DONOR CONCEPTION/THIRD-PARTY REPRODUCTION TORONTO

There are several reasons why individuals and couples may benefit from donor eggs/and or sperm:

Decreased Egg Number - Decreased egg number (or diminished ovarian reserve) can occur as a result of advancing ovarian age, premature ovarian insufficiency, lifestyle factors such as smoking, and certain medical conditions and treatments such as ovarian surgery or chemotherapy.

Decreased Egg Quality - Decreased egg quality can occur for the same reasons as low egg number. Previous unsuccessful IVF cycles may also be an indication of decreased egg quality and a reason to consider the use of donor eggs.

Male Factor Infertility - If a male partner has a low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or other fertility issues, using donor sperm can significantly increase the chances of conception.

Individuals/Couples without Ovaries or Sperm - Individuals without ovaries/and or sperm can use the donor gamete they need in order to build their family.

Same-Sex Couples - Donor gametes allow same-sex couples to use either IUI or IVF treatments as a way to build their family.

Single Parent by Choice - Single individuals may choose to use donor eggs and/or sperm to become parents without a partner.

Patients with Inherited Genetic Conditions - Patients with ovaries/and or sperm who have certain inherited genetic conditions may wish to use donor gametes to reduce the risk to their offspring.

The first step of the process is donor selection. There are two ways to choose a donor:

1. Through a Donor Egg or Sperm Bank - Frozen donor eggs and sperm are most commonly purchased from an anonymous, or open to be known, donor through a donor egg or sperm bank that adheres to the stringent standards of Health Canada. Donors can be selected with personalized criteria such as physical attributes, ethnicity, educational background and more.

Pollin will provide you with a list of vetted and trusted Egg and/or Sperm banks we work with to start your selection process. Our care team can help you navigate the various donor resources, simplifying your path to pregnancy.

2. Known (Directed) Donor - A known or directed egg donor, such as a family member or friend, can be used as a source of eggs. This option involves the known donor undergoing an IVF cycle and egg retrieval.

* Please note Pollin does not currently offer a known (directed) sperm donor option, however we are working on including this in our future services.

Donor through Egg or Sperm Bank  - Once an egg or sperm donor is selected, the eggs/and or sperm can be quickly and safely shipped to Pollin. 

Donor eggs are thawed and fertilized with sperm from the intended parent or a donor to create embryos. Viable embryos can then be genetically tested and frozen, frozen without genetic testing, or transferred directly to the uterus of the intended parent. 

Donor sperm is thawed and used to fertilize the egg in an IUI or IVF cycle of the intended parent.

Known (Directed) Donor - Once a known egg donor is selected, the donor is referred to Pollin for a comprehensive assessment to determine their eligibility for donation. 

This assessment focuses on the potential donor’s fertility and medical health, ovarian reserve and pelvic anatomy. Infectious disease and genetic screening according to Health Canada guidelines are also performed. 

The donor (if known/directed) and recipient parent(s) then undergo legal and psychological counseling before signing consent documents. Our team will provide you with a list of exceptional legal and counseling resources to assist you.

Once these important steps are complete, the donor will undergo an IVF cycle typically at the cost of the recipient. The eggs will be retrieved and fertilized with sperm to create embryos, which are either frozen for future use or testing, or used immediately for a fresh embryo transfer to the intended parent, with any remaining embryo(s) frozen for future use. 

IVF cycles using donor eggs and/or sperm are associated with high rates of pregnancy, regardless of the age of the intended parent, as donors are typically patients with high egg/ and or sperm quantity and quality. Egg quantity and quality as well as sperm quality are important contributors to pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth rates.