Whose genetic traits do children born from donated eggs have?

I am 39 years old, married for 5 years with no children, low ovarian reserve, advised to request eggs for IVF.

If I get pregnant with a donated egg, will the baby inherit genetic traits from me or the egg donor? Do I still have a chance to have a baby with my own eggs? ( Le Thi Hong, Tien Giang )

Reply:

The volume of an egg is 10,000 times larger than that of a sperm. During fertilization, the sperm contributes only a portion of its genetic material in the head and a small surrounding structure in the neck, the tail being removed from the outside before entering the egg. Therefore, the entire development of the embryo depends on the energy source from the egg.

In the egg cytoplasm there is a large number of organelles called mitochondria (the cell's power plant, which converts organic matter into energy). Mitochondria not only provide energy but also the genetic code.

Therefore, if you donate eggs for IVF, the child will carry the genetics of the egg donor, which has no genetic significance to you.

The egg volume is 10,000 times that of sperm and contributes greatly to genetics. Photo: Freepik — The egg volume is 10,000 times that of sperm and contributes greatly to genetics. Photo: *Freepik*

Previously, some studies have shown that women with an ovarian reserve (AMH) below 0.7 are unlikely to be able to retrieve eggs, or if they do have eggs, they are of poor quality and difficult to fertilize to form embryos. Egg donation is the first-line treatment in these cases.

However, most women do not wish to donate eggs from others. Therefore, for women with low AMH, doctors advise a strategy of collecting eggs in multiple cycles to obtain many eggs, potentially creating many embryos.

Eggs are frozen using vitrification technology. With a super clean lab system and modern incubator, with only 7 eggs (whether fresh or frozen), the patient can get at least one embryo on day 5, increasing the chance of pregnancy and reducing the risk of multiple pregnancies.

In the human body, egg cells are the largest and are 99% water, and the death rate when stored or thawed is very high. At the Center for Reproductive Support, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, the pregnancy rate from stored eggs is 97%, equivalent to fresh eggs.

You should go to the hospital for a comprehensive re-evaluation of your reproductive health as soon as possible. If the ultrasound results show that there are still ovarian follicles, there is still a small hope of having a child using your own eggs.

In 2022, IVFTA-HCMC will receive 47% of patients with low ovarian reserve, AMH below 1.2, due to many reasons such as old age, congenital or pathological conditions that cause ovarian failure. Doctors collect eggs to help many cases with AMH below 0.1 still have their own children.

MSc. Dr. Giang Huynh Nhu
Director of Reproductive Support Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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