What Is Ovum Transfer?

Ovum transfer is a procedure that takes a healthy, fertilized egg cell and transplants it into the uterus of another woman. This procedure is nonexperimental and has been done successfully for more than 20 years as a remedy for infertility.

Misconceptions

• Ovum transfer is not simply the transfer of an egg cell, as the name implies. The transfer is made five days after the egg has been fertilized. This makes the actual transfer subject an embryo. According to Dr. John Buster, one of the originators of the technique, the name ovum transfer was adopted to keep the public from being afraid of the manipulation of embryos.

Function

• Ovum transfer is performed when a woman is infertile--it allows her to carry an embryo. This requires a woman to donate her egg. The process begins when the donor is fertilized with the sperm of the infertile woman's husband. This fertilization does not require surgery. The doctor inseminates the donor with a tube of semen that has been carefully screened for disease. The donor then waits five days and returns to the clinic. The fluid in her uterus is flushed out with a catheter and that fluid is screened for an embryo. If one is found, the infertile woman comes to the office and is implanted with the embryo, much like the donor was inseminated.

History

• In 1978, Richard Seed, a livestock consultant, and his brother, Dr. Randolph Seed, began formulating a plan to bring ovum transfer from the livestock world to the human one. They began Fertility and Genetics research with that goal and were granted permission to begin human trials in 1983. The company screened hundreds of potential ovum donors down to 42 suitable donors and began the process. The results of the clinical trials resulted in few pregnancies and some complications, and the procedure did not become popular in the U.S. It continues to be performed occasionally but has not achieved the popularity of in-vitro fertilization.

Benefits

• For a woman who does not produce eggs because of a hormonal imbalance, previous surgeries or illnesses, ovum transfer is a chance to carry a baby that is genetically linked to the woman's husband. It is also generally less expensive than in-vitro fertilization and it requires no medication or surgery.

Considerations

• In the clinical trials, there were some healthy pregnancies that resulted from the ovum transfer. There were also some complications. During the clinical trials, one of the egg donors remained pregnant after the procedure. Twenty percent of the egg donors were left with an infection after the procedure. For the infertile women, the success rate was low. Out of 42 ovum transfers, only six were able to get pregnant through the procedure and carry the pregnancy to term. Two other women miscarried and the rest of the women were unable to get pregnant through ovum transfer.