egg freezing

Egg sharing programs have become an increasingly popular option for families pursuing donor egg IVF. But if you only get half of the eggs retrieved, will that be enough for a baby? 

In this article, we’ll aim to answer that question by exploring the concept of egg sharing, discussing factors that contribute to egg yield, looking at the average number of embryos created, and share how Cofertility can help you realize your dream of growing your family. 

What is egg sharing?

Egg sharing is a model where egg donors get to keep half of the eggs retrieved for her own future use, instead of cash compensation.

Why is cash compensation problematic? A 2021 Harvard study found that 62% of donor-conceived adults felt the exchange of money for donor gametes was wrong, and 41% were troubled by the fact that money was exchanged around their conception. By allowing our donors to freeze their eggs as part of the process, our unique model honors everyone involved.

At Cofertility, we exclusively work under the egg sharing model, which we call Split, because we think it’s better for everyone involved – the intended parents, the egg donor, and ultimately the donor-conceived child. Egg sharing empowers donors to preserve their own fertility, while lifting you up on your own journey. It’s a win-win.

Read more in Six Reasons Why Egg Sharing is a Better Egg Donation Model for Intended Parents

Will I get enough eggs in an egg sharing model?

One common question from individuals considering egg sharing is whether they will receive an adequate number of eggs to achieve a successful outcome. A 2003 UK study of egg sharing amongst IVF patients found that participating in an egg sharing program did not compromise the chance of achieving a pregnancy or live birth for the egg sharer or the recipient.

There are several factors that can influence the number and quality of eggs retrieved, such as: 

• Donor's ovarian reserve: Even more important than age in predicting egg retrieval outcomes is ovarian reserve, which refers to the quantity of eggs. A higher ovarian reserve indicates a larger pool of eggs available for retrieval and sharing. One way to determine ovarian reserve is an antral follicle count that is done by a doctor. Another biomarker for ovarian reserve is anti-müllerian hormone (AMH). At Cofertility, we only work with egg donors with an AMH over 2.0 ng/mL, to increase the chances of sufficient egg yield. 
• Donor’s overall health: The overall health of the egg donor can play a significant role in the number of eggs available for sharing. Donors who maintain a healthy lifestyle, including being a non-smoker, have better reproductive health. Our donors go through rigorous screening to ensure and get medical approval to ensure they are a good egg donation candidate. 
• Response to stimulation protocols: Fertility clinics use stimulation protocols involving hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries and promote the development of multiple mature eggs. The response of the donor's ovaries to these medications can vary, affecting the number of eggs that can be retrieved for sharing.
• Hormone stimulation: Fertility medications, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), are administered to the donor to stimulate the growth and maturation of multiple eggs within the ovaries. The dosage and duration of hormone stimulation are tailored to each individual to optimize the number of eggs produced. The exact drugs and dosages chosen will impact the outcome, as well as the donor’s adherence to the prescribed medications. 
• Ovarian monitoring: Regular monitoring through ultrasounds and blood tests is essential during the stimulation phase. These monitoring sessions help fertility specialists track the growth and development of follicles (fluid-filled sacs containing eggs) and adjust medication dosages if needed. Close monitoring ensures the timely retrieval of mature eggs.

As you can see, many of these items are related to the egg retrieval cycle itself, where outcomes can be influenced by the quality and expertise of the clinic and fertility doctor. Learn more about finding a good IVF clinic.

At Cofertiltiy,  those who match with a donor in our fresh egg donation program, the average number of mature eggs a family receives and fertilizes is 12. The number of eggs retrieved varies by patient and cycle, but can be predicted by a donor’s age, AMH, and antral follicle count, all of which will be known to you after the donor’s initial screening. Qualified candidates have an ample ovarian reserve for both their own needs and sharing. Egg share donors also often work closely with a fertility doctor to determine, based on their own medical history, the optimal number of eggs needed for their own future family-building goals. Should it make sense for the donor, they may choose to pursue a second egg-sharing cycle to maximize the chances of success for everyone.

Matching with a donor in our frozen program can provide the opportunity to move forward with your family-building plans faster, as frozen eggs can be fertilized or shipped to your clinic immediately or as soon as the cycle is complete. Donors undergoing frozen cycles complete equally rigorous ovarian reserve testing. While the total number of frozen eggs available will vary based on the donor’s retrieval outcomes, every frozen match is guaranteed to have a minimum of at least 6 frozen eggs. 

To learn more about these programs and the differences between them, click here.  

How many embryos can I expect from an egg sharing round?

One 2015 study of 647 frozen donor eggs found that just three donor eggs would yield a little over one genetically normal embryo on average while nine donor eggs would be expected to yield three to four euploid embryos on average. 

Keep in mind, these are just averages. Everyone’s experience is different and may be higher or lower than this.

Our Baby Guarantee

While some agencies require you to pay extra to receive any form of a guarantee, Cofertility’s Baby Guarantee is built into our pricing. We want to help you bring your baby home, and we'll re-match you for free until that happens.

This means that if at any point along your egg donation journey, something out of your control prevents you from bringing your baby home, we'll re-match you for free or we'll offer you a full or partial refund if you do not move forward with another donor. 

Read more about our Baby Guarantee.

Cofertility - striving to be the best egg sharing program

We aim to be the best egg sharing program, providing an experience that honors, respects, and uplifts everyone involved. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Baby guarantee. We truly want to help you bring your baby home, and we will re-match you for free until that happens. 
• Donor empowerment. Our model empowers donors to preserve their own fertility, while lifting you up on your own journey. It’s a win-win.
• Diversity: We’re proud about the fact that the donors on our platform are as diverse as the intended parents seeking to match with them. We work with intended parents to understand their own cultural values — including regional nuances — in hopes of finding them the perfect match.
• Human-centered. We didn’t like the status quo in egg donation. So we’re doing things differently, starting with our human-centered matching platform.
• Lifetime support: Historically, other egg donation options have treated egg donor matching as a one-and-done experience. Beyond matching, beyond a pregnancy, beyond a birth…we believe in supporting the donor-conceived family for life. Our resources and education provide intended parents with the guidance they need to raise happy, healthy kids and celebrate their origin stories.

We are obsessed with improving the family-building journey — today or in the future — and are in an endless pursuit to make these experiences more positive. Create a free account to get started today!