Austin IVF Donors

More IVF Donors and Better Outcomes

The decade between 2000 and 2010 saw a steady growth in the number of donor eggs used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) and improved outcomes for these procedures, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Incorporating data from 95 percent of all IVF cycles completed in the U.S. during the study period, researchers from the Emory School of Medicine analyzed records from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance System. Their review found that egg donation nearly doubled, increasing from around 10,000 cases in 2000 to 18,300 in 2010. Good birth outcomes also rose from 2000 to 2010.

“Donor eggs are a wonderful option for women who have an extremely low probability for pregnancy with their own eggs,” says Dr. Shahryar Kavoussi, the medical director of Austin Fertility and Reproductive Medicine/Westlake IVF, the nation’s sole private fertility center that offers complete couples care from fellowship trained specialists in both male and female infertility. Most commonly donated by an anonymous donor and sometimes by a friend or family member, these eggs are typically retrieved from the donor and fertilized through IVF. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the recipient’s uterus in hopes of establishing a successful pregnancy.

“There has been a greater awareness of, and interest in, the use of donor eggs for IVF in recent years,” explains Dr. Kavoussi. “The high pregnancy rates that are achieved with donor eggs and IVF are due to optimal egg quality, which translates into higher quality embryos. Not only is there a good probability for pregnancy and live birth, but there is an increased likelihood that the couple will have surplus embryos for cryopreservation.”

Double board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Kavoussi is a six-time recipient of the Patients’ Choice Award. He offers his patients an assortment of fertility evaluations and treatments that includes IVF, ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination.

To arrange a personal infertility consultation with Dr. Kavoussi, call Austin Fertility and Reproductive Medicine/Westlake IVF at (512) 444-1414.