At some point in our lives, most of us have the dream of building a family and having a child. We expect that when we are ready a child, it will come naturally. But for some of us, infertility is a hard reality to face, and the dream of having a child can only become true through one of the Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Among these options, Sperm and Egg Donation and Surrogate Assistance are two options for the most extreme cases. Donors or surrogates may be a family member, friend or an anonymous volunteer.

Egg donation offers the possibility of childbearing to women whose ovaries are absent or do not produce eggs. The donor ovaries are stimulated, and her eggs are retrieved and fertilized with the sperm from the male partner or using donor sperm. The fertilized eggs are then transferred into the wife's womb after she has been hormonally synchronized to match the embryos' stage of development. In many cases, the recipient couples have a large number of embryos through egg donation that allows the possibility of freezing for future use.

Use of donated eggs is generally recommended for:

• Those patients whose own eggs are of poor quality.

• Those patients with chromosomal or genetic diseases that they wish to avoid passing on to their offspring.

• Women with premature ovarian failure, absent ovaries, or those with diminished ovarian reserve and poor response to fertility drugs.

• Women in the older reproductive age group.

Having a baby through donor or surrogate assistance can be a wonderful family building option. However, the couple should address and openly communicate their desires, goals, objectives, and fears as clearly as possible. Education about your choices and honest communication by all parties is essential to make prudent, well-thought decisions.

The Tyler Medical Clinic works with various donor agencies to help place patients with the egg donor that best fits their needs. If you are interested in becoming an egg donor, please contact us at (310) 278-7590.