For those whose parenthood pathway requires the extra steps of IVF and egg donation, the preparation process can feel complicated or overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. Educating yourself on the process and preparing your body can help you take charge of this exciting time in your life and feel more in control of the situation. Not to mention, preparing your body to receive donor eggs can increase your chances of a successful pregnancy. Here are some steps on how to prepare your body to receive donor eggs for the resulting pregnancy.
How to Prepare Your Body to Receive Donor Eggs
1. Start with Your Clinic
When starting the path on how to prepare your body to receive donor eggs, your first step will be to connect with your preferred fertility clinic. Each clinic will operate a little differently so educate yourself on their unique IVF processes and protocols – along with the IVF process overall.
Baseline Health Tests
First, your clinic will likely assess your current (baseline) health and fertility. They can run tests to identify concerns, issues, and abnormalities that may affect your chances of becoming pregnant.
Typical tests include blood work, pap smears, saline sonograms, and mammograms. The exact array of testing will depend on your unique demographic and health factors such as age or preexisting conditions. This part of the process is designed to help your clinic understand your current health and map the best pathway to parenthood.
After assessing your unique health and fertility factors, the clinic will begin to determine your best options for a successful pregnancy. During this step, you’ll also need to find an egg donor.
Education
It is critical to ask questions and educate yourself on the process and protocols your clinic recommends. No question is a bad one.
You’ll likely hear unfamiliar clinical terminology and medication names. Taking the time to understand these terms and the related procedures will give you greater confidence and lower stress. Knowing why each step and possible medication matters to your pregnancy journey will help you stay on course and follow your instructions.
An important example of what to ask is whether your pregnancy journey will utilize fresh or frozen eggs. Fresh eggs require additional preparation steps to sync your cycle with the donor. Knowing and understanding ahead of time will help you to stay on track.
Psychological Preparation
Successful pregnancy with IVF and donor eggs isn’t just about physical or medical preparation. Preparing to receive donor eggs includes preparing yourself mentally and emotionally.
Psychological (mental and emotional) health is another vital part of preparing for pregnancy, whether conceiving naturally or with the support of IVF and donor eggs. Your clinic may require you to schedule an appointment with a psychologist or schedule one for you. Psychological preparedness with the help of a medical professional is vital for future parents because it helps reduce stress and navigate the emotional complexity of receiving donor eggs.
Engaging fully with your clinic throughout the process, asking questions to educate yourself, and following through with each step will ultimately make the process less stressful and more successful. Not only will your clinic guide you through the necessary medical steps, but they will also advise you on your everyday health habits.
We at The World Egg and Sperm Bank, do not offer fertility procedures, but we are still here to answer your questions and support future parents in any way we can.
2. Focus on Your Health
Your clinic will ensure all the necessary protocols are in place to maximize your success. However it is also wise to focus on maintaining and improving your general health. Your clinic may even prescribe or require specific lifestyle adjustments as a part of the preparation to receive donor eggs and undergo IVF.
Managing your physical and mental health is a critical step in preparing to receive donor eggs. Some common recommendations and health adjustments include the following:
Get Moving
Regular exercise is recommended for women preparing to become pregnant or receive donor eggs. However, avoiding strenuous and high-intensity training is commonly recommended, especially when intense exercise is not already a part of an existing routine.
Be sure to discuss the right level and types of activities you enjoy with your provider. No single plan works for all future mothers, so your provider can help you assess the right course.
Step Up Your Nutrition
Some foods are not safe for consumption while pregnant. It is important to seek out foods that help boost fertility and may support your success in receiving donor eggs.
For most, reducing alcohol and caffeine intake is an excellent first step. Still, your clinician may advise you on additional dietary changes to help your fertility and pregnancy journey.
Sleep & Stress Management
Maintaining a solid sleep schedule and low stress levels in preparation for receiving donor eggs is a critical success factor. Getting lots of sleep, taking time to care for yourself, and doing your favorite hobbies and relaxation techniques can bolster your pregnancy and IVF process.
High stress and missed sleep can disrupt the body’s natural cycles and interfere with becoming pregnant and successfully receiving donor eggs. If you don’t have specific ways to de-stress, meditation or yoga is a great starting point. For additional ideas, you can always consult your provider.
3. Work with The World Egg and Sperm Bank
Choosing the right donor bank can also make a difference in your journey and preparations for parenthood, since the quality of donor gametes may vary between facilities.
Working with The World Egg and Sperm Bank will help simplify the process and alleviate stress and hassle for future parents. We do not offer IVF treatments or fertility consultations, meaning we can focus solely on maintaining a state-of-the-art facility with the highest possible standards for donor gamete quality. We manage the entire donor process (donation, retrieval, vitrification, and shipping) in-house. This enables us to maintain quality from beginning to end.
Other sperm and egg banks often outsource these stages of the donor process to third parties, which can jeopardize the quality of the gamete. Furthermore, our singular focus on donor gametes allows you to work with the clinic of your choice.
We’re committed to making the process as smooth and worry-free for intended parents as possible. Start browsing egg donors today or contact us for more information on how to get started or about how to prepare your body to receive donor eggs.
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