 3 or more embryos rather than just one, which is maybe why success rates are higher. Ah it's such a minefield! Thanks for your thoughts x
I went out to North Cyprus and did cytoplasmic transfer at the same time as a tandem cycle. I ended up with 2 of my own and 2 donor blastocysts, so I'm guessing I would have had 4 donor blastocysts if I hadn't used 2 of her eggs for the cytoplasmic transfer. It's cheap relative to elsewhere, but I wouldn't recommend it. The clinic won't tell me what grade any of them are. I've got to fly out next week for a transfer of the remaining 2 (1st transfer failed) and I have no idea if it's a waste of time or not. Plus I didn't factor in the cost of freezing and next transfer. It's £500 to freeze 2 embryos of unknown quality, plus £1500 for transfer and you can't get a prescription here. They said they'd posted it to one of a very small number of clinics who can transfer to UK, but the clinic never received it and by law can't take an email or fax. I'm having to do a frozen transfer with left over medication from previous cycles and I'm missing some. They don't care. I'm just going through the motions and then might be back to square one in a few weeks, having to make the same decision as you.
Good luck. I hope everything works out for you.
X
Oh dear I’m sorry to hear that, it sounds stressful. I really hope this transfer works for you, do you have enough meds to make it up until transfer? Then I’m sure they can give you some more once you’re at the clinic?Wishing you all the best, these embryos have every chance of sticking!
Hello,After 3 failed cycles with my eggs and donor sperm we are also going to consider double donor/donor embryo. I haven't really thought about it yet as just getting over our 3rd failed attempt, but it's interesting to read all these opinions so thank you for posting. xx
Hiya, I haven't really through all the responses so forgive me if I'm repeating what someone else has said. There are many clinics who have left over embryos from previous cycles which are technically cheaper as there's no cost of stimulation for the donors. There are also clinics who will also 'make bespoke embryos' by matching donor egg and donor sperm based on your characteristics (I'm in s mixed relationship so this was important to us). There's also a clinic in Spain which uses facial recognition to match donors. This is of course is expensive but bespoke donors lessen the chance of siblings from the same batch, this wasn't even something I considered until seeing it on another page and watching our father on Netflix! I would definitely say IVF with OE or DE is defo cheaper abroad. Good luck xx
Heya, would you mind PMing the details of the clinic in Spain? x
Hi,
I used frozen donor embryos, as opposed to doing a fresh cycle. I’m currently 9 weeks pregnant after my first transfer 🥳.
I think my clinic do have slightly higher success rates with fresh cycles, but I never asked why that was. The success rates with frozen embryos are still very high.
I was happy using frozen embryos because:
1) it was quicker. They were there, waiting and ready to go. I could transfer on my next cycle.
2) I was done with IVF. If I had the option to avoid the IVF process of ‘how many eggs are collected, mature, fertilised, day 3, day 5, able to freeze’ I was grabbing it with both hands! Being told ‘we have 2 very high quality embryos, ready to go’ was my dream come true.
3) I had seen women have failed IVF cycles using donor eggs, which really surprised me. I didn’t want to risk any more failed cycles.
Also, I went abroad. And it wasn’t just about the money for me; I’d rather spend money than time. My UK clinic had a 12-18 month waiting list. Clinics abroad were ready straight away.
And just picking up on what others have said; my clinic abroad creates the embryos from healthy donors. They’re not ‘leftover embryos from couples with infertility issues’, which was also fantastic. And they have a HUGE selection, so we were very happy with our matches.
I hope that helps. 😘 Happy to chat more if you’d like to. 😘😘😘
Just jumping on this thread, I'd be really interested if you're able to share details of the clinic you used? We're about to use our last two frozen embyos with donor sperm and the chances are very slim. Donor embyo would be the next step for us, especially given my age at 40. Thanks
Of course! I’ll message you privately, because we’re not allowed to share clinic details publicly. 😘
Heya, sorry to jump in too, but could you share details with me too please?? 🤗x
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hI jenny sorry could I also know the clinic you used for donor embryos? Thanks
Hi please could you DM me the clinic you used abroad.? I am down on a donor embryo list in a UK clinic, but as others have pointed out these are embryos left from a couple with fertility issues. Also don't know how long it will take.
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Hey, Yes that is really helpful thank you! Those are all the same reasons that I was about to go for embryo transfer, I’m just worried that if it doesn’t work first time, or second, then it’s suddenly more expensive than donor eggs. Could you pm me the clinics name? Thank you so much and huge congrats! Xx
Yes of course 👍😘
Hi. My husband and I are looking at going down the donor embryo route. Would you be able to PM me the details of the clinic you have used? Thank you
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