Frequently Asked Questions
- General
- IVF
- Donating Eggs
- Egg Freezing
- Donor Eggs
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What is my first step to becoming a new patient or beginning treatment?
Whether you are seeking medical attention to begin treatment, to receive a second opinion, or to evaluate your fertility potential, we're here to help you get started. For information on setting up your initial consultation, please contact our office at 212-263-8990 or request a new patient consultation here.
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Do I have to have a referral to schedule a consultation?
We do not require a referral for new patients. We do recommend that you check with your insurance company to make sure they do not require one to insure coverage. If you need assistance in insurance verification, please contact our business office.
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Can I schedule my appointment now?
Yes, you can schedule your appointment at any time you are ready. Please contact our office at 212-263-8990 or request a new patient consultation here.
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Does my spouse or partner need to attend the initial consultation?
We believe that the support you receive from your spouse/partner is critical to your care and wellbeing during your journey to parenthood. The first appointment is designed to evaluate both partner’s medical history and physical health (if applicable). This is essential in determining the treatment plan that is best for you. We recommend that your spouse/partner attend as many appointments as possible.
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How soon can I start my plan of treatment?
At your initial consultation, your physician and nurses will walk you through any additional testing that is needed to complete your fertility workup. Once the ordered testing is complete and your treatment plan has been established you may start treatment whenever you feel ready. Most patients start their treatment within 3 months of their initial consultation.
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What is infertility?
Infertility is defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as “not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying.” Experts often recommend that women who are older than 35 years and have not conceived during a six month period of unprotected sex should make an appointment with an infertility specialist. Women who do not have a regular monthly period should also consider seeing a reproductive endocrinologist as problems with ovulation are a common factor of infertility in women.
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How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctors?
Most doctors advise women to try conceiving for at least one year before seeking medical advice. Women aged 35 years or older are advised to see an infertility specialist after six months of trying unsuccessfully as a woman’s fertility declines with age. Certain health problems may also increase the risk of infertility and we encourage women to make an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist if they have been diagnosed with endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease, or if they experience painful or irregular periods.
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How is infertility diagnosed?
A reproductive endocrinologist first conducts a physical examination of both partners to determine their general health and to evaluate any physical disorders that may be causing infertility. If no cause can be identified at this point, more specific tests may be recommended. For women, these tests include X-rays of the fallopian tubes and uterus, and laparoscopy. For men, initial tests will focus on semen analysis.
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How do doctors treat infertility?
Infertility can be treated with medicine, surgery or assisted reproductive techniques—or a combination of these treatments. Experts recommend specific treatments for infertility based on the factors contributing to infertility as well age. For example, a reproductive endocrinologist may recommend intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to help overcome male factor infertility.
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What is assisted reproductive technology (ART)?
The National Institutes of Health uses assisted reproductive technology (ART) to categorize treatments and procedures that aim to achieve pregnancy, including all fertility treatments in which eggs and sperm are handled outside of the body. ART procedures can involve removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries, combining them with sperm to create embryos, then transferring the embryos to the woman’s uterus in an attempt to achieve pregnancy. ART procedures can also involve donor eggs, donor sperm, and/or gestational carriers.
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What is in vitro fertilization (IVF)?
IVF stands for in vitro fertilization. IVF literally means "fertilization in glass” because IVF involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries and combining them with sperm in a glass culture dish. The IVF process typically includes three major phases: (1) ovarian induction and egg retrieval, (2) fertilization in the embryology lab, and (3) embryo transfer. More information about the IVF procedure is available here.
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Do insurance plans cover infertility treatment?
Insurance coverage for fertility evaluation and treatment varies by insurance provider and individual plan terms. We encourage you to contact your employer’s Human Resources Department or insurance carrier directly to learn more about the details of your coverage. After you have completed your initial consultation, you will meet with our dedicated financial counselor to discuss cost, insurance coverage, and payment options tailored to your specific treatment plan. We work with every patient and couple to find the best financial solution to complement their treatment plan.
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Should we have genetic testing?
Pre-implantation genetic testing is a technique in which one or more cells is taken from a fertilized egg for testing to provide information about the genetic make-up of the rest of the cells in that embryo. Testing typically takes place five days after the egg has been harvested and fertilized in an IVF laboratory. We recommend pre-implantation genetic testing for couples with certain inherited diseases, such as a history of single-gene disorders (i.e., cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia) or sex-linked disorders (i.e., Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Fragile X syndrome). Genetic screening may also be indicated for those with recurrent pregnancy loss, previous IVF failures, severe male factor infertility, or advanced reproductive age.
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Do you treat patients from outside of New York?
If you live outside of a big city accessing compassionate and efficient fertility treatment can be challenging. At NYULFC, you will collaborate with your physician to determine the most effective course of action to achieve your family-building goals. If you live outside the New York area, rest assured that no amount of miles will impact your quality of care. We are here to support you throughout the treatment process.
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What does family building for transgender individuals include?
NYU Langone Fertility Center has been leading the way in New York City since we were founded, seeing the changes both social and technological, that have made modern family building possible for all people to achieve the dream of parenthood. For transgender individuals, this might involve Intrauterine insemination or In Vitro Fertilization, with or without the involvement of third parties. However, every path to parenthood is unique and there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach. Please reserve a consultation to start a conversation about your options.
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What does family building for gay men require?
If neither you nor your partner possess ovaries and/or a uterus, you’ll need to select an Egg Donor +/- a Gestational Carrier to help build your family. At NYULFC, we work with single men, gay couples, and members of the trans community to help build beautiful families using Egg Donor IVF and a Gestational Carrier.
A “Gestational Carrier” is a woman who agrees to become pregnant by undergoing an embryo (egg+sperm) transfer from another individual or couple. For gay men, the egg provider is either an anonymous or known Egg Donor. The Gestational Carrier (“GC”) provides a host uterus for the offspring, and does not contribute genetic material (the GC is not the Egg Donor). The eggs donated by the Egg Donor are fertilized in the IVF laboratory with the sperm of one or both of the male partners. Each egg can only be fertilized by one individual’s sperm, but the donor will typically produce multiple eggs which can then individually be fertilized by sperm from each intended parent, resulting in potential genetic offspring from each male. The resulting embryos (typically one at a time), are then transferred to the uterus of the GC, who has been taking hormones to prepare her uterus for implantation of an embryo.
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What options are available for LGBTQ care?
Every path to parenthood is different, and LGBTQ family building is no exception. Pathways for LGBTQ+ families include Donor Eggs, Donor Sperm, IUI, IVF, PGT, and Gestational Carriers. Your physician will work with you to design a fertility plan that meets your needs.
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What is Prelude?
Prelude is a comprehensive fertility services company dedicated to applying the latest advances in reproductive science and technology to helping people succeed at having babies, no matter where they are on their fertility journey.
The company was launched in 2016 to proactively address what the World Health Organization calls the third biggest global epidemic — infertility. As more and more men and women delay childbirth past their peak fertility years to pursue careers, advanced degrees, or the right life partner, the chances of having a baby start to decline. Prelude aims to advance the cultural conversation around fertility with a goal of educating men and women about their reproductive health and options for conception.
Prelude's network of fertility clinics and egg donation centers around the country offer egg freezing, egg storage, genetic testing, IVF and egg donation services — all delivered with the highest level of personalized care by the nation's leading reproductive endocrinologists and practitioners.
- Can I be a Prelude Patient if I am registered with Medicare or Medicaid?
- How can I pay for my Treatment?
- Can I use a Flex Card toward payment?
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Can I use my insurance to pay for my treatment?
It’s possible that your insurance may cover some of the costs for your treatment. Prior to your first visit at NYU Langone Fertility Center, please reach out to your insurance company to discuss coverage for fertility services. When you speak to the customer service representative at your insurance carrier, please ask about any copayments, deductibles, lifetime maximums, prior authorizations, precertifications, fertility case management requirements, or excluded services or procedures that may apply.
- What payment methods can I use?
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What are the reasons for possible pregnancy failure?
Any of the following events could prevent pregnancy:
The time of ovulation may be misjudged or may be unpredictable, or may not occur at all monitored cycle(s), thus precluding any attempt at obtaining eggs.
An attempt at egg collection may be unsuccessful.
The egg(s), if obtained, may not be normal.
Loss or damage of the embryos may occur during the procedure.
Fertilization may not occur or the embryo(s) may not develop normally.
There may be other reasons which are not understood by the scientists.
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How are frozen embryos transferred?
There are two types of embryo transfer: fresh or frozen. In a fresh embryo transfer cycle, an embryo is transferred to the uterus after 3-5 days of observation in the embryology laboratory, and any additional embryos are frozen for future use. In a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle, all embryos are frozen after 3-5 days of development in the laboratory. If you wish to perform preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), embryos will be biopsied, then frozen while a culture of cells is sent to the genetic testing lab for analysis. Whether you proceed with a fresh embryo transfer or an FET, the embryo transfer process itself is very simple, and rarely requires sedation or anesthesia.
For the transfer procedure itself, the embryo is thawed at room temperature, and then warmed to body temperature (37° C). As with a fresh embryo transfer, embryos are placed inside a special catheter (a very thin tube), which is guided through the cervix and into the uterus. Embryos are gently injected into the uterus and the catheter is removed. This procedure requires no anesthesia, and is done in a position similar to a pelvic examination for a Pap smear. After transfer, the woman rests for 15 minutes and then is able to go home, where a day of rest or very gentle daily activity is recommended.
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What are the chances of pregnancy with frozen embryos?
In general, the success of frozen-thawed embryo transfer procedures depends on three factors:
First, the quality and survival of the frozen-thawed embryos. Typically, only good quality embryos are frozen, resulting in a survival rate greater than 90%.
Second, the age of the woman who produced the eggs. In patients under the age of 37, the chances of pregnancy with frozen-thawed embryos are similar to a pregnancy with fresh embryos. In patients 37 years or older, pregnancy chances with frozen-thawed embryos decline in conjunction with declining fertility in general, but still can be quite good. As always it is best for patients to discuss their individual situation with their physician.
Third, the status of the uterus in the woman receiving the embryos. A healthy endometrial lining free of any interfering fibroids or polyps provides a sound environment for embryo implantation.
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Is IVF using up all a woman’s eggs?
No. During the course of a natural menstrual cycle, your brain produces hormones that stimulate one of your ovaries to release a single mature egg. During an ovulation induction cycle, you are prescribed those same hormones, known as fertility medications. These medications stimulate the ovaries to mature several eggs at once. When these eggs are matured and successfully retrieved, these eggs can be combined with sperm to create embryos.
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Are there risks to having a baby through IVF?
While some research suggests a slightly higher incidence of birth defects in IVF-conceived children compared with the general population (4 - 5% vs. 3%), it is possible that this increase is due to factors other than IVF treatment itself.
It is important to recognize that the rate of birth defects in the general population is about 3% of all births for major malformations and 6% if minor defects are included. Recent studies have suggested that the rate of major birth defects in IVF-conceived children may be on the order of 4 to 5%. This slightly increased rate of defects has also been reported for children born after IUI and for naturally-conceived siblings of IVF children, thus it is possible that the risk factor is inherent in this particular patient population rather than in the technique used to achieve conception.
Research indicates that IVF-conceived children are on par with the general population in academic achievement as well as with regard to behavioral and psychological health. More studies are under way to further investigate this important issue.
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When is IVF needed?
Because the IVF process bypasses the fallopian tubes (it was originally developed for women with blocked or missing fallopian tubes), it is the procedure of choice for patients with fallopian tube issues, as well as for conditions such as endometriosis, male factor infertility and unexplained infertility. Physicians review the patient’s history and help to guide them towards the treatment and diagnostic procedures that are most appropriate for them.
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What is IVF?
IVF literally means "fertilization in glass” because IVF involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries and combining them with sperm in a glass culture dish. During the IVF process, a patient’s natural cycle is carefully manipulated through the use of fertility medications. These medications stimulate the ovaries to produce not one, but a number of mature eggs. At the right time, the eggs are retrieved from the ovaries. Concurrently, the male supplies a sperm sample (or a stored, frozen sample is used). The eggs and sperm are placed in a culture dish and fertilized. An embryo is then transferred into the woman’s uterus when she is ready.
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When is IVF recommended?
IVF is one of the most efficient forms of fertility treatment, in that it usually provides the highest rates of successful conception for any one treatment cycle. For patients with severe male factor infertility or significantly blocked fallopian tubes, IVF treatment is the only realistic treatment option. It is often recommended for older patients or when IUI and medications have not been successful.
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What does building a family for lesbian women require?
For lesbian women, the options for conception include:
If one or both partners possess ovaries and a uterus, there are several options for family building. At NYULFC, we work with single cis-females, lesbian couples, and members of the trans community to help build beautiful families including:
- Donor Sperm Insemination (with or without fertility medications)
- Donor Sperm + IVF (with or without a gestational carrier)
- Donor Sperm + Reciprocal IVF (also called “IVF Co-Maternity,” where one partner provides the eggs and the other partner carries the pregnancy)
- Medical Fertility Preservation with Oocyte Cryopreservation for future family building prior to transition
- Elective Fertility Preservation with Oocyte Cryopreservation or Embryo Cryopreservation
Patients who choose to use an anonymous sperm donor obtain frozen samples from licensed sperm banks, which must be located in the United States. NYU Langone Fertility Center does not own or operate a sperm bank, however our Donor Egg & Third Party Reproduction team will be happy to assist you in finding this resource.
Some patients may choose to ask a friend, relative, or other acquaintance to donate sperm. Because this option may raise sensitive questions and decisions in regards to parenting, a number of actions are required prior to receiving a sperm donation including counseling and a legal agreement between the Sperm Donor and Intended Parent.
Reciprocal IVF is a fertility treatment option for couples with ovaries and/or a uterus that allows both partners to uniquely participate in the family building process. It can often be referred to as Co-IVF or Co-Maternity. Reciprocal IVF is a two-step process that consists of embryo creation with Partner A's eggs, while the remaining partner will undergo a fresh or frozen embryo transfer in hopes to become pregnant and carry the pregnancy to term. Couples will have the option to choose their donor sperm for embryo creation and embryo transfers can be fresh or frozen depending on the need for genetic testing. Some couples who want more than one child utilize Co-IVF for their second child, and switch roles if they are able to.
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What is the advantage of single embryo transfer?
Single Embryo Transfer (SET) Is an embryo implantation procedure in which only one embryo is transferred into the uterus. There are many advantages to an Single Embryo Transfer over a Multi Embryo Transfer. Single Embryo Transfers reduces the possibility of a miscarriage and increases your changes for a strong, healthy pregnancy, as there is a much smaller probability of conceiving multiple children at once. At NYU Langone Fertility Center, the vast majority of our patients (over 95%) undergo SET.
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What are some discomforts and risks that I might face?
Blood drawing: Discomfort and the possibility of developing a painful bruise at the needle site may occur. A blood clot in the vein may occur.
Ultrasound: This examination involves the use of a form of energy (sound waves) which at high energy levels may produce heat and tissue damage. At the extremely low energy levels utilized in diagnostic ultrasounds, no adverse effects have been observed to date.
Medications: Some of the risks associated with taking hormone medications to stimulate multiple egg production are common. Women may experience none, any or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, slight weight gain or loss, breast tenderness and enlargement, occasional vaginal bleeding, yeast infections of the vagina, vaginal discharge and wetness, hot flashes, night sweats, menstrual period cramping, headaches, fluid retention, and mood swings. Much less common side effects include appetite changes, nervousness, fatigue, and changes in sex drive. More serious but rare side effects include hypertension (high blood pressure), gall bladder disease, blood clots developing in the legs, lungs, eyes, brain, heart or elsewhere, heart attacks and strokes.
There is some evidence that treatment with fertility drugs could lead to an increased risk of cancer—in particular, breast, ovarian, and uterine (including endometrial) cancers. One must be careful in interpreting research studies of women taking fertility drugs. Since these cancers are more common in women with infertility, simply comparing women taking fertility drugs with women in the general population inevitably shows an increased incidence of cancer. When the analysis accounts for the increased cancer risk due to infertility per se, the evidence does not support a relationship between fertility drugs and an increased prevalence of breast or ovarian cancer. More research is required to examine the long-term impact fertility drugs may have on breast and ovarian cancer prevalence rates. For uterine cancer, the numbers are too small to draw conclusions.
Antibiotics: Most women will be given an antibiotic. The use of an antibiotic may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, rashes, sensitivity to the sun, allergic reactions resulting in shock, or blood disease including reduced platelets or fractured red cells (causing anemia or bleeding).
Ovarian Hyper-stimulation: Use of hormonal agents may result in the growth of ovarian cysts and/or mild to severe ovarian enlargement may develop, causing pain, internal bleeding, and severe disturbances of fluid and chemistry balances. This may require hospitalization. Blood clots are possible which could lead to strokes or other life threatening complications.
Aspiration of Eggs under Ultrasonographic Guidance: Pain of short duration is likely. There is a possibility of seeing blood in the urine for a day following the procedure. Perforation of blood vessels, bladder, bowel, bleeding from the ovary, and pelvic infection are possible.
Laparoscopy: Infection of the incision site or pelvic organs is possible. Perforation of bowel or bladder, internal bleeding, possible formation of scar tissue by attempted egg collection and/or manipulation of pelvic organs may occur.
Anesthesia: Sedation or general anesthesia may cause numerous possible adverse reactions from various drugs and procedures. A separate consent form, which you will sign before undergoing this procedure, outlines the risks involved in the use of anesthesia.
Embryo Transfer: This procedure may cause discomfort and may lead to infection or ectopic or tubal pregnancy which could result in hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding, and death.
Multiple Pregnancies: Replacement of more than one embryo will increase the chance of multiple pregnancies. Multiple pregnancies have an increased risk of premature birth, birth defects, maternal hypertension, low birth weight, and many other complications.
Psychological Risks: One risk is failure of the procedure to produce a pregnancy. If the procedures are not successful, you may be very disappointed. You also may experience frustration, anxiety, and/or depression, which may be severe. Mood swings may result from medications or from your psychological response to the experience of Fertility Preservation. Long-term psychological effects are unknown. Any psychological consultation associated with the treatment program is not intended to predict short or long term effects.
Risks: I understand that my frozen egg(s) may, upon warming/ thawing, degenerate. If this occurs, the egg(s) will not be inseminated and will not be replaced into my uterus. It seems that egg(s) and embryos either survive unharmed or die. To RBA’s knowledge, there is no indication at the current time that freezing of egg(s) increases birth defects. To date, children born as a result of egg cryopreservation have not had increased rates of abnormalities. It is possible that in the future more information in this area of concern may become known. I understand that there may be unforeseen risks or complications for me, a current or future male partner, or the egg(s) or embryo(s), fetus(es), or the child(ren) which develop(s) from this treatment. While it is difficult to anticipate any such risks, I acknowledge that I have been notified of their possibility.
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How long does it take to get pregnant with in vitro?
Eggs are typically retrieved after 12-14 days of ovarian stimulation. Immediately after eggs have been retrieved, our embryology team assesses the maturity of each egg, then transfers the mature eggs to an incubator. Typically, sperm are then combined with the eggs and fertilization occurs naturally. In a fresh embryo transfer cycle, an embryo is transferred to the uterus after 3-5 days of observation in the embryology laboratory, and any additional embryos are frozen for future use. In a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle, all embryos are frozen after 3-5 days of development in the laboratory. Following an embryo transfer, a patient’s HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) levels are monitored carefully to determine whether or not the treatment cycle created a pregnancy. Rising HCG levels indicate a healthy start for a pregnancy.
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If the process is anonymous and the recipient couple does not see my adult photo, why do I submit one?
The adult photo that is submitted with your profile is used ONLY by the egg donor program team to match your physical characteristics with that of the potential recipient as the recipient usually desires a donor with similar physical attributes.
If you believe you meet the requirements for the Egg Donation Program at NYU Langone Fertility Center, fill out the Egg Donor Eligibility Form. You could make an important difference in a family's life.
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Does the egg retrieval process hurt?
Every patient experiences the egg retrieval process differently. For this procedure, you will be under general anesthesia while your eggs are retrieved by a physician, and may experience some discomfort afterwards. Most individuals are able to return to work the next day, while others may need additional time to recover.
- How many times can I donate my eggs?
- How long do monitoring appointments last and what times can I come in for an appointment?
- How often do I need to come in for monitoring (lab work and ultrasound appointments?
- Does donating my eggs affect my ability to have children in the future?
- Can you donate eggs if your tubes are tied?
- Is there a height/weight criteria?
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What are your requirements for donors, and how are they screened?
Egg Donor candidates must be between 21-30 years of age. Once you complete the online application, our Egg Donation team will schedule an appointment to evaluate your overall and reproductive health, genetic history, and psychological stability (all testing is provided at no charge to you). Egg Donors must be physically and emotionally healthy, provide complete medical history on biological family members, and be a nonsmoker with no history of substance abuse. All donors who pass screening meet FDA standards.
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What types of medications are used in egg collection?
The medications used to stimulate egg development are mostly natural hormones already found in your body. These include Gonadotropin and Follicle Stimulating Hormone.
As you approach your Egg Retrieval appointment, another treatment called GNRH will be used to temporarily reduce ovarian function, which helps with the Egg Retrieval procedure, while Lupron will be administered to trigger ovulation and assist the maturation of the eggs.
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Can I donate my unused eggs to someone else?
The FDA mandates that individuals who wish to donate their eggs to another individual must undergo additional screening and testing than an individual who wishes to use her own eggs. This must be done before the egg retrieval procedure is performed. The FDA does not allow eggs to be donated if they have been frozen before this screening has been completed.
If you think that you may want to donate your saved eggs in the future, please discuss this with your physician during your initial consultation.
- How are eggs collected?
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What types of medications are used for egg retrieval?
To prepare for egg retrieval, women undergo a series of injections of ovulation stimulating agents over approximately 10 days, including human gonadotropin and follicle stimulating hormone to stimulate multiple egg production.
A substance known as a “GNRH agonist” or Antagonist is used in conjunction with these drugs to reduce ovarian function. A Lupron injection is used to trigger ovulation and assists in the maturation process of the eggs prior to retrieval.
- How successful is Fertility Preservation?
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How can I begin the process of fertility preservation?
Schedule a new patient consultation and fertility screening at NYU Langone Fertility Center to learn more about your fertility health. During your visit, an expert physician will meet with you to discuss your future fertility goals, and we will perform bloodwork and an ultrasound to evaluate your reproductive health.
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Can I preserve my fertility if I am registered with Medicaid or Medicare?
Unfortunately, the Stark Law prohibits us from seeing any patient who are registered with a federally funded insurance program. This includes medicaid and medicare. Even if you do not plan to file a claim through your insurance, we are still prohibited from accepting you as a patient. To learn more about the Stark Law and its regulations, you can visit The Stark Law Website.
- If I decide to use my frozen eggs earlier than planned, will I receive a refund for the storage time I have left?
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Is Fertility Preservation painful?
It is important to remember that each individual responds differently to the Egg Freezing process. For most of our patients, the process is uncomfortable, but not painful. The medications may cause symptoms similar to those you may experience during menstruation, and there are a few pinprick injections that can be unpleasant.
Egg Retrieval is performed under light IV sedation and only takes about 20 minutes to complete. Some women experience cramps after the procedure, but these typically subside after 24 hours.
- What happens when I’m ready to use my eggs?
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What happens if I choose not to use my saved eggs or embryo?
Women who do not use their saved eggs or embryos can choose to have the eggs discarded or donated to a scientific institution. Keep in mind that eggs donated to science will either be used for observation or for experimental research. They will not be used to create embryos, however, without your expressed written consent.
- How many eggs will you collect?
- How long can eggs be stored?
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What is the process of freezing your eggs?
A step-by-step description of our Egg Freezing Process is available here.
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What are the advantages of freezing my eggs with NYULFC?
NYU Langone Fertility Center has completed more than 3,000 egg freezing cycles and has lovingly welcomed over 200 live births from patients who have returned to build their families using previously frozen eggs. Whether you're freezing eggs or banking embryos, you're in good hands with our team of internationally recognized physicians and laboratory experts.
- Who is Fertility Preservation for?
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Why is Fertility Preservation relevant for me?
There are a thousand different factors—from career growth, to higher education, to health management, to finding the right partner—that contribute to determining when a person might be ready to start a family. However, for women, the ability to have a child changes significantly around age 35. Both egg count and egg quality diminish as time passes, which means that the chance of becoming pregnant is more difficult at the time when many are ready. Preserving your eggs at a younger age is the first step in a care continuum towards parenthood that may include egg thawing, embryo creation, embryo transfer, and attempted pregnancy.
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What is Fertility Preservation, and how does it work?
Fertility Preservation, like Egg or Embryo Freezing, is the first step in a fertility care continuum that may include egg thawing, embryo creation, embryo transfer, and attempted pregnancy. More information about how it works is available here.
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Is Fertility Preservation painful?
It is important to remember each patient experiences the fertility preservation process differently. During the 10-14 days of ovary stimulation, patients will inject medication and may experience symptoms similar to their menstrual cycle. The egg retrieval you will be under general anesthesia while your eggs are retrieved by a physician, and may experience some discomfort afterwards. Most individuals are able to return to work the next day, while others may need additional time to recover.
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What happens when I am ready to use my eggs?
When you decide to start your family, frozen eggs are thawed and combined with sperm to create embryos. Feel confident—you’ve placed your trust in one of the most experienced teams in the United States. NYU Langone Fertility Center physicians have completed over 3,000 egg freezing cycles and currently perform over 450 cycles per year. As of 2019, we’re thrilled to have welcomed over 200 healthy babies born to patients who froze eggs with us. Whenever you’re ready to take the next step, we’re here to support you.
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What happens if I choose not to use my saved eggs or embryo?
Women who do not use their saved eggs or embryos can choose to have the eggs discarded or donated to a scientific institution. Keep in mind that eggs donated to science will either be used for observation or for experimental research. They will not be used to create embryos, however, without your expressed written consent.
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Who do I contact with Questions?
At NYU Langone Fertility Center, your care team will include your physician, our Donor Egg & Third Party Reproduction specialists, an onsite psychologist, and nurses, coordinators, medical and administrative assistants, all of whom are here to help you navigate every step of your journey to parenthood using donor eggs and/or sperm.
- Can I use a Flex Card toward Payments?
- Can I use my insurance to pay for my treatment as a recipient?
- How much does it cost to become a recipient at NYULFC?
- Is it necessary when being matched with a donor to have a blood type match?
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What is the difference between fresh and frozen donor Cycles?
Fresh egg donors are chosen by a recipient couple. The eggs are retrieved and immediately fertilized with sperm and the resulting embryos are transferred to the recipient. Remaining embryos can be frozen for future frozen embryo transfers. Typically, a fresh donor egg cycle can be completed and you can proceed with an embryo transfer within 3 to 4 months.
Recipients using frozen eggs select their donor from hundreds who have already been through the ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval process and receive a smaller cohort of eggs (6-8) which will then be combined with sperm to create embryos. With frozen donor eggs, you can start a cycle right away, since you do not need to be synchronized with your egg donor. This provides more flexibility for planning your cycle. Typically, a frozen donor egg cycle can be completed and you can proceed with an embryo transfer within 6 to 8 weeks.
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How does a matching process work?
MyEggBank is a frozen egg bank only. The MyEggBank website contains a database of information about all our available egg donors. Recipients have the opportunity to review the available donors and forward their selection choices to the donor coordinators.
With Fresh Egg Donation cycles, the donor coordinators and physicians try to find and offer the closest possible match to what the recipient desires in her donor.
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Can I see a photo of a donor?
No adult photos of the donor will be shared, but three to four childhood photos up to age 7 will appear on the website with the donor’s permission. We offer a limited view of our donor profiles online, which includes information such as age, hair color, eye color, height, weight, and education level. Recipients who are registered and have been approved by us will also have access to the donor’s childhood photographs and profile on the website. Keep in mind that we do not provide any information about the identity of the donor.
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How can I access the personality of my donor?
Every donor who is approved and listed on the web site has gone through an extensive series of psychological tests. We are not in a position to make a full assessment of the donor's personality beyond what we can read in the psychological report. Be assured, however, that all of the donors are screened very carefully and that donors at risk for any kind of psychological problem are excluded prior to treatment.
- What information will I receive about the donors?
- How do you find your donors?
- Will the donor know when her eggs have been chosen by recipient?
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Are all of your donors college-educated?
No, but we have a strong preference for college-educated donors. Each application from a donor is intensely reviewed by our staff to guarantee that your options are the best possible. Donors who have not graduated from college generally have some other highly desirable trait(s) to make them candidates for our program.
When your account is activated, you will gain access to the donor profiles which contain important information such as education level, physical and personality traits, and family medical history.
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Who are MyEggBank egg donors, and how are they screened?
Our donors include women of all ethnicities between the ages of 21 to 30 who are screened to ensure good general and reproductive health, a clear genetic history, and psychological stability.
Donors must meet very strict FDA standards in order to qualify and must also pass a rigorous genetic screening which includes consultation with a genetic counselor, submission of family medical history, and genetic testing for inherited genetic disease.
- Do I need to divulge anyone that my pregnancy is a result of donated eggs?
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How long will I stay with the practice once I am pregnant?
Your physician will monitor the progress of your pregnancy for 8-10 weeks after the embryo transfer. During this time, you’ll undergo blood tests and ultrasound to determine the growth of the pregnancy. Once this information is collected, we will release to your OB/GYN, who will complete your pregnancy care.
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If I'm pregnant, is it normal to lightly spot or have some abdominal cramping?
It is fairly normal for some women to experience spotting (dark red or brown) early in pregnancy. However, if you experience bright red bleeding that soaks a pad within an hour, contact your physician immediately.
Intermittent mild cramping and slight twinges may also be normal. If you experience cramping that’s moderate to severe, you should notify your physician immediately.
- When will I be able to tell if I am pregnant?
- Can my OB/GYN perform some of the initial screening?
- Can I travel during treatment?
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What is the advantage to using MyEggBank’s frozen, donated eggs?
MyEggBank uses a rapid egg-freezing technology called vitrification. This method provides many advantages over other egg-freezing procedures.
More economical: Vitrification is more efficient than fresh egg donation, which reduces the cost of the procedure, thus making it more affordable.
More convenient: Vitrification allows treatment to begin immediately. There is no delay in waiting for donors and recipients to synchronize their menstrual cycles. Because we have the largest inventory of frozen eggs in the United States, recipients can often eliminate the 6-9 month waiting period that is associated with many fresh egg donation programs.
Better Options: The efficiency of vitrification means there are more options for recipients so they have more choice and control. We also give recipients access to important information about donors, such as physical traits, education level, and family medical history.
- What is the percentage of success with each treatment cycle?
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What is the treatment process for recipients?
We understand that every path to parenthood is unique, and we collaborate with our patients to provide data-driven guidance and develop treatment plans specific to each individual. Because the process is unique to each woman’s needs, the best way to learn more about what you can expect is to schedule an appointment with a physician.
- Can I be a recipient if I have had my Fallopian tubes removed or I am menopausal?
- Is there anything that will disqualify me from becoming a recipient?
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What is the process of becoming recipient?
The first step is to schedule a consultation with one of our physicians. Once you and your doctor have determined family building using donor eggs is the appropriate step in your family building journey, you will work your dedicated care team that includes your physician, our Donor Egg & Third Party Reproduction specialists, an onsite psychologist, and nurses, coordinators, medical and administrative assistants to develop a treatment plan.