Fresh Cycle vs. Frozen Cycle
San Diego Egg Donation Services
We offer intended parents the option between fresh and frozen eggs. A fresh
egg is taken from a donor after the intended parents and donor have matched
and the fertilization process takes place right away. Frozen eggs can
be stored, so the intended parents can choose a matched egg and begin
the retrieval at their leisure.
What to Expect Via Frozen Egg Donation
Research has shown that the success rates for IVF through fresh or frozen
eggs is roughly the same. Many people choose to use a frozen egg as the
process is simpler and less expensive than a fresh cycle. Additionally,
since frozen eggs have already been retrieved from the donor, you have
greater control over when to begin the fertilization process.
The frozen advantage:
- Simpler treatment
- Synchronization of cycles is not necessary
- More control over schedule
- More affordable
However, in a frozen egg cycle there are generally eight or more eggs produced,
and the chances of having extra embryos for cryopreservation for future
use are lower than a fresh cycle. If intended parents wish to conduct
genetic screening on the embryos to identify potential chromosome abnormalities
or select a desired gender, we strongly encourage purchasing additional
frozen eggs to ensure a successful outcome.
What to Expect Via Fresh Egg Donation
Though there are very few drawbacks to frozen eggs, there are still many
people who prefer to use the fresh egg process. This route requires that
you and your donor synchronize menstrual cycles, meaning it could take
some time before the egg retrieval takes place. There is also a degree
of uncertainty regarding wither the donor will have an optimal response
to IVF fertility medications during that particular cycle. The primary
benefit of fresh egg donation is that it provides for a greater number
of frozen embryos for future procedures.