What To Expect When You Go Through A Donor Egg IVF Cycle

The following is an overview of what it can be like to go through
a donor egg IVF cycle.  Your doctor may require different tests for
you or your donor and may use a different stimulation protocol and
medications as well. 

    A.  Screening before actual cycle can begin
        1.  blood, sperm and other medical tests
        2.  trial cycle with drugs, ultrasounds, blood tests and
            maybe an endometrial biopsy
    B.  Coordinating a cycle with donor - possibly lupron or birth
        control pills
    C.  Recipient takes estrogen in either pill, shot or patch
    D.  Recipient has blood tests and ultrasounds to check uterine 
        lining
    E.  Estimated date of retrieval (will probably change)
        1.  same day as sperm contribution
        2.  start progesterone in shot, patch, suppository, pill or 
           vaginal capsule form
        3.  retrieval of eggs from donor, number and quality
    G.  Fertilization
        1.  same day as retrieval and/or next day
        2.  how many eggs fertilized
        3.  quality of embryos
        4.  how many to transfer (depends on quality and doctor)
        5.  how many to freeze (depends on quality and doctor)
        6.  different rules for different clinics, different      
            doctors in same clinic - don't assume
        7.  what is selective reduction 
    H.  Embryo Transfer 
        1.  2 days after retrieval
        2.  in hospital or clinic, usually trans-cervical
        3.  1 - 4 hours in bed, hours and position depends on     
            doctor
        4.  don't insert progesterone suppository or capsule before
            transfer
    I.  At home
        1.  stay in bed for 1 - 3 days, depends on doctor
        2.  implantation takes place probably 48 hours after      
            transfer but nobody knows for sure
        3.  physical restrictions - ASK - varies depending on
            doctor
    J.  Pregnancy blood test
        1.  9 - 14 days from transfer, depends on doctor
        2.  waiting to take the test is probably the most stressful
            time
        3.  if positive, blood test will be repeated in two days,
            number should at least double