Since its introduction in 1980, oocytes donation is an assisted reproductive treatment whose demand has been increasing. The choice of ovarian stimulation treatment performed on egg donors is essential to optimize results, but also, and even more important, to ensure maximum safety for donors.

For this reason, Dra. Francisca Martínez, gynaecologist at Dexeus Mujer, has promoted a study that carries out, for the first time, a systematic review of the scientific literature in order to analyse the ovarian stimulation treatments included in egg donation programs, analysing four key aspects: the evaluation prior to what the donor response may be, the planning of the stimulation treatment, the risk control of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or other complications, and the differences obtained between the use of fresh or vitrified embryos.

After analysing a total of 57 studies, from 191 preselected, the authors affirm that ovarian stimulation in egg donation is a safe procedure with an extremely low hospitalization rate after puncture. Currently, in addition, it is no longer necessary to synchronize the donor with the recipient of the eggs, thanks to the possibility of vitrifying the oocytes. In addition, the results regarding the pregnancy rate in the recipients are similar in both cases.

Likewise, the use of the discharge with GnRH Agonists for the final maturation of the oocytes should be the treatment of choice or reference in all donors, both because of the good results it offers in terms of obtaining oocytes and because it practically eliminates the risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). It also offers good results in recipients pregnancy rates.

Finally, the authors point out that this update could also be useful in addressing ovarian stimulation treatments to preserve fertility in women under 35 years of age, since the target is similar to that of donors. However, they indicate that more research is needed in the field of protocols to be followed by ovarian stimulation treatments in egg donation programs, especially in terms of the long-term safety of new-borns, effective contraception during stimulation and satisfaction with treatment.

This research has been published in Human Reproduction Update, the scientific journal with the highest impact factor in Reproduction.

Reference study:

Individualised luteal phase support in artificially prepared frozen embryo transfer cycles based on serum progesterone levels: a prospective cohort study
M. Alvarez, Sofía Gaggiotti-Marre, Francisca Martínez, Lluc Coll, Sandra García, I. González-Foruria, Ignacio Rodríguez, Mónica Parriego, Nikolaos P. Polyzos, and Buenaventura Coroleu.
Hum Reprod. 2021 Mar 4; deab031. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deab031.