Egg donation (oocyte donation) is one of the most significant methods of assisted reproduction. It allows women who cannot use their own eggs—due to age, genetic conditions, or diminished ovarian reserve—to conceive and carry a child.
Medical Process
Donors undergo hormonal stimulation to promote the growth of multiple follicles. After about 10–14 days, eggs are retrieved in an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. The oocytes are then fertilized with sperm, and embryos are either transferred to the recipient’s uterus or cryopreserved.
According to the US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022), pregnancy success rates with donor eggs are substantially higher than with original eggs in women over 40. The average live birth rate per cycle with donor eggs is around 40–50%, while for women using their own eggs after age 42 it drops below 5%.
International Perspective
According to ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 2021), more than 50,000 donor egg cycles are performed annually in Europe. The leading countries of the world include:
- Spain – accounting for nearly 60% of all cycles in Europe,
- Czech Republic and Greece – major hubs due to availability and high-quality clinics,
- United States – over 18,000 cycles per year (ASRM, 2022).
Cross-border reproductive care is common. A study in Human Reproduction (2019) estimated that only 20–25% of patients in Europe undergo donor egg IVF outside their home country.
Psychological Dimensions
Donor motivation is multifaceted. A study by Söderström-Anttila et al., 2016 found that more than 65% of donors cited “helping another woman become a mother” as their primary motivation, while financial compensation played a smaller role.
On the recipient side, psychological support is key. Research published in Fertility and Sterility (2018) showed that over 70% of couples felt that counseling before pursuing donor egg IVF reduced their stress and eased decision-making.
Future Directions in Research
Biomedical science is exploring ways to reduce reliance on human donors. Promising developments include:
- In vitro maturation (IVM) – enabling immature eggs to mature outside the body,
- Oocytes derived from stem cells – still experimental, but according to Nature (2021) studies, this approach holds significant potential for future infertility treatments.