It’s normal to wonder, “why do you take birth control before IVF?” It may seem contradictory since birth control pills are the most commonly used method to prevent pregnancy and IVF has the highest success rates of all fertility treatments at achieving pregnancy. So, why do fertility specialists often recommend using birth control pills at the beginning of IVF treatment?
Taking Birth Control Pills Before IVF to Time Your Menstrual Cycle
...Can you donate eggs while on birth control? The short answer is that it depends on which form of birth control you are on. Generally, you can donate eggs while on birth control pills or with a NuvaRing. Birth control methods like the patch or an IUD may need to be removed depending on the physician and clinic but will not delay your cycle.
However, methods like the birth control shot (Depo) and arm implants (Nexplanon or Implanon) will delay your cycle as you will need to discontinue use and wait a period of time before donating your eggs. In this blog, we’ll outline what to expect depending on which method of birth control you are using or have used.
...Written by Guest Author, Victoria Nino
Our friend Victoria Nino from @expectinganything is here to share her last blog in her series of guest blogs on donor conception. As a well-known advocate in the industry and mother via donor eggs herself, Victoria brings a special perspective to the table and helps women navigate their unique journey using donor eggs. In this post, Victoria shares a response for intended parents who may have fears about bonding with their baby or have wondered, “will I love my donor egg baby?” We hope her experience and insights brings you joy and hope for what’s to come.
...Written by Guest Author, Victoria Nino
We invited our dear friend Victoria from @expectinganything to share her experience using donor eggs with our community. Many people wonder, “when using donor eggs, will my baby look like me?” In this blog, Victoria addresses this common fear which she has also experienced and overcome. In addition to her invaluable insights, Victoria also shares a wealth of knowledge about the science of epigenetics and how mothers using donor eggs influence the development of their baby through phenotypic expression. Let’s hear from Victoria!
...If you are considering donating your eggs, you may be wondering, “can you donate eggs with an IUD?”
While there certainly are many factors which may disqualify you from being an egg donor, you can rest assured that having an IUD does not mean you can’t donate your eggs.
...In the last couple decades, the topic of egg donation has transitioned from a taboo topic to an open and honest conversation between men and women alike. As egg donors and intended parents have shared their own experiences with egg donation, society as a whole has developed a deeper understanding of the process and the incredible opportunity it offers. With the growing awareness surrounding egg donation, some people and potential donors may wonder, “why become an egg donor?”
So, What Are the Reasons to be an Egg Donor?
...In this very special egg donor experience Q&A video, our Case Manager Lauren sits down with an egg donor who is currently in her second egg donation cycle with Donor Nexus. Since this lovely donor was conceived via donor eggs herself, she feels an immense connection to egg donation and passionately shares her purpose as an egg donor.
In addition to sharing why she wanted to become an egg donor, Donor A vulnerably discusses the egg donation process, procedure, recovery, and more. We are so honored to share this egg donation experience with all potential egg donors. If you prefer text, we have the video transcribed for you below. Enjoy!
...For women who are wondering, “can you donate eggs after having a baby?” The answer is yes! At Donor Nexus, several of our egg donors have children of their own and choose to donate eggs to help other women and families experience the same joy they have experienced from parenthood.
Generally, previous pregnancies will not disqualify you from donating eggs. Actually, some clinics prefer egg donors who have had successful births already or have donated eggs successfully before. Since your body and eggs allowed you to get pregnant and have a baby, it shows that you are fertile and probably have healthy eggs.
...When you have the support and knowledge of an egg donor agency, their insight can make your fertility journey smoother. You have both an advocate and an experienced advisor on what matters need to be handled - from medical to legal, plus, they can help with the legwork to get you the answers you need.
Family-building can be stressful enough. Below, we provide an overview of pursuing donor eggs to build your family and the benefits of working with an accomplished donor egg agency.
...Whether this is your first time considering egg donation or you’ve always known you would need an egg donor to build your family, choosing an egg donor is not an easy process. I’ve personally been through the egg donation selection process multiple times now, with multiple different agencies and egg banks.
It can be exciting and equally overwhelming. I’m sharing some of the lessons I learned in hopes to make this process a bit easier for you.
...October recognizes Pregnancy and Infant Loss. If someone you know or yourself have experienced the loss of a child to stillbirth, miscarriage, SIDS, please join Donor Nexus in raising awareness around pregnancy loss.
Below, we will explore pregnancy loss, potential causes for miscarriage, what Recurrent Pregnancy Loss is, and various options to explore.
...In 1983, the first successful pregnancies using donated eggs were reported in Australia and the US. With the tremendous advances in science and public advocacy over the past 38 years, egg donation treatments are now more successful and accessible than ever before.
Originally the only option available, using fresh donor eggs is still a popular option today. However, using frozen donor eggs has also been growing in popularity over the past decade due to advancements in egg freezing technology using the vitrification process.
...In this blog and video, mother via donor egg IVF Victoria Nino vulnerably shares her infertility grief process. As an advocate in the TTC, IVF, and infertility communities, Victoria shares her valuable knowledge on infertility coping strategies and emotions. We are so honored to partner with her and we hope you find hope in her story and comfort in the strategies she shares for coping with infertility.
I’ve said goodbye to multiple loved ones, lost a home to a tragic fire, buried animals I loved deeply, and let go of many other meaningful possessions. I know what it feels like to lose something you love and grieve it.
...Epigenetics has been a fascinating and growing field of study over recent years, especially because of the implications it has for patients using donor eggs or donor embryos. In this blog, we will give a quick explanation of what exactly epigenetics is, and the incredible connections it establishes between a donor egg or donor embryo recipient mother and her unborn child.
Essentially, scientific studies of epigenetics are revealing that the activity levels of some genes may be “dimmed” or turned up in response to other external cues from the environment - even in the womb! This means that as a donor egg or donor embryo recipient, your body still influences the gene development of your baby.
...So, you have leftover embryos after IVF and you’re now feeling the stress of having to decide what to do. You’re not alone. According to a 2005 study, 71% of couples had not decided what they were going to do with their unused frozen embryos after storing them for an average of 4.2 years.
If you have decided that you have no use for the embryos, have you considered the option of donating embryos to other couples or individuals?
...For many intended parents, choosing an egg donor is one of the hardest decisions they've ever had to make. There are many different factors to consider when trying to find an egg donor, and sometimes the entire process can become overwhelming. It is easy to get caught up in the specific characteristics of each egg donor such as her hair color, height, education, and special talents. However, there are a few other factors that are important to consider before you even begin searching for an egg donor.
The Donor Nexus online database features a wide variety of available egg donors and frozen donor eggs ready to be matched with recipients.
...Of all the things to imagine when daydreaming about your future baby, eye color may be one of the most common things for parents to envision. For some intended parent(s), eye color may be a big deciding factor in which egg donor to choose, especially for IP’s who are hoping for a specific eye color in their child.
Did you know that the inheritance of eye color is polygenic, meaning that eye color is determined by more than one gene? There are about 16 known genes responsible for eye color. So, in reality, predicting your child’s eye color is a little more complex than the simple inheritance pattern you may remember from high school!
...Written by Guest Author, Victoria Nino
This blog post was written by Victoria Nino from @expectinganything. Victoria is a mother via donor eggs and a fierce voice in the donor egg community. She shares her journey authentically and helps women who are deciding to use donor eggs as they embark on their journeys. We are so excited to share her journey with you!
...We are excited to announce that we have officially partnered with CryoStork®, the industry’s most trusted provider of temperature-controlled IVF shipping services.
CryoStork® serves an integral role in our Frozen Donor Egg Program, allowing us to utilize their scientifically-enhanced technology and logistics expertise to ship our frozen donor egg lots domestically and internationally. We are proud to share that this superior shipping solution is included in our Frozen Donor Egg Cycles at no extra cost.
...You’ve made the leap to using donor eggs and now you’re searching high and low for the perfect egg donor. As you’re browsing egg donor profiles, you’re discovering all the decisions that need to be made. Oftentimes, one of the first decisions for donor egg recipients (intended parents) is whether they will choose a first-time egg donor or a proven egg donor. In this blog, we discuss important factors that should be taken into consideration, such as success rates and what the reality of going through a cycle with both first-time and proven donors tends to look like from our experience.
What is the Difference Between First-time vs. Proven Egg Donors?
...
