Can you briefly describe what egg donation is?
It is a technique in assisted human reproduction where a woman donates her eggs to another woman, who cannot produce viable eggs, so she can become pregnant. These eggs are fertilised in the laboratory with the partner’s or donor’s spermatozoids to develop embryos that are later transferred into the receiver’s uterus.
What recent advancements in this technique would you highlight?
In the last few years, there have been significant improvements. One of them is a better vitrification of the oocytes which permits preserving them for a long time and maintaining their survival rate at 90%. Preimplantation genetic diagnostics progressed as well. We can now select healthy embryos reducing the risks of genetic diseases and increasing the success rates.
Besides, we use artificial intelligence to analyse embryos and predict which have better chances of implantation. This in turn improves success rates in treatments with donor eggs.
How has technology impacted the patient experience?
The technology made processes less time-consuming and less invasive. For example, using advanced tools to monitor the embryos in real time reduces the number of transfers necessary to become pregnant. Moreover, we can access bigger databases to find donors with specific genetic profiles and facilitate custom treatments.
What trends do you think we will see in the near future in egg donation?
One trend is clear: the treatments will become even more personalised thanks to genomics and artificial intelligence. It is also possible that we will see broadened donation methods and access to them, including more donations on the international level and regulatory changes which will enable more persons to undergo these treatments. Ultimately, scientists are working on the possibility of using stem cells to create eggs, and this would revolutionise future egg donation treatments.
Daniel García
Embryologist
IMAGE: https://www.gndiario.com/donacion-ovulos-pagan
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What advancements were achieved in egg donation treatments?
