Nurturing Emotional Well-being: A Compassionate Exploration of IVF with Egg Donations

Today I would like to talk to you about Marina's case. 

She is a 35-year-old woman who came to our clinic with a desire to conceive. 

She explained to me that she had just separated after 6 years of marriage. She had always wanted to start a family with her partner, but she explained that he was not on the same page. After ending her relationship, she decided to make her dream of becoming a mother a reality, which is why she consulted our clinic.

First, we conducted an initial medical assessment to evaluate her ovarian reserve. She had an AMH level of 1.6 ng/ml and a follicular count of 8+5. Then I requested a hysterosalpingography to assess the permeability of her tubes, which was completely normal.

Together we reviewed the treatment options: artificial insemination with donor sperm (IAD) or IVF with donor sperm. I informed her of the success rates for each case and the timeframes for results for both options.

Given her age, her ovarian reserve, and that all her tests were normal, I explained that she could try IAD. To select the donor, I recommended that she undergo the qCarrier test to determine if she was a carrier of autosomal recessive diseases, and if so, to look for a donor who was not a carrier of these diseases and therefore genetically compatible with her. 

She accepted without hesitation, and that is what we did. A phenotypically compatible donor was also selected. Marina began the insemination cycle with 50 IU of rFSH, and when she had a follicle of 18 mm in the right ovary, she was instructed to take an ovulation trigger with HCG, to perform a DAI 36 hours later. A Beta-HCG test was conducted 15 days later and it was negative.

Marina decided to try a second round of IAD because, as we had previously told her, she knew that doing successive rounds increased the success rate due to cumulative probability. In this second cycle, we indicated the same dose of gonadotropins as in the previous cycle, but two follicles developed, one measuring 19 mm and the other 17 mm in the left ovary. A blood test for estradiol revealed a level of 403 ng/dL and Marina was informed of the risk of twin pregnancy. She accepted this risk, the HCG triggered ovulation, and after 36 hours, the IAD was performed.

After two weeks, we did not have the expected result as the Beta-HCG was again negative.

Marina was a bit discouraged, which is why she wanted to switch to IVF to increase the success rate. On the day of the puncture, 14 oocytes were retrieved, of which 12 were mature. They were inseminated with the donor's sample, and the next day we obtained 10 fertilized eggs. They were left in culture and 3 reached the blastocyst stage on D5 and 1 on D6. On D5, Marina was feeling very well, and a fresh embryo transfer was performed with the highest quality blastocyst, while the other 3 were vitrified. 

After 10 days, we received the best news: Marina was pregnant. Her pregnancy progressed without complications, and two weeks ago she gave birth to a boy.

PS: Thank you, Marina, for sending us this beautiful photo with your treasure. We are very happy to have been able to accompany you on this journey and to have made your wish of becoming a mother come true. Congratulations!

Discover everything you need to know about IVF with egg donation in the treatment section.