The long path to pregnancy: early experience with dual anonymous gamete donation in a European in vitro fertilisation referral centre.
BACKGROUND
This investigation describes features of patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) where both gametes were obtained from anonymous donors.


METHODS
Gamete unsuitability or loss was confirmed in both members of seven otherwise healthy couples presenting for reproductive endocrinology consultation over a 12-month interval in Ireland. IVF was undertaken with fresh oocytes provided by anonymous donors in Ukraine; frozen sperm (anonymous donor) was obtained from a licensed tissue establishment. For recipients, saline-enhanced sonography was used to assess intrauterine contour with endometrial preparation via transdermal estrogen.


RESULTS
Among commissioning couples, mean+/-SD female and male age was 41.9 +/- 3.7 and 44.6 +/- 3.5 yrs, respectively. During this period, female age for non dual anonymous gamete donation IVF patients was 37.9 +/- 3 yrs (p < 0.001). Infertility duration was >/=3 yrs for couples enrolling in dual gamete donation, and each had >/=2 prior failed fertility treatments using native oocytes. All seven recipient couples proceeded to embryo transfer, although one patient had two transfers. Clinical pregnancy was achieved for 5/7 (71.4%) patients. Non-transferred cryopreserved embryos were available for all seven couples.


CONCLUSIONS
Mean age of females undergoing dual anonymous donor gamete donation with IVF is significantly higher than the background IVF patient population. Even when neither partner is able to contribute any gametes for IVF, the clinical pregnancy rate per transfer can be satisfactory if both anonymous egg and sperm donation are used concurrently. Our report emphasises the role of pre-treatment counselling in dual anonymous gamete donation, and presents a coordinated screening and treatment approach in IVF where this option may be contemplated.
Sills
Eric Scott
ES
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, The Sims Institute/Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Dublin, Ireland. drscottsills@sims.ie.
Mykhaylyshyn
Lyubov O
LO
Dorofeyeva
Ulyana S
US
Walsh
David J
DJ
Salma
Umme
U
Omar
Ahmed B
AB
Coull
Graham D
GD
David
Ileana A
IA
Brickell
Kathy M
KM
Tsar
Olga M
OM
Walsh
Anthony Ph
AP