Using donor eggs involves a similar process as in vitro
fertilization (IVF). However, the process is more complex due to
factors like the availability of a desirable donor, and
coordinating the menstrual cycles of the recipient and the
donor. Using donor eggs in an IVF cycle includes the following
steps: Two or three hormonal medications are administered to
align the women’s menstrual cycles. If the embryo recipient is
still having menstrual cycles, Lupron® is taken to suppress the
cycle’s natural course. Then an estrogen patch is administered
shortly after the period starts and changed daily until both
women’s cycles are in sync. Hormonally coordinating the cycles
gives the embryo recipient the best chance of achieving a
pregnancy by preparing the uterus lining for embryo implantation
in the correct implantation window. A semen sample must be
combined with the donor eggs for fertilization on the same day
the eggs are retrieved. The fertilization takes place in a
laboratory using IVF techniques. The day after