Donors are selected according to age, health and medical history. All such information is collected through a questionnaire and an interview with an experienced and qualified healthcare professional. During the gamete donor selection process, we ensure:
a. Maximum physical and immunological similarity with the recipient, and optimal compatibility with the woman and her family environment.
b. The donor is aged between 18 and 35, and has not produced more than 6 children born alive.
c. The donor has good physical and emotional health, and there are no genetic or infectious diseases transmissible via the donation.
d. The personal and sexual history of the donor is evaluated, to exclude any candidates associated with greater risks. Naturally, candidates are excluded from donating if they are drug or alcohol abusers, if they suffer or live with people suffering from hepatitis or HIV, if they participate in sexual behaviours with known risks, if they have received transfusions or transplants, or if they have had piercings or tattoos performed in the last year.
Furthermore, during the selection phase, we carry out a genetic assessment that includes cystic fibrosis screening and chromosome (karyotype) and analysis. Finally, a genetic compatibility test is carried out in order to identify recessive and X-linked genetic diseases, in addition to a non-mandatory fragile X syndrome test.
Egg donation is a solution for couples with premature ovarian failure (POF) and recurrent IVF therapy failure. Such issues are often related to age, though others may be of genetic origin.
Donors must pass a psychological and emotional health evaluation carried out by a psychologist specialized in assisted reproduction, which considers information on:
- Family history
- Educational attainment
- Evaluated emotional stability
- Motivation to donate
- Management of stress and problems
- Difficult or traumatic sexual and reproductive episodes
- Interpersonal relationships
- Main psychiatric and personality disorders
- Abuse of alcohol and drugs
- History of abuse or maltreatment
As women tend to have a more marked orientation towards parenthood, some women may resent, to a certain extent, the fact that their child is not genetically theirs.
However, from the very beginning, such women assume the leading role in parenthood, are fully invested in bearing the child, giving birth and nursing the baby, and establish an emotional bond with the unborn child right from the moment of conception.
In addition, genetics plays only a minor part in raising children, because being a parent means welcoming, caring, feeding, educating, guiding, transmitting values, opening up horizons, accompanying the child through personal milestones and helping him or her to gain their independence when the time comes.
It is such an enormous project that it involves a contribution of will, commitment, participation and total involvement much greater than the biological contribution.
All these reasons, combined with the strong desire to be a mother, make it possible to overcome any initial reservations.
Moreover, recent studies have revealed that when an embryo implants itself in a uterus, exchanges occur that can cause certain changes in the genome of the foetus. This shows that the mother intervenes in the child’s genetic make-up, even when the egg is from a donor.
Candidates who have been adopted, cannot prove to be in contact with one of their parents or family members or who cannot provide reliable data on their psychiatric and psychological history are excluded.
In selecting sperm and egg donors, we pay careful attention to physical characteristics to ensure that they are as similar as possible to the parents. The selected gamete also receives a contribution from the other parent.
To discover what most influences the development of a child, various clinical studies have been carried out on homozygous, or identical, twins separated at birth, revealing the characteristics they most had in common with each other and with the families that had brought them up. In general, the research showed that they were most like their host families in terms of temperament, mannerisms and gestures, even in general appearance. This is because children mostly learn from and imitate their parents’ behaviours. Indeed, parents with both biological and adopted children often feel that the children identify equally with them and their siblings alike.
In any case, it is important to remember two utterly indisputable facts: that humans have over 90% of their DNA in common, meaning that our similarities are enormous, and that, at the same time, every human being is unique and unrepeatable.
Usually, once the child has been conceived, all doubts and fears fade away as the parents focus on pregnancy. If, in exceptional cases, some fear persists throughout the pregnancy, this normally completely disappears on the birth of the child. Most mothers simply do not think about it anymore. Cases of perinatal rejection and postpartum depression are much less frequent in assisted reproduction, since mothers who resort to such methods have often yearned to fulfil their dream of motherhood for a long time, and are extremely happy when they achieve it.
In the psychological assessment of donors, there is a lot of emphasis on how the donation is perceived by the donors. They usually think that they are simply donating a cell, just like someone who donates blood. They tend not to reflect any more on it, since an embryo might be generated from this cell or not, and, in any case, the result will always be different depending on the other gamete used for fertilization. In any case, Spanish legislation is extremely clear: donations are anonymous, and parentage is determined first and foremost by childbirth.
In this case, an answer is provided by legislation on the matter. No more than six children originating from one donor may be born, so the risk of inbreeding is extremely small.
All such considerations are understandable, and the focus is on the desire and opportunity that this new alternative offers, so that parents can enjoy the expectation of the unborn child from the very first moment that the pregnancy is confirmed.
There are currently multiple studies which confirm that children born through assisted reproduction techniques are the same as those born through natural fertilisation.
You choose the transfer date, and we will organize your trip and the treatment cycle, adapting everything to your personal needs.
We have many years of experience with patients from abroad and in particular from Italy, so we know just what you need to make you feel at home. With our help, you can undergo the treatment in two simple steps:
1º Make a first visit to FIV Valencia, during which you can also vitrify a sperm sample. That way you can come the second time just for the IVF transfer!
2º Choose the day that best suits your needs to make the transfer! We will take care of the rest.
Over 90% of our patients become pregnant. Pregnancy rate over 50% per attempt.
The most advanced technologies
20 years of experience and successes
C/ Santa Rosa, 12; 46021
VALENCIA (España)
