Donor Embryo or Sperm - How did you choose???

[neeve]

Hi - I am new to BB and just figuring it all out...!
We are in the middle of our 16th ICSI cycle (lots of fresh, lots of frozen 2 BFPs and 1 dream baby). We are on the IVF road due to DH's infertility due to an operation he had when he was a baby. His latest samples produced 3 healthy sperm and a couple of ok ones. Our embryos are now 5 and growing waiting to be transferred.
I know I am jumping the gun but our embryos are not brilliant and it looks like donor embryo or sperm is the path we will have to take.
Sperm or Embryo???
How do you choose and why???

[dusty]

Sorry no one has replied until now Neave!
I hope that your cycle was successful and that you wont have to go down the next IVF cycle route.

One of the big things to consider with using donor sperm, eggs or embies is what are the key issues with your IF/quality of embryos? If it is just DH's sperm then you can still have a genetic connection to your child through you by using your eggs and donor sperm. If your embryo quality is affected by both DH's sperm and your eggs, then donor embryo's could be a good choice.

Also worth considering if it is sperm and egg causing the low quality is whether either or both of you have siblings or close relations who may be willing to donate so you can have a genetic link. However, it is not necessary to have relatives donate, you can always go the known or unknown donation route.

There is a body of thought, epigenetics, is that the child inherits characteristics from the woman who carries the child even if the original DNA comes from a donor egg. In other words the birth mother influences what the child is like at a genetic level.

I hope that helps somewhat.
Best of luck xx

[neeve]

Hi Dusty,
Thanks for the reply!! Our cycle (fresh) did fail and of the 10 eggs collected we only ended up with one semi ok embryo and no frozen. DH has seen a urologist and we are waiting for results and ideas so that we can look at our options moving forwards. timing is good as I am on a forced break for a month.
It looks like we may be able to do a direct collection from DH at the next EPU. Our urologist thinks that we wont be able to do a DNA fragmentation test with DH's sperm as there aren't enough to test.
We are taking it one step at a time now and wait to see what happens. Thanks for the support and for giving me food for thought!

[redlady]

Hello,

for us it wasn't a choice it was a matter of necessity. Dh sperm don't swim due to a genetic condition. So to get pregnant I need a sperm donor.

I hope you dont have to go down this path. As of 1st of january 2010. There will be no oversea donor sperm. Which I think will make the waiting list for sperm donors awfully long.

I pray your IVF works!!

sincerely
Redlady