Stages of the treatment – all the stages of a donor ICSI cycle are similar to a conventional ICSI cycle except that the sperm used for ICSI are taken from a sperm donor.

The steps involved are:

1. Ovarian Stimulation and monitoring of growing follicles

Once a vaginal scan and hormone blood workup on day 2-3 of the cycle is favourable, the woman is treated with ovarian stimulation drugs daily (FSH AND OR HMG injections given subcutaneously or intramuscularly). These drugs (similar to hormones that are naturally produced in women) will stimulate the ovaries to produce more oocytes than usual. The development of oocytes (eggs) is then controlled by periodic ultrasound examinations and blood tests (to assess levels of hormones in response to treatment).

When the follicles are sufficiently developed, the woman is given an ovulation trigger injection (HCG or agonist) which will trigger the maturation and release of the oocytes from the ovarian follicles. The procedure of oocyte or egg pick-up (retrieving oocytes from the ovaries) should be made 35 to 36 hours after the trigger injection is administered.

2.Sperm Sample

The donor sperm is selected by the embryologist based on very strict criteria, after a rigorous process of selection and exclusion of genetic diseases and psychological evaluation. The sperm used at lush fertility comes from certified sperm banks, with excellent and comprehensive quality control methods.

The entire process is carried out with full assurance of confidentiality and with the informed consent of the beneficiary (s) of the treatment.

3. Oocyte pickup and ICSI

The oocyte pick-up is carried out under ultrasound monitoring and involves the introduction into the vagina of a very fine needle that will allow the collection of oocytes from each of the ovaries. This operation is performed under sedation and takes about 15 to 30  minutes.

In case of a fresh transfer, From the day of the egg retrieval, the woman starts taking progesterone, in order to prepare the endometrium for a successful embryo implantation. After pickup the oocytes are transferred to a culture medium in the laboratory and then treated and microinjected with one sperm per egg.

After this process, the oocytes are transferred once again to culture medium to facilitate the formation of embryos.

4. Fresh Embryo Transfer

On the Embryo transfer day (two to five days after fertilization) the embryos (usually two) are transferred into the womb of the woman for implantation.

It is recommended to avoid intense physical activity for five days following the embryo transfer.

5. Embryo Cryopreservation

Any viable surplus embryos that are not used in fresh treatment can be frozen and used later in a subsequent embryo transfer cycle when needed (either because the couple wants to have a second child, or if the first attempt fails) or can be donated for scientific research;  be donated to another couple or may be destroyed depending on the couple’s decision and the conditions laid down by law.

FROZEN EMBRYO TRANSFER – frozen embryo transfer is preferred if the uterine lining (endometrial thickness) is not satisfactory or when the woman is at high risk for OHSS.