Advances in Assisted Reproduction have enabled many women and couples to have children, even when it seemed difficult or impossible. Egg donation is one of these solutions, offering the possibility of pregnancy to women who cannot use their own eggs.

It is an option for women who:

• They have premature ovarian failure, meaning their ovaries have stopped functioning before the expected age. The condition may be related to genetic factors, previous surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or autoimmune diseases — in many cases the cause remains unknown.

• They have congenital absence or non-functioning ovaries.

• They produce low quality eggs, which cannot support a healthy pregnancy or do not respond to pharmacological stimulation.

• They carry hereditary genetic mutations which should not be passed on to the child.

As long as the uterus is functioning normally, egg donation is a real and effective solution.

What is the egg donation process?

According to Greek law, donors must be women under 34 years of age. Donation can be done anonymous or named, while the donation between siblings. Donors undergo a complete medical, psychological and laboratory examination, while receiving compensation exclusively for their physical exertion, όπως προβλέπει ο νόμος.

An effort is being made so that the external features and the blood type of the donor to match those of the recipient, so that there is as much similarity as possible.

Treatment requires synchronization of cycles donor and recipient.

• The donor receives hormonal stimulation (gonadotropins) to develop multiple follicles.

• The recipient receives medication that properly prepares the endometrium.

When the eggs are ready, oocyte retrieval is performed and then they are fertilized in the laboratory with the sperm of the husband or partner.
The embryos that develop are transferred to the recipient's uterus 2–3 days later.

Any excess genetic material can be cryopreserved for future use.