Sometimes due to some fertility issues, embryos need to be donated. The donated embryos are frozen and stored. These are then used for frozen embryo transfer. During the treatment and prior to implantation, the frozen embryos are retrieved and tested for disease. Read on to know in detail. Couples resort to embryo donation when they are really worried about fertility issues. A number of anonymous couples may donate their embryos. This is basically when some extra embryos remain from their earlier IVF treatment cycles. Some clinics also create donated embryos by fertilising donated eggs and donated sperms. Donated embryos are used in a treatment procedure called frozen embryo transfer. In this articleHow are Donated Embryos Retrieved?How the Frozen Embryo is Transferred?The Preparation of the Thawed EmbryosEmbryo TransplantationHow are Donated Embryos Retrieved? During treatment the clinic retrieve the donated embryo from the frozen storage. These embryos are required to be kept in a frozen state and duly quarantined prior to their implantation in the uterus of the woman. It is important to ensure that the embryos are safe and not diseased. The embryo also needs to be checked and tested that do not end up infecting the uterus and cause other problems to the mother or the baby. Tiny glass vials are used to carry the embryos and then they are allowed to freeze in liquid nitrogen. The process is quite akin to the manner in which the sperms are frozen for storage. When required during the treatment the vials are taken out and the embryos are allowed to slowly thaw in room temperature. Various chemical and sterile solutions are used to aid the removal of the cyroprotectant encasing the embryo. They are actually added to preserve the embryo during the freezing process. How the Frozen Embryo is Transferred? Before transferring the embryo into the uterus of the woman it is important to prepare her body so that it readily accepts the transplanted embryo. The physicians administer a series of fertility drugs for this purpose and this also conditions the body for the probable pregnancy. This initial treatment cycles continues for around two months. After this the woman is prescribed birth control pills in order to regulate her menstrual cycle. Leuprolide, which is a GnRH agonist is also administered which suppresses the pituitary gland and results in a successful buildup of the all important lining of the endometrium. This treatment goes on for about a month, the birth control pill is stopped and this brings about the normal period in the woman. The GnRH is also simultaneously discontinued. A month prior to the transplantation estradiol is injected that basically enhances the growth of tissues on the uterine lining. As the lining grows and thickens, progesterone injections are prescribed to act as a support to the luteal phase. Ultrasounds are carried out at regular intervals to check the thickness and condition of the uterine lining. The Preparation of the Thawed Embryos As the uterine lining gets prepared, it gradually becomes conditioned for the transplantation of the donated embryo. The frozen embryos are taken out from the storage and thawed. This happens in room temperature and then the embryos are bought to body temperature that is, 39 o Celsius. Further, tests are carried out to analyse its formation and health. This needs to be ensured as some embryos are found unable to survive the freezing process. These tests are carried by a reproductive endocrinologist. Depending on the results and the doctor decides on the number of embryos that should be transplanted in the uterus. Generally in each procedure not more than four embryos are transplanted. Embryo Transplantation The embryos are transplanted into the uterus through the insertion of a syringe. It helps in the placement of the embryo inside the catheter and then it is inserted inside the uterus of the woman. The objective is to deposit the embryo inside the womb. Embryo donation allows an infertile woman, to experience all the joys of motherhood, which even adopting a baby may not provide. This is the last resort for:Infertile couples who are unable to conceive even after fertility treatments.Single women who want to have a baby but who cannot use their own eggs.Couples who carry a risk of passing on a genetic disorder to the child.The procedure for embryo donation is strictly confidential. There is no contact between donating couple and the recipients. So fulfilling the dream of having your own baby is now possible with embryo donation.
Sometimes due to some fertility issues, embryos need to be donated. The donated embryos are frozen and stored. These are then used for frozen embryo transfer. During the treatment and prior to implantation, the frozen embryos are retrieved and tested for disease. Read on to know in detail. Couples resort to embryo donation when they are really worried about
fertility issues. A number of anonymous couples may donate their embryos. This is basically when some extra embryos remain from their earlier
IVF treatment cycles. Some clinics also create donated embryos by fertilising donated eggs and donated sperms. Donated embryos are used in a treatment procedure called frozen embryo transfer.
How are Donated Embryos Retrieved?
During treatment the clinic retrieve the donated embryo from the frozen storage. These embryos are required to be kept in a frozen state and duly quarantined prior to their implantation in the uterus of the woman. It is important to ensure that the embryos are safe and not diseased. The embryo also needs to be checked and tested that do not end up infecting the uterus and cause other problems to the mother or the baby.
Tiny glass vials are used to carry the embryos and then they are allowed to freeze in liquid nitrogen. The process is quite akin to the manner in which the sperms are frozen for storage. When required during the treatment the vials are taken out and the embryos are allowed to slowly thaw in room temperature. Various chemical and sterile solutions are used to aid the removal of the cyroprotectant encasing the embryo. They are actually added to preserve the embryo during the freezing process.
How the Frozen Embryo is Transferred?
Before transferring the embryo into the uterus of the woman it is important to prepare her body so that it readily accepts the transplanted embryo. The physicians administer a series of fertility drugs for this purpose and this also conditions the body for the probable pregnancy. This initial treatment cycles continues for around two months.
After this the woman is prescribed birth control pills in order to regulate her menstrual cycle. Leuprolide, which is a GnRH agonist is also administered which suppresses the pituitary gland and results in a successful buildup of the all important lining of the endometrium. This treatment goes on for about a month, the birth control pill is stopped and this brings about the normal period in the woman. The GnRH is also simultaneously discontinued.
A month prior to the transplantation estradiol is injected that basically enhances the growth of tissues on the uterine lining. As the lining grows and thickens, progesterone injections are prescribed to act as a support to the luteal phase. Ultrasounds are carried out at regular intervals to check the thickness and condition of the uterine lining.
The Preparation of the Thawed Embryos
As the uterine lining gets prepared, it gradually becomes conditioned for the transplantation of the donated embryo. The frozen embryos are taken out from the storage and thawed. This happens in room temperature and then the embryos are bought to body temperature that is, 39 o Celsius.
Further, tests are carried out to analyse its formation and health. This needs to be ensured as some embryos are found unable to survive the freezing process. These tests are carried by a reproductive endocrinologist. Depending on the results and the doctor decides on the number of embryos that should be transplanted in the uterus. Generally in each procedure not more than four embryos are transplanted.
Embryo Transplantation
The embryos are transplanted into the uterus through the insertion of a syringe. It helps in the placement of the embryo inside the catheter and then it is inserted inside the uterus of the woman. The objective is to deposit the embryo inside the womb.
Embryo donation allows an infertile woman, to experience all the joys of motherhood, which even adopting a baby may not provide. This is the last resort for:
- Infertile couples who are unable to conceive even after fertility treatments.
- Single women who want to have a baby but who cannot use their own eggs.
- Couples who carry a risk of passing on a genetic disorder to the child.
The procedure for embryo donation is strictly confidential. There is no contact between donating couple and the recipients. So fulfilling the dream of having your own baby is now possible with embryo donation.
