Fertility Services

Third Party Reproduction

Third Party Reproduction Program

The staff of FSMG/SDCRS are very proud of our 3rd Party Reproduction Program. Since 2003, with the advances in ultrasound guided embryo transfers and blastocyst culture, Drs. Steven Lindheim and Arlene Morales have outcomes that are some of the best in the country.


Egg Donation Initiated Cycles Embryo Transfers Pregnancy Rate Clinical Pregnancy Rate
2003 13 12 58% 42%
2004 42 32 63% 59%
2005 45 41 83% 76%
2006 25 25 75% 74%
2007 26 22 82% 73%
Total 151 132 74% 67%

Gestational Surrogacy Initiated Cycles Embryo Transfers Pregnancy Rate Clinical Pregnancy Rate
2004 4 2 100% 100%
2005 4 4 75% 50%
2006 8 8 88% 75%
2007 7 6 83% 67%
Total 23 20 85% 70%

Egg Donation

Women who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to produce their own eggs or who produce eggs unlikely to result in a successful pregnancy, may be candidates for our egg donation program. For thousands of couples throughout the world, egg donation has proven very successful, giving them the opportunity to effectively conceive a child. In the egg donation process, eggs are retrieved from a donor's ovaries, fertilized in the laboratory with the sperm of the recipient's partner, and the resulting healthy embryos are returned to the recipient's uterus.

FSMG/SDCRS offers both known and anonymous donation. We recruit a diverse group of donors of all ethnic backgrounds. Donor candidates are between 19 and 32 years old. They must undergo extensive physical and psychological screening before they are accepted into the program. The screening process carefully follows guidelines that have been set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If you chose an anonymous donor, you will be provided with a detailed medical history of both the donor and her family, along with a thorough description of her physical characteristics. Throughout the process, confidentiality and anonymity will be maintained - donors and recipients will not meet.

Who are ovum donors?
Known egg donation uses eggs donated by a specific person: a sister, relative, or friend.

Anonymous egg donation uses eggs donated anonymously from women recruited specifically for egg donation or from women undergoing an IVF cycle who are willing to donate excess eggs. Donors are compensated for each completed cycle.

Before donors are accepted into the program, they undergo various medical and psychological evaluations. We screen all egg donors according to guidelines recommended by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Potential donors must be between the ages of 19 and 32 and non-smokers. Candidates fill out a medical questionnaire reviewing their medical, family history and social habits, all of which are reviewed by us to determine the donor's acceptability and ascertain potential risk for significant medical or genetic disorders.

The potential donor and her partner (if applicable) are then invited to meet with us to learn about why women need an egg donor, the process, and the emotional, psychosocial, ethical and legal issues that pertain to egg donation. It is important to evaluate the donor's well-being and level of comfort to cope with the stress of being a donor. Counseling allows the donor to explore the effect her donation may have not only on herself but on the recipient and the potential child that is conceived.

If the egg donor feels comfortable with the process, she will undergo various tests to assure good medical health. These tests include sexually transmitted diseases, toxicology, and carrier status for genetic disorders including Cystic Fibrosis, Thalasemia, Sickle Cell Anemia (if indicated), and a complete physical examination.

While the process may seem overwhelming, we will walk you through each step. From start to finish, you should expect this process to take from 3 to 6 months until completion. We start by performing a complete review of your medical records and a careful assessment to individualize your treatment. While all tests performed are thorough and efficient, we also make sure not to repeat any tests previously done by other physicians as long as they have been done appropriately and within a certain time frame.

The other components include:

  • Legal Contracts for all parties
  • Completed Check-list requirements
  • Psychological counseling
  • The Treatment Cycle

Surrogacy
More and more intended parents are using surrogacy as a means to conceive and bear a child. A number of the most common indications include:

  • Congenital Anomalies of the Uterus
  • Uterine Fibroids
  • Severe Asherman's Syndrome (Intra-uterine Adhesions)
  • Recurrent Miscarriage
  • Hysterectomy for Uterine/Cervical Cancer
  • Advanced Maternal Age
  • Medical Condition(s) of the Intended Parent precluding pregnancy
  • Male Couples who require a Gestational Surrogate and Donor Egg

Usually, although not always, the woman who carries and bears a child for an individual or a couple is paid for the risk she assumes and the service she provides. Agencies typically recruit, screen, and legally represent all potential candidates as gestational surrogates, while we will do all the medical testing. In contrast, friends or family members can be screened and tested by the Fertility Specialists of San Diego, but are referred to Surrogacy Agencies for legal representation.

What is the difference between traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy?
Traditional surrogates use their own genetic material to conceive a child with sperm from the intended father or a donor. Gestational carriers do not use their own genetic material; they use genetic material from the intended parents or donors. Most surrogate parentage arrangements these days are gestational, rather than traditional. Traditional surrogacy may allow for legal risks which can be avoided in gestational surrogacy situations. For the same reason, it is generally a better idea to use anonymous, rather than known, egg and sperm donors.

How do gestational carrier (surrogate) and intended parents meet?
There are centers around the country. These programs offer for intended parents potential gestational carriers (surrogates). Each is typically directed by a licensed social worker and represented by legal counsel. Once a potential gestational carrier (surrogate) completes an extensive application, she is screened and referred to a licensed psychologist for evaluation before being admitted into a program. Intended parents must also complete an application, and once invited into a program, they are matched with a potential gestational carrier (surrogate) of their choosing.

The potential gestational carrier (surrogate) is evaluated here at Fertility Specialists Medical Group for medical evaluation and, if appropriate, procedures which will lead to conception and birth. Counseling is provided throughout the pre-pregnancy period and during the pregnancy. Professional services are designed to help you through your surrogacy experience in a positive environment.

How do we make sure all legal requirements are completed so that we are not the child's parents?
Each Surrogacy program provides legal services by evaluating the potential /gestational carrier's (surrogate's) health insurance policy, drafting the Parentage Agreement (prior to conception of the child), filing all pleadings and appearing in court to obtain guardianship and parentage orders for the intended parents, and ensuring that the Bureau of Vital records places the intended parents' names on the child's birth certificate. The goal is to ensure that, at the conclusion of the gestational carriers (surrogates) process, you are the legal parents of your child.

The role of assisted reproduction has given hope to many couples in their quest for parenthood where options for success are otherwise minimal or nonexistent. This field will continue to be a dynamic specialty of ever-changing technology to enable and increase this opportunity for couples to achieve their goal of parenthood.

Required Screening and Testing:
Preliminary screening tests are required prior to initiating an IVF cycle in order to help optimize your outcome. The tests that you may need depend on your overall general health, past health problems and any pertinent family history. The tests are intended to look for problems that could impact your chances of success with IVF treatment. Your partner will also need to have some testing done as described below. On occasion some of the tests may need to be repeated. If your medical and/or family history suggests that you may be at risk for certain inherited or autoimmune diseases, additional testing may be ordered.

For Those Who May Also Need Donor Eggs:
Some women are unable to conceive because they cannot produce normal healthy eggs. Our ovum (egg) donor program can help women who otherwise would not be able to conceive and allow a gestational carrier (surrogate) carry their "legal" child. Egg donation was started in the 1980's as an alternative to provide women with young, healthy eggs. Success rates for pregnancy (as high as 75% per cycle) are known to increase dramatically with the use of this treatment option.
There are a number of indications for an egg donor including:

  • Natural menopause
  • Surgically induced menopause
  • Premature ovarian failure
  • Poor quality eggs and repetitive failures with in vitro fertilization
  • Women who carry genetic abnormalities or genetically transmitted diseases.

We have been involved with egg donation since 1991 and have previously established some of the largest programs in the country. Since then, we have helped many women conceive with eggs donated by both identified (known) and anonymous donors.

In Vitro Fertilization
Assisted Hatching
Blastocyst Transfer
Cryopreservation

Last updated: July 22, 2008
Author: Dr. Arlene J. Morales

 

 

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