Find a donor
Wijnland Ova Bank offers a wide range of ova donors to patients who are in need thereof, due to various reasons, in order to start or extend their modern family.
Why make use of an ova donor bank?
Infertile couples may resort to making use of donor ova when the female partner cannot have her own genetic children. This can be due to a wide range of reasons, but is most commonly due to:
- Advanced reproductive age. This is a well-known possible reason and involves cases where the use of the female partner’s own ova does not result in a viable pregnancy, or the use of the female partner’s own ova could result in a viable pregnancy but the chances are so low that it is not advisable to undertake fertility treatment with her own ova.
- Early onset of menopause.
- Genetic disorders that either render the female partner infertile or could threaten the health of any offspring.
- Some women are born without ovaries, while some women’s reproductive organs have been damaged or surgically removed due to disease or other circumstances.
We provide support and guidance to any couple/person who seeks to start or grow their family. Let our family help yours.
Fresh or frozen ova?
When your fertility specialist has advised you, or you have decided, for whichever reason, to make use of donor ova, there are two options that you can consider. The first option is a fresh donation (synchronised donation), and the second option is to make use of ova from the donor bank. Below we provide a brief summary of the difference between the two options. It is important to note that various studies have recently investigated whether there is a difference, with regard to pregnancy outcome, when making use of fresh ova compared to vitrified (frozen) ova, and no significant difference has been established to date.
Once you have decided on the donor option best suited to your needs, the matching/donor-selection process can commence.
Fresh or Frozen Ova?
Fresh donation (synchronised donation)
This donation option allows for a recipient and an ova donor’s cycles to be “synchronised”. Once the recipient has chosen and confirmed the ova donor they would like to use, the donor will be required to start the donation-stimulation cycle at a specific time-point, when the recipient is ready for fertility treatment. Once the ova have been retrieved during follicular aspiration, the sperm of the recipient’s male partner, or sperm donor where applicable, will be used to fertilise the ova.
Ova from the ova bank (frozen donation)
Within this option, the donor will donate to Wijnland Ova Bank, thus synchronisation with a recipient will not be necessary. When the donor is ready to donate, the donation-stimulation cycle will commence and ova retrieved during follicular aspiration, will be vitrified (frozen) and stored in the ova bank until the donor is selected by a recipient. Once the recipient is ready to use the ova, it will be warmed/thawed and fertilised with the sperm of the recipient’s male partner, or sperm donor where applicable.
APPLY FOR DONOR OVA
1
APPLICATION
The application process initially consists of a profile form similar to the profile information questionnaire completed by the donor, and comprises a wide variety of questions that range from personal to medical and social information and also includes agreement and consent forms. These must please be completed in full by the recipient patient and the partner. Each of the involved parties should complete their own questions and both parties must sign all the pages of all the forms. The application can be handed in personally or emailed to the bank (nicole@wijnlandfertility.co.za).
2
CLINIC VISIT & INFORMATION SESSION
When applying to become recipients of donor ova, the applicants are requested to visit our clinic, if possible, or to give us a call. This is to ensure that the recipients are provided with all the necessary information regarding the process, to ensure that they have asked all the questions they might have, and to initiate the matching/choosing of a donor. The laboratory staff will consult with the patient, who will be provided with more information on the medical/scientific process of the assisted reproductive procedures and the costs involved.
3
DONOR SELECTION
Once the recipients have decided on which type of donor treatment they would like to make use of – fresh or frozen donor ova (what is the difference again? Scroll up), the matching/selection of a donor can take place. The profile form and any specific requests made by the recipients will serve as guideline for the clinic to provide the recipients with a few profiles of donors who seem best fitted to their needs. If the recipients find a donor whom they feel is best suited, the matching/selection process is complete. If the recipients are not completely sure whether the profiles provided are exactly what they are looking for, the needs/requirements are reassessed until a suitable donor is found. Once a donor is selected, a confirmation document will have to be completed by the recipients.
4
TREATMENT & ORDERING
When a donor has been selected and confirmed, the fertility treatment can start.
If the recipients are being treated at another clinic and they only need frozen ova from Wijnland Ova Bank, the ova can be transported to the clinic where the patient is being treated .
If the recipients are being treated at another clinic and they only need frozen ova from Wijnland Ova Bank, the ova can be transported to the clinic where the patient is being treated .
5
RECORDKEEPING
Wijnland Ova Bank must keep a very detailed record of all the donor ova issued, and all the outcomes, to ensure that we comply with the National Health Act. Thus, all information that relates to outcome when making use of donor ova must be provided to Wijnland Ova Bank.
This information includes:
- Pregnancy outcomes (for all procedures in which the donor ova were used, including frozen embryo transfers)
- Whether surplus embryos were vitrified and stored, and how many.
- If unused ova are still left or being stored at another clinic.
The patients’ help is essential to keep our ova bank records current and updated – so we require all patients to keep us informed of pregnancy outcomes as they happen.
This information includes:
- Pregnancy outcomes (for all procedures in which the donor ova were used, including frozen embryo transfers)
- Whether surplus embryos were vitrified and stored, and how many.
- If unused ova are still left or being stored at another clinic.
The patients’ help is essential to keep our ova bank records current and updated – so we require all patients to keep us informed of pregnancy outcomes as they happen.
1
APPLICATION
The application process initially consists of a profile form similar to the profile information questionnaire completed by the donor, and comprises a wide variety of questions that range from personal to medical and social information and also includes agreement and consent forms. These must please be completed in full by the recipient patient and the partner. Each of the involved parties should complete their own questions and both parties must sign all the pages of all the forms. The application can be handed in personally or emailed to the bank (nicole@wijnlandfertility.co.za).
2
CLINIC VISIT & INFORMATION SESSION
When applying to become recipients of donor ova, the applicants are requested to visit our clinic, if possible, or to give us a call. This is to ensure that the recipients are provided with all the necessary information regarding the process, to ensure that they have asked all the questions they might have, and to initiate the matching/choosing of a donor. The laboratory staff will consult with the patient, who will be provided with more information on the medical/scientific process of the assisted reproductive procedures and the costs involved.
3
DONOR SELECTION
Once the recipients have decided on which type of donor treatment they would like to make use of – fresh or frozen donor ova (what is the difference again? Scroll up), the matching/selection of a donor can take place. The profile form and any specific requests made by the recipients will serve as guideline for the clinic to provide the recipients with a few profiles of donors who seem best fitted to their needs. If the recipients find a donor whom they feel is best suited, the matching/selection process is complete. If the recipients are not completely sure whether the profiles provided are exactly what they are looking for, the needs/requirements are reassessed until a suitable donor is found. Once a donor is selected, a confirmation document will have to be completed by the recipients.
4
TREATMENT & ORDERING
When a donor has been selected and confirmed, the fertility treatment can start.
If the recipients are being treated at another clinic and they only need frozen ova from Wijnland Ova Bank, the ova can be transported to the clinic where the patient is being treated .
If the recipients are being treated at another clinic and they only need frozen ova from Wijnland Ova Bank, the ova can be transported to the clinic where the patient is being treated .
5
RECORDKEEPING
Wijnland Ova Bank must keep a very detailed record of all the donor ova issued, and all the outcomes, to ensure that we comply with the National Health Act. Thus, all information that relates to outcome when making use of donor ova must be provided to Wijnland Ova Bank.
This information includes:
- Pregnancy outcomes (for all procedures in which the donor ova were used, including frozen embryo transfers)
- Whether surplus embryos were vitrified and stored, and how many.
- If unused ova are still left or being stored at another clinic.
The patients’ help is essential to keep our ova bank records current and updated – so we require all patients to keep us informed of pregnancy outcomes as they happen.
This information includes:
- Pregnancy outcomes (for all procedures in which the donor ova were used, including frozen embryo transfers)
- Whether surplus embryos were vitrified and stored, and how many.
- If unused ova are still left or being stored at another clinic.
The patients’ help is essential to keep our ova bank records current and updated – so we require all patients to keep us informed of pregnancy outcomes as they happen.
Donor Ova selection options
OWN DONOR SELECTION
Recipients can select their own ova donors, if they do not prefer or require assistance from our team. Recipients can contact Wijnland Ova Bank, complete the profile application form and information session and we will provide a summary of all the donors we have available. Once one or two potential donors has been selected, the recipient can request that our donor bank staff provide the extended profiles. Once the recipient feels they have found a suitable donor for their treatment, they can confirm their donor with the bank.
ASSISTED DONOR SELECTION
As selecting a donor can be challenging and overwhelming, we can assist recipients, should they require support, when choosing an ova donor. The profile of the recipients and available donors can be matched according to physical characteristics, personality attributes and educational backgrounds, depending on the needs of the recipient. One or two potential donor profiles will be provided to the recipient, and once the recipient feels they have found a suitable donor for their treatment, they can confirm their donor with the bank.
It is important to remember that support and guidance are available before, during and after treatment. We realise that starting and growing your family is a journey, and we want to support you as best we can throughout this journey.
GUIDANCE, SUPPORT & COUNSELLING
Choosing a donor
Our clinic is always here to assist, guide and support in any possible way. Choosing a donor is a big decision and we are here to help you. Our fertility counsellor will provide assistance wherever necessary. If you are struggling to decide what you are looking for in a donor, or you just feel unsure about which candidate would be most suitable for you, we can guide you through the process. It is extremely important that you feel comfortable with your decision, and we are here to ensure this.
Donor siblings
At our clinic we encourage recipient families to make use of the same donor should they have more than one child. It is of course the recipient family’s decision whether they would like to use the same or a different donor when it comes to their child’s siblings, but mostly recipient families request the same donor and we fully support this. Although it might not always be an option due to the live birth limit of a donor as determined by the National Health Act, we try to accommodate this as far possible.
Disclose vs not disclose
Deciding to disclose the use of a donor, not only to one’s family but also to the child, is an extremely big decision. We will provide guidance and support throughout this journey, no matter whether you decide to disclose or not. This decision should be made by you, the recipient/s, always bearing in mind the best interest of the child. If this is something that you are worried about, our fertility counsellor will guide you to make a decision that you feel most comfortable with.
Frequently asked questions
RECIPIENT FAQS
Is there a cut-off age to receive donor eggs?
Yes, the clinic’s protocol indicates that a recipient of donor ova may not be older than 52 years of age, however the decision remains within the discretion of the treating physician.
What are the requirements for a donor?
Must be aged between 18 and 22 years, have a minimum qualification of a South African matric certificate or an equivalent high school qualification, have a normal body mass index (BMI), in other words not be underweight or obese. There are other factors that also play a role that are determined by the doctor during the donor’s medical screening.
What information will be given to me about the donor?
Unidentifiable biographical, medical, social and personal information that is relevant to donation.
How does the selection/matching of a donor work?
Once the recipients have decided on which type of donor treatment they would like to use – fresh or frozen donor ova, they will need to complete their profile form to provide the clinic with any specific requests they might have. This will serve as a guideline for the clinic to provide the recipients with a few profiles of donors that seem best fitted to their needs. If the recipients find a donor that they feel is best suited, the matching/selection process is complete.
Is the blood type of the donor important?
The donor’s blood type is not important from a medical point of view. Embryo implantation and potential complications are not influenced by the donor’s blood type. A possible reason why donors are selected with a blood type that complements the female recipient is that the intended parents might choose not to disclose the use of a donor to their children.
What is the approximate timeline for the donation procedure?
Once the recipients have selected their donor, a fresh ova donation cycle can take approximately six weeks, depending on the availability/stimulation of the donor. Frozen donor cycles are relatively quicker, taking approximately four weeks, as the cycle is only dependent on the recipient’s cycle.
Will I be able to have more than one child from the same donor?
If the donor’s live birth quota has not yet been reached, you will be able to have more than one child from the same donor.