How high is the success rate?
The success rates of achieving pregnancy through egg donation vary greatly. Many factors are taken into account, such as the age of the recipient, hormonal disorders or endometriosis. Each reproductive clinic has its own statistics, which include these factors and many others. In general, the chances of success are estimated at around 30-40%.
Twins
To increase the chances of success of egg donation, two to three embryos are usually transferred, as the procedure has a serious failure rate. However, all transferred embryos can implant and grow. This increases the likelihood of a multiple pregnancy after egg donation and subsequent in vitro fertilization. The occurrence of twins is about 20 times more common than in a conventional pregnancy.
Where can egg donation be performed?
Egg donation is prohibited in Germany (as of July 2017), although there is currently a lot of discussion and more and more voices are being raised calling for egg donation to be legalized. At present, egg donation requires travel abroad to specialized clinics, which is why the term ‘reproductive tourism’ was created. Egg donation is officially permitted by law in countries such as Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Spain, England and the Netherlands.
It is advisable to study the subject well in advance and to find out about the various fertility centers. You should also be aware that German doctors are not officially allowed to provide medical treatment, even for hormonal therapy prior to egg donation, if it is clear that this is egg donation treatment. Therefore, a longer stay abroad or more frequent trips to the respective country may be necessary.
Egg donation is a time-consuming and costly procedure. Reasonable prices can be at the expense of the quality of medical care, and can also pose health risks. There are also frequent reports of egg donors being exploited financially. Thorough research and the use of field reports can reduce such risks.