Egg sharing programs have become an increasingly popular option for families pursuing donor egg IVF. But if you only get half of the eggs retrieved, will that be enough for a baby?
In this article, we’ll aim to answer that question by exploring the concept of egg sharing, discussing factors that contribute to egg yield, looking at the average number of embryos created, and share how Cofertility can help you realize your dream of growing your family.
What is egg sharing?
Egg sharing is a model where egg donors get to keep half of the eggs retrieved for her own future use, instead of cash compensation.
Why is cash compensation problematic? A 2021 Harvard study found that 62% of donor-conceived adults felt the exchange of money for donor gametes was wrong, and 41% were troubled by the fact that money was exchanged around their conception. By allowing our donors to freeze their eggs as part of the process, our unique model honors everyone involved.
Why Cofertility uses an egg sharing model
At Cofertility, we exclusively work under the egg sharing model, which we call Split, because we think it’s better for everyone involved – the intended parents, the egg donor, and ultimately the donor-conceived child. Egg sharing empowers donors to preserve their own fertility, while lifting you up on your own journey. It’s a win-win.
Read more: Six Reasons Why Egg Sharing is a Better Egg Donation Model for Intended Parents
Will I get enough eggs in an egg sharing model?
One common question from individuals considering egg sharing is whether they will receive an adequate number of eggs to achieve a successful outcome. A 2003 UK study of egg sharing amongst IVF patients found that participating in an egg sharing program did not compromise the chance of achieving a pregnancy or live birth for the egg sharer or the recipient.
What affects how many eggs you receive in an egg sharing cycle?
There are several factors that can influence the number and quality of eggs retrieved, such as:
Donor ovarian reserve and egg yield
Even more important than age in predicting egg retrieval outcomes is ovarian reserve, which refers to the quantity of eggs. A higher ovarian reserve indicates a larger pool of eggs available for retrieval and sharing. One way to determine ovarian reserve is an antral follicle count that is done by a doctor. Another biomarker for ovarian reserve is anti-müllerian hormone (AMH). At Cofertility, we only work with egg donors with an AMH over 2.0 ng/mL, to increase the chances of sufficient egg yield.
Donor health and lifestyle factors
The overall health of the egg donor can play a significant role in the number of eggs available for sharing. Donors who maintain a healthy lifestyle, including being a non-smoker, have better reproductive health. Our donors go through rigorous screening to ensure and get medical approval to ensure they are a good egg donation candidate.
Response to stimulation protocols
Fertility clinics use stimulation protocols involving hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries and promote the development of multiple mature eggs. The response of the donor’s ovaries to these medications can vary, affecting the number of eggs that can be retrieved for sharing.
Hormone protocols and medication adherence
Fertility medications, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), are administered to the donor to stimulate the growth and maturation of multiple eggs within the ovaries. The dosage and duration of hormone stimulation are tailored to each individual to optimize the number of eggs produced. The exact drugs and dosages chosen will impact the outcome, as well as the donor’s adherence to the prescribed medications.
Ovarian monitoring
Regular monitoring through ultrasounds and blood tests is essential during the stimulation phase. These monitoring sessions help fertility specialists track the growth and development of follicles (fluid-filled sacs containing eggs) and adjust medication dosages if needed. Close monitoring ensures the timely retrieval of mature eggs.
As you can see, many of these items are related to the egg retrieval cycle itself, where outcomes can be influenced by the quality and expertise of the clinic and fertility doctor.
Read more: What are Some Tips on How to Find the Best Fertility Clinic?
How many eggs do families typically receive through Cofertility?
Fresh egg sharing at Cofertility
At Cofertility, for those who match with a donor in our fresh egg donation program, the average number of mature eggs a family receives and fertilizes is 12. The number of eggs retrieved varies by patient and cycle, but can be predicted by a donor’s age, AMH, and antral follicle count, all of which will be known to you after the donor’s initial screening. Qualified candidates have an ample ovarian reserve for both their own needs and sharing. Egg share donors also often work closely with a fertility doctor to determine, based on their own medical history, the optimal number of eggs needed for their own future family-building goals. Should it make sense for the donor, they may choose to pursue a second egg-sharing cycle to maximize the chances of success for everyone.
Frozen egg sharing at Cofertility
Matching with a donor in our frozen program can provide the opportunity to move forward with your family-building plans faster, as frozen eggs can be fertilized or shipped to your clinic immediately or as soon as the cycle is complete. Donors undergoing frozen cycles complete equally rigorous ovarian reserve testing. While the total number of frozen eggs available will vary based on the donor’s retrieval outcomes, every frozen match is guaranteed to have a minimum of at least 6 frozen eggs.
To learn more about these programs and the differences between them, click here.
How many embryos can you expect from egg sharing?
One 2015 study of 647 frozen donor eggs found that just three donor eggs would yield a little over one genetically normal embryo on average while nine donor eggs would be expected to yield three to four euploid embryos on average.
Keep in mind, these are just averages. Everyone’s experience is different and may be higher or lower than this.
How Cofertility’s Embryo Guarantee can help
While some agencies require you to pay extra to receive any form of a guarantee, Cofertility’s Embryo Guarantee is built into our pricing.
This is our promise that if anything outside of your control prevents you from reaching the guaranteed minimum number of blastocyst-stage embryos for your match, we will rematch you at no additional charge until that minimum is met, up to three total matches
Read more about our Embryo Guarantee.
Why families choose Cofertility for egg sharing
We aim to be the best egg sharing program by creating an experience that honors, respects, and uplifts everyone involved. Our model is a true win-win; it empowers donors to freeze their eggs for free when they donate half of the eggs retrieved to support your family-building goals. As a result of our model, the donors on our platform are as diverse as the intended parents we serve, and we work closely with families to understand cultural values and personal preferences so we can help find the right match.
We take a deeply human-centered approach to egg donation, because we believe families deserve better than a transactional, one-and-done experience. Our support doesn’t stop at matching, we’re committed to supporting donor-conceived families for life. Through ongoing education, resources, and guidance, we help intended parents raise happy, healthy children and celebrate their origin stories. To learn more about our programs, and to start browsing egg donors today, create your free Cofertility account.
