In recent years, due to surgical operations, a stressful lifestyle, genetic reasons, or some hormonal problems, women may enter early menopause. As a result of heavy treatments such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, or for other reasons, women may completely lose their chance of getting pregnant; for patients who cannot get pregnant even with IVF treatment due to poor egg quality or insufficiency, egg donation is an effective treatment method.
For women who have lost hope of getting pregnant, egg donation can provide a solution regardless of the source of the problem.
The egg donation procedure, also known as egg donation or egg transplantation, involves all the stages applied in IVF treatment. The ovaries of donors are stimulated with medication, the eggs obtained are fertilized with sperm taken from the father-to-be. The fertilized eggs, that is, embryos, are transferred into the uterus of the recipient woman. It is an IVF treatment method that has been applied for nearly 30 years.
In Which Countries Is Egg Donation Applied?
For women who want to have children but cannot conceive naturally in any way, this method has been widely used for a long time. It is also widely used in Muslim countries. Iran, Egypt, and Lebanon are among the Muslim countries that practice egg donation. It is a method permitted in European countries such as Belgium, Spain, the UK, and Greece. It is one of the assisted reproductive treatments that can be applied in many African countries, South and North America, Australia, and some Asian countries.
In Turkey, however, egg donation is a prohibited practice regulated by IVF treatment legislation.
In the TRNC, egg donation was initially allowed under the first IVF regulation, but later, adjustments were made regarding this practice.
Who Is Egg Donation Applied To?
Egg donation is applied to:
Women who have entered early menopause or menopause and have no egg production,
Women with hereditary problems,
Women whose ovaries have been removed due to various diseases,
Women who have undergone heavy treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy,
Women whose ovaries cannot be stimulated with medication,
Couples with hereditary diseases such as hemophilia, Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s chorea that can be passed on to the child,
Couples with repeated failed IVF treatments,
Women who cannot have sufficient ovarian reserve due to age,
Gay couples.
Preparations and Procedures Required for Egg Donation
Donors must have valid identification. Applications of donors who cannot provide reliable information are not accepted.
The most important point in our center is the appropriate donor selection and preparation. Our center has been applying egg donation for many years, aiming for couples to have children safely.
Donors are selected according to ASRM and ESHRE standards.
Psychological tests such as anxiety and depression assessments are performed.
Donors with personality disorders or severe psychological problems are not accepted.
Infectious disease screenings are done in accredited laboratories.
Gynecological examinations and ovarian reserve evaluations are carried out.
Genetic tests are performed; up to 1800 genetic disorders can be screened if requested.
After these tests, a donor certificate is prepared, including physical, medical, and psychological details of the donor.
The recipient couple is informed about suitable donors. If both sides are ready, the donor begins medication on day 2–3 of menstruation. When the eggs reach the desired size and maturity, they are collected, fertilized with the father’s sperm, and the embryos are prepared for transfer.
At no stage do the donor and recipient meet each other. Confidentiality of personal information is essential.
Donors must sign a form declaring that the donation is voluntary. They are informed that they have no rights or responsibilities over the child. All responsibility for the baby belongs to the woman giving birth.
Recipients can learn about donor characteristics (excluding identity).
Donors have the right to withdraw until the egg retrieval process. If eggs do not develop as desired, the process may be canceled. All risks are explained to the donor.
The recipient undergoes gynecological and ultrasound examinations, and the male partner undergoes semen analysis. Both are tested for infectious diseases.
Couples must sign consent forms acknowledging that they understand the procedure, confidentiality, and responsibilities.
All devices used in our treatments are routinely checked by authorized companies. Every patient is treated like family, with the utmost care and support throughout the process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Egg Donation
What is egg donation?
Egg donation is an assisted reproductive treatment in which eggs collected from a healthy donor are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are then transferred into the uterus of the recipient woman.
Who can benefit from egg donation?
Egg donation may be suitable for women with early menopause, menopause, poor egg quality, low ovarian reserve, repeated IVF failures, genetic diseases, or women whose ovaries have been removed or damaged due to medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
How is egg donation performed?
Egg donation follows the main stages of IVF treatment. The donor’s ovaries are stimulated with medication, eggs are collected, fertilized with sperm from the intended father or selected sperm source, and the resulting embryos are transferred to the recipient woman’s uterus.
Is egg donation the same as IVF?
Egg donation is a form of IVF treatment. The difference is that the eggs used in the treatment come from a donor, while the embryos are transferred to the recipient woman.
When is egg donation recommended?
Egg donation may be recommended when a woman cannot produce healthy eggs, has entered early menopause, has insufficient ovarian reserve, has repeated unsuccessful IVF attempts, or carries a hereditary disease that may be passed on to the child.
Can women with menopause become pregnant with egg donation?
Yes. Women who have entered menopause may still be able to carry a pregnancy with egg donation if their uterus is healthy and they are medically suitable for pregnancy.
Are egg donors medically screened?
Yes. Egg donors undergo detailed medical, gynecological, infectious disease, psychological, and genetic evaluations. Donor selection is carried out carefully to support safe and suitable treatment planning.
Are egg donors selected according to international standards?
Yes. Donor selection may be performed according to recognized international standards such as ASRM and ESHRE guidelines. Medical history, physical characteristics, psychological health, ovarian reserve, and infectious disease results are evaluated.
Is donor identity confidential?
Yes. In egg donation, the donor and recipient do not meet each other. Personal identity information remains confidential, while the recipient may receive non-identifying information about donor characteristics.
What information can recipients learn about the donor?
Recipients may be informed about non-identifying donor characteristics such as physical features, medical suitability, blood group, education, and general health background, depending on the clinic’s policy and legal regulations.
Can an egg donor withdraw from the process?
Yes. A donor may withdraw from the process before egg retrieval. Donors are informed about the procedure, possible risks, and their rights before signing voluntary consent forms.
Does the donor have rights over the child?
No. Donors sign consent forms stating that the donation is voluntary and that they have no legal rights or responsibilities over any child born from the treatment. Responsibility belongs to the intended parents according to the applicable legal framework.
What tests are required for the recipient couple?
The recipient woman usually undergoes gynecological examination, ultrasound evaluation, and infectious disease screening. The male partner undergoes semen analysis and necessary blood tests before treatment planning.
Is genetic testing possible in egg donation?
Yes. Donors may undergo genetic screening, and embryos may also be evaluated with genetic testing when medically indicated. This can help reduce the risk of passing on certain hereditary diseases.
Is egg donation allowed in every country?
No. Egg donation laws vary by country. It is permitted in many countries, while it is prohibited or restricted in others. Couples should always check the legal regulations of the country where treatment will take place.
Is egg donation legal in Turkey?
Egg donation is prohibited in Turkey under IVF treatment regulations. Legal rules may differ in other countries, so treatment should be planned according to local legislation.
Can egg donation help after repeated IVF failures?
Yes. If repeated IVF failures are related to poor egg quality or insufficient ovarian response, egg donation may offer a higher chance of pregnancy by using eggs from a suitable donor.
Is pregnancy after egg donation different from natural pregnancy?
Once pregnancy is achieved, its development and medical follow-up are generally similar to other pregnancies. The recipient woman carries the pregnancy and gives birth to the baby.
Does egg donation guarantee pregnancy?
No. Egg donation does not guarantee pregnancy. Success depends on factors such as embryo quality, sperm quality, uterine health, the recipient’s age and general health, laboratory conditions, and treatment planning.
What should couples consider before egg donation?
Couples should understand the medical process, donor confidentiality, legal responsibilities, consent forms, success rates, possible risks, and country-specific regulations before beginning egg donation treatment.
