Egg donation is an effective fertility treatment for women who are unable to conceive using their own eggs. In some cases, a woman may not have any of her own eggs: prior removal of the ovaries, cancer treatment that has damaged the ovaries, and early menopause.In others, she may not have enough eggs or they may be of poor quality. In an egg donation treatment, another woman, the egg donor, undergoes ovarian stimulation.

At the same time, the intended recipient undergoes hormonal treatment to prepare her uterus for an embryo transfer. As in a standard in vitro fertilization cycle, eggs are retrieved from the egg donor, fertilized with the recipient's partner's sperm, and embryos are transferred into the recipient's uterus.

FAQs

How do I find an egg donor?

At the Ottawa Fertility Centre, the egg donation program requires patients to find their own donor. It is generally recommended that the egg donor be under 35 years of age. Please speak with your physician for more details.

Can I pay a donor for her eggs?

No. In Canada, it is illegal to purchase a woman's eggs. Egg donation must be an altruistic act.