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A Child is a True Gift
The journey to parenthood is not easy for couples facing infertility. Over time, it can turn their hopes and dreams of starting a family into a nightmare. Fortunately, advanced treatments can bring life-changing results to couples who have lost hope. In fact, the University of Florida Reproductive Medicine’s (UFRM) world-class fertility services have helped many couples discover that life is sweeter when their dreams of having a child come true.
The UFRM’s successful In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) program provides patients with a full range of the most leading-edge reproductive medicine technologies available in a warm, friendly and compassionate environment. Dr. R. Stan Williams, practice director of the IVF program for more than 20 years and chair of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at UF, pioneered the egg donation program in Gainesville. Dr. Williams now collaborates with a team of physicians who are board-certified in both Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Oftentimes, women cannot use their own eggs for conception because of various infertility conditions, such as early menopause, advanced reproductive age, cancer treatments and other infertility issues. In other cases, women who have genetic abnormalities, which may be passed on to their children, may choose to use the eggs of a donor. The egg donation program at the UFRM offers these women a realistic chance at pregnancy, according to Dr. Orhan Bukulmez, M.D., Division Director of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility and Medical Director of the IVF Program. “Serving as an egg donor is a great gift to offer a couple who desperately wants to realize their dream,” Dr. Bukulmez said. “Egg donation is achieved by IVF using eggs retrieved from healthy donors who are selected after a series of physical and psychological screenings required by both the FDA and the UFRM program.”
Healthy women between the ages of 21 up to 29 are carefully screened and counseled before being selected as an egg donor. After selection, they are carefully monitored throughout the process. Jean Melby, RN, coordinator of the egg donor program, develops a strong bond with both the egg donors and recipient parents. Melby has high praises for all of the egg donors. “In Gainesville we have many intelligent, talented college students and graduates with a wonderful attitude about life and their decision to help women in their effort to have children,” Melby said.
Other donors include women who have one or more children and heard about the need for egg donors. “These women know first-hand helping other women who want a child is a beautiful thing,” Melby said.
Egg donors remain anonymous, and their commitment to the process can take several months. The egg donor is treated with fertility drugs to stimulate the formation of a group of healthy eggs, usually 10-15, which are then removed from her ovaries during an egg retrieval outpatient procedure while under conscious sedation. The women usually go home about one hour after the procedure.
In the laboratory, the eggs are fertilized with the recipient husband’s sperm and selected embryos that result are placed into the uterus of the recipient woman. Prior to the transfer, the recipient is given hormones to make her uterine lining receptive to implantation of the embryo. Pregnancy rates are above 50 percent for recipients in good health, and frozen embryos may be available if an attempted pregnancy fails or if the intended parent wants another child in the future.
“It is rewarding to watch recipient parents build their families with help from generous egg donors,” Melby said. “As one young donor told me, ‘For the rest of my life, when I look back on this, I will know I have done a good thing.’”
Even though egg donors are anonymous, recipient couples have access to a donor’s profile. The profile includes the donor’s medical history, family history, educational background and key interests or talents. Patricia Durning, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, counsels both donors and recipients on many aspects to consider for the egg donation program. UFRM experts are dedicated to ensuring that all parties understand the medical and legal obligations.
The commitment and compassion of UFRM’s highly trained and experienced physicians, egg donor coordinator, counselor and staff have resulted in happy endings for many families. The program has helped many recipient couples from overseas as well.
If you are interested in learning more about the egg donation program as a donor or recipient, contact Jean Melby at 352-265- 0680, extension 40245.
In addition to the egg donation program, UF’s fertility practice in Gainesville offers state-of-the-art fertility procedures such as IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, testicular sperm extraction, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, intra-uterine insemination, tubal reversal, fertility enhancing minimally invasive surgery and fertility preservation options for cancer patients.
Physicians and registered fertility nurses and staff at UFRM offer services at two locations: Women’s Health at Magnolia Parke and Shands at UF. The fertility clinic at Magnolia Parke is situated at a patient-friendly suburban site just off interstate 75 with easy access and free parking.
To schedule a consultation, call 352-265-6200, or 800-ObGyn-UF. To learn more, visit the website at http://repro.med.ufl.edu or send an e-mail to Jean at melbyj@shands.ufl.edu.