Donor Program

In some fertility cases, a woman will not have adequate eggs or a man will not have adequate sperm. Under these circumstances, the Emory Reproductive Center offers both an egg and sperm donation program. Donation also may be used by single women, couples carrying genetic disorders or women who are Rh sensitized.

• Egg (Oocyte) Donation — Egg donation is available to patients who can not produce a pregnancy using their own eggs. For egg donation, some patients arrange for a friend or family member to donate eggs, while others prefer to use eggs from anonymous sources. Characteristics of the donors are made available to the egg recipients to help them make an informed decision and to give them important information about the donor. Physical characteristics of the donor are matched with those of the recipients, so parents and babies will look more alike. Anonymous donors are screened for transmissible disorders including hereditary and infectious diseases. Once screened and accepted, egg donors are given hormonal medication similar to those administered during the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. Retrieval of the eggs and insemination with the male’s sperm also mimics that of IVF. Embryos that result are then implanted into the “mother-to-be’s” uterus.
  

  Give the gift of parenthood Become an egg donor Call 404-778-7777

  
  
• Embryo Donation — Embryo donation involves cryopreserved (frozen) embryos from a prior IVF cycle. Embryos are donated by a woman who previously went through IVF and wishes to donate her remaining embryos.
  
  
• Donor Sperm — Donor sperm is indicated for azoospermia (absence of sperm in the semen that is often due to genetic causes, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy), or vasectomy. Donor sperm may also be used by single women, couples carrying genetic disorders or a woman who is Rh sensitized and her partner is Rh positive. Sperm donors undergo intensive surveillance to reduce the chance of hereditary disorders and infectious diseases, including HIV. In most cases, anonymous donors provide semen to sperm banks. Sperm banks often provide information regarding physical traits to match donors with recipients.

Attend a free fertility seminar.