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Using Donor Eggs: What to Expect & How It Works

Choosing to grow your family with the help of donor eggs is a deeply personal decision — and one that offers many people a hopeful path forward. Whether you’re navigating diminished ovarian reserve, age‑related infertility, a genetic condition, or you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, donor eggs can significantly improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy. At RSCNJ, our team supports you at every step, making the process feel clear, compassionate, and empowering.

Why Patients Consider Donor Eggs

Egg donation may be recommended when:

• Ovarian reserve is low or egg quality has declined

• You’re in your 40s or beyond and looking to build your family

• There’s a risk of passing on a genetic condition

• Previous IVF cycles haven’t resulted in viable embryos

• You’re a same‑sex male couple growing your family

Donor eggs offer strong success rates because donated eggs typically come from young, healthy donors with excellent ovarian function.

How the Donor Egg Process Works

Here’s what the journey generally looks like at RSCNJ:

Choosing a Donor

You can choose:

• A donor from an accredited egg bank, such as MyEgg Bank

• A fresh donor, recruited and screened specifically for your cycle

• A known donor (such as a sister, relative, or friend)

All donors undergo extensive screening for medical history, genetic conditions, infectious diseases, and psychological readiness.

Fertilizing the Donor Eggs

Once eggs are retrieved from the donor, they’re fertilized with sperm (partner or donor). The embryology team then closely monitors embryo development over the next 5–6 days.

Embryo Transfer

The healthiest embryo is selected for transfer into your uterus, usually during a medicated cycle that prepares your lining for implantation.

Pregnancy Testing & Support

About 10–12 days after transfer, you’ll return for a pregnancy test. If the cycle is successful, our team continues to monitor you through early pregnancy to ensure everything is progressing safely.

The Emotional Side of Using Donor Eggs

While donor eggs offer an incredible opportunity to build a family, it’s completely normal to experience mixed emotions along the way. Many patients tell us they feel hopeful and relieved — yet also surprised by moments of grief, guilt, or uncertainty. All of these feelings are valid.

Here are some common emotional experiences:

Grief or Loss

Some patients grieve the loss of a genetic connection. This doesn’t mean you love your future child any less — it’s simply part of acknowledging a shift in expectations.

Concerns About Identity

It’s normal to worry: “Will I feel like the baby is mine?” “Will my child feel connected to me?”
Over and over, parents share that the experience of pregnancy, birth, nurturing, and bonding quickly dissolves these fears.

Support Matters

At RSCNJ, we encourage you to:

• Speak openly with your care team

• Work with a fertility‑focused therapist

• Include your partner or support person in the process

• Ask questions — as many as you need

You’re not navigating this alone. Emotional support is just as important as medical guidance.

Success Rates & What to Expect

Using donor eggs results in significantly higher success rates compared to IVF with one’s own eggs, especially for patients over age 40. Most importantly, you maintain the experience of pregnancy, childbirth, and bonding from day one.

Final Thoughts

Growing your family with donor eggs is a courageous, hopeful step. At RSCNJ, you’ll have a dedicated team guiding you medically and emotionally — with honesty, compassion, and personalized care.

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