Egg Donation in Lebanon: Who Needs It, How It Works, and What You Should Know

For some women, using their own eggs may become increasingly difficult because of age, diminished ovarian reserve, previous unsuccessful IVF attempts, or certain medical or genetic conditions. In these situations, egg donation can provide another path toward pregnancy.

But deciding to use donor eggs is not a simple medical decision. It can involve questions about age, egg quality, success rates, donor screening, genetics, pregnancy, and the emotional meaning of having a child who is not genetically related to the woman carrying the pregnancy.

Understanding how egg donation works can make this decision much clearer.

At Azoury IVF Clinic, egg donation is approached as an individualized fertility treatment. The goal is not simply to determine whether a woman can use donor eggs, but to understand her medical history, reproductive goals, previous treatments, and overall health before recommending the most appropriate path.

What is egg donation?

Egg donation is a form of assisted reproduction in which eggs from another woman are used to create embryos for the intended mother.

The donor undergoes ovarian stimulation so that multiple eggs can mature. The eggs are then retrieved and fertilized with sperm from the intended father or a sperm donor, depending on the individual situation.

The resulting embryos are cultured in the IVF laboratory and, when appropriate, an embryo is transferred to the recipient's uterus.

The recipient therefore carries the pregnancy and gives birth to the baby, even though the egg itself came from a donor.

This distinction is important because egg donation does not mean that the recipient cannot become pregnant or carry a pregnancy.

Who may benefit from egg donation?

According to current professional guidance, donor eggs may be considered in several situations, including advanced reproductive age, diminished ovarian reserve, certain ovarian disorders, repeated poor embryo development, repeated unsuccessful assisted reproduction, and some genetic conditions where using the woman's own eggs may carry a significant risk. 

Some women may be advised to consider egg donation after several IVF attempts. Others may be advised earlier, particularly when the likelihood of obtaining viable embryos with their own eggs is considered very low.

There is no single age at which every woman should move to donor eggs.

The decision should be individualized.

Why does egg quality matter so much?

One of the most important reasons women consider donor eggs is the effect of age on egg quality.

A woman's ovarian reserve and egg quality are not the same thing.

Tests such as AMH and antral follicle count can provide useful information about ovarian reserve and expected response to stimulation. They cannot, however, directly tell us whether an individual egg will produce a chromosomally normal embryo.

As maternal age increases, the proportion of embryos with chromosomal abnormalities generally increases. This is one of the major reasons why IVF using a woman's own eggs becomes more challenging with advancing reproductive age.

Egg donation changes this particular biological factor because the eggs come from a younger donor.

It does not eliminate every risk associated with pregnancy, but it can substantially alter the reproductive potential of the treatment.

Does egg donation increase IVF success?

Egg donation can offer a significantly different probability of success for women whose own eggs have a very low expected reproductive potential.

However, it is important not to reduce the treatment to a single success-rate number.

The outcome depends on several factors, including:

• Donor age and characteristics
• Number and quality of donated eggs
• Fertilization
• Embryo development
• Sperm factors
• Uterine health
• Endometrial preparation
• Embryo transfer
• The recipient's overall health

The quality of the IVF laboratory and the clinical team also matters.

Professional guidance emphasizes careful donor screening, infectious-disease testing, genetic assessment, medical evaluation, and appropriate counseling as important components of donor-oocyte programs. 

Who can donate eggs?

Egg donors should undergo careful medical evaluation before being accepted.

Current ASRM guidance recommends that oocyte donors undergo medical history assessment, physical examination, infectious-disease testing, genetic evaluation, and appropriate psychological or psychoeducational counseling. It also notes that donors are preferably between 21 and 34 years of age, while donors outside this range require individualized consideration and appropriate counseling. 

The purpose of donor screening is not to look for a “perfect” woman.

There is no such person.

The purpose is to reduce avoidable medical and genetic risks and to ensure that the donor is medically and psychologically appropriate for the donation process.

Donors also undergo ovarian assessment to estimate their expected response to stimulation.

What does the egg donation process involve?

Although individual protocols vary, the treatment generally involves several stages.

1. Donor evaluation

The donor undergoes medical, infectious-disease and genetic screening, together with appropriate counseling.

2. Ovarian stimulation

Medication is used to stimulate the donor's ovaries so that several follicles develop during the same cycle.

The donor is monitored with ultrasound and, when appropriate, blood tests.

3. Egg retrieval

Once the follicles are ready, final maturation is triggered and the eggs are retrieved through a minimally invasive procedure.

4. Fertilization

The donated eggs are fertilized with sperm to create embryos.

Depending on the clinical situation, conventional insemination or intracytoplasmic sperm injection may be considered.

5. Embryo development

The embryos are cultured in the IVF laboratory and monitored as they develop.

6. Preparation of the recipient

The recipient's endometrium is prepared so that it is appropriately synchronized with embryo transfer.

Hormonal treatment may be used to prepare and support the endometrium, depending on the individual protocol.

7. Embryo transfer

An embryo is transferred into the recipient's uterus.

The subsequent pregnancy is biologically carried by the recipient.

Can the recipient carry the pregnancy herself?

Yes.

This is one of the most important points for women considering egg donation.

The donated egg provides the genetic contribution from the egg donor, while the recipient provides the uterus in which the embryo implants and the pregnancy develops.

The recipient therefore experiences the pregnancy and gives birth to the baby.

Pregnancy itself still requires appropriate medical assessment.

A woman considering pregnancy at an advanced age should be evaluated for general health and pregnancy-related risks before treatment. The fact that donor eggs may improve embryo potential does not remove the maternal risks associated with pregnancy.

Is the baby genetically related to the recipient?

The child is not genetically related to the recipient through the donated egg.

The egg donor contributes the genetic material contained in the egg, while the sperm provider contributes the paternal genetic material.

The recipient, however, carries the pregnancy and gives birth to the child.

This distinction can be emotionally significant, and it is completely normal for women to have mixed feelings when first considering egg donation.

For many women, the possibility of carrying and giving birth to their child remains deeply meaningful.

What genetic screening is performed on an egg donor?

Genetic screening is an important part of donor evaluation.

The exact testing panel can vary depending on the donor, family history, geographic background, clinic protocols, and current professional recommendations.

The objective is to identify relevant inherited conditions and assess potential genetic risks.

The recipient and her partner should also be appropriately evaluated, because genetic compatibility is not simply a question of screening the donor alone.

Current ASRM guidance specifically recommends genetic evaluation and counseling as components of oocyte donor screening. 

What about infectious-disease screening?

Donor eggs require appropriate infectious-disease screening.

The objective is to minimize the possibility of transmission of infectious agents through reproductive tissue.

Screening should be performed according to applicable medical and regulatory standards.

ASRM's current guidance emphasizes medical history, physical assessment and laboratory testing as part of donor eligibility and screening. 

This is one reason why egg donation should always be performed through an appropriately regulated fertility program with robust laboratory and traceability procedures.

Does egg donation mean the donor is “the mother”?

From a genetic perspective, the donor provides the genetic material contained in the egg.

But motherhood is much broader than genetics.

The woman receiving the donated egg carries the pregnancy, gives birth, and raises the child.

There is no single way to experience or define motherhood, and the emotional meaning of egg donation is different for every family.

This is why counseling and honest discussion before treatment can be extremely valuable.

ESHRE emphasizes the importance of providing appropriate information and support to recipients, donors and donor-conceived offspring, particularly as genetic testing becomes increasingly accessible outside the medical system. 

Should children be told they were conceived with donor eggs?

This is an important question that families should think about early rather than waiting until the child is older.

Modern direct-to-consumer genetic testing and ancestry databases have made biological connections increasingly discoverable, even when families did not originally expect this.

ESHRE's recommendations emphasize appropriate information and support for people involved in reproductive donation, including consideration of the implications of genetic testing and information access. 

There is no single conversation that works for every family.

The important point is to approach the subject thoughtfully and, when needed, with professional psychological guidance.

Is egg donation only for women over 40?

No.

Although advanced reproductive age is an important indication, egg donation is not exclusively an age-related treatment.

It may also be considered in women with:

• Premature ovarian insufficiency
• Severe diminished ovarian reserve
• Certain genetic conditions
• Repeated IVF failure associated with poor oocyte or embryo quality
• Repeated inability to obtain suitable embryos
• Certain ovarian disorders

The decision depends on the underlying medical situation rather than age alone. 

What if I still want to try with my own eggs?

This is an extremely reasonable question.

For many women, the desire to have a genetically related child is very strong.

If the expected probability of success with their own eggs remains reasonable, a woman may choose to attempt IVF with her own eggs.

For others, particularly when ovarian reserve is severely reduced or repeated cycles have failed, continuing multiple attempts may provide progressively diminishing returns.

The role of the fertility specialist is not to push a woman toward donor eggs.

It is to provide an honest assessment of her chances, explain the alternatives, and allow her to make an informed decision.

Sometimes the most appropriate plan is to try with one's own eggs.

Sometimes it is to consider donor eggs.

And sometimes the discussion involves both options.

What makes a good egg donation program?

A high-quality egg donation program should go well beyond simply providing a donor.

It should include:

• Careful donor selection
• Comprehensive medical history
• Infectious-disease screening
• Appropriate genetic screening
• Ovarian assessment
• Psychological or psychoeducational counseling
• Proper informed consent
• Clear identification and traceability procedures
• High-quality IVF laboratory practices
• Careful coordination between donor and recipient
• Appropriate medical assessment of the recipient

ASRM's 2024 guidance specifically emphasizes comprehensive screening and testing of donors and recipients, while ESHRE has also developed recommendations concerning information and support throughout reproductive donation. 

The laboratory is particularly important because donor eggs are still biological material requiring meticulous identification, handling and traceability.

Egg donation in Lebanon: what should patients consider?

When searching for egg donation in Lebanon, patients should look beyond the availability of donors.

They should ask about the complete treatment pathway.

How are donors evaluated?

What infectious and genetic screening is performed?

How are donors selected?

How are donor and recipient cycles coordinated?

How are eggs, sperm and embryos identified and tracked?

How is the recipient's health assessed before pregnancy?

What information is available about the treatment process and expected outcomes?

These questions are more meaningful than simply asking for a single advertised success rate.

At Azoury IVF Clinic, the decision to proceed with egg donation begins with a thorough understanding of the patient's individual situation.

The objective is to ensure that the treatment is medically appropriate, carefully planned and carried out with the same attention to safety and laboratory quality expected from modern assisted reproductive medicine.

Is egg donation the right choice for me?

There is no universal answer.

The right question is not:

“Am I too old to use my own eggs?”

It is:

“What treatment gives me the most realistic opportunity to have a healthy pregnancy, given my medical and reproductive situation?”

For some women, that answer will be IVF using their own eggs.

For others, donor eggs may offer a significantly better opportunity.

And for some, the decision may require time, additional investigations, or a second opinion.

Choosing egg donation is a deeply personal decision. It deserves honest medical information, time for reflection, and compassionate support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is egg donation?

Egg donation is a fertility treatment in which eggs from a donor are fertilized with sperm to create embryos that are transferred to the recipient's uterus.

Who needs egg donation?

Egg donation may be considered for women with advanced reproductive age, diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, certain genetic conditions, or repeated IVF treatment with poor egg or embryo outcomes.

Can I carry a baby using donor eggs?

Yes. The recipient carries the pregnancy and gives birth to the baby. The egg provides the genetic material from the donor, while the recipient provides the uterus in which the pregnancy develops.

Are donor eggs screened?

Yes. Donors should undergo appropriate medical, infectious-disease, genetic and psychological or psychoeducational evaluation according to applicable standards. 

Is egg donation more successful than IVF with my own eggs?

For women whose egg quality has substantially declined, donor eggs can offer a different and often substantially improved reproductive prognosis. However, individual outcomes depend on many factors and should be discussed with a fertility specialist.

Can I still try IVF with my own eggs before considering egg donation?

In many cases, yes. Whether this is reasonable depends on age, ovarian reserve, previous treatment, embryo development and the estimated probability of success.

Conclusion

Egg donation has become an important option for women whose own eggs may no longer provide a reasonable opportunity for a successful pregnancy.

It can offer a new possibility when age, diminished ovarian reserve, previous IVF failures or certain medical and genetic conditions make treatment with one's own eggs more difficult.

But egg donation is not simply a medical procedure.

It is a decision involving genetics, pregnancy, family, identity and emotions.

The best decision is one made with complete information, realistic expectations and individualized medical advice.

If you are considering egg donation in Lebanon, an individualized consultation can help you understand whether donor eggs are appropriate for your situation, what the treatment involves, and what alternatives may still be available.

At Azoury IVF Clinic, our goal is to help each patient understand her options clearly and choose the treatment path that is medically and personally right for her.

References

• American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Gamete and Embryo Donation Guidance, 2024. 
• European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Good Practice Recommendations for Information Provision for Those Involved in Reproductive Donation.
• European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Guideline on Ovarian Stimulation for IVF/ICSI: 2025 Update.