California Conceptions Donor Embryo Program is a program offered by California IVF Fertility Center in Sacramento California.  The program offers patients the opportunity for three embryo transfers using high quality embryos from donor sperm and donor eggs.  The program is offered at a flat rate of $15,000, and patients may qualify for a refund of the program costs if they are not successful after 3 transfer procedures.  There is an option to use genetically screened embryos known as the California Conceptions PGS option.  This program costs $21,000 for three tries using embryos that have been evaluated with comprehensive chromosome screening CCS.  The refund terms are different for the PGS / CCS program.

The program offers up to three embryo transfers using one or two embryos with each attempt.  These transfers are offered for the flat rate of $15,000.  The PGS program costs $21,000 for 3 attempts using 1 embryo each attempt.  We are evaluating an option to provide 2 embryos in the PGS program for an additional fee.  Patients are responsible for their own medication costs, travel costs, and testing.  Details about the cost of treatment can be fount on our donor embryo pricing page.

The California Conceptions program provides all clinical services in Sacramento California.  We do not ship embryos from this program.  Patients must travel to Sacramento California for their transfer procedures.  We have experience working with patients from around the world.

Payment for diagnostic services such as the saline-contrast ultrasound are due at the time of the service.  The package price for the California Conceptions Program is due when the first donor profile is accepted.  The three transfers must be completed within one year of the initial payment.

The California Conceptions Donor Embryo Program is a 3 cycle program offered only with advanced payment and can not be billed to insurance.  We do not provide any itemized statements for service and do not participate in billing for insurance for this program.  Patients with insurance may be able to use their insurance for diagnostic testing when preparing for the program.

These terms are often used interchangeably but it is not completely accurate to do so.  Donor embryos most often refers to embryos formed using donor sperm and donor eggs.  Donated embryos most frequently refers to embryos left over from another person/couples treatments and then donated to a recipient.  Embryo adoption is a misleading term because there isn’t an actual adoption process.  California Conceptions is a donor embryo program and California IVF Fertility Center does occasional have donated embryos available, though this happens infrequently.

The standard program offers patients the opportunity to use one or two embryos with each transfer.  The PGS program using genetically screened embryos will offer one embryo per transfer.  We are evaluating an option to provide 2 embryos in the PGS program for an additional fee.  Two embryos will increase the chances of success but will also increase the chances of a twin pregnancy.  Twin pregnancies have higher rates of complications and may be more risky to patients with certain health conditions.  Due to the unpredictable nature of fertility treatments and IVF, there may be times patients desire to have 2 embryos transferred but there is only one embryo available.  This will still count as one of the three transfers, though this happens very infrequently.  Patients should discuss the chances of the program and risks with their physician.

The embryos in the California Conceptions Donor Embryo Program are blastocyst stage embryos.  This typically means they are day 5 and day 6 embryos.  Occasionally morula embryos are used when the embryo otherwise shows signs of being a good quality embryo.

The embryology staff at California IVF Fertility Center use various techniques to track embryo development and grade the progress of the embryos.  There are multiple factors that determine the likelihood an embryo will make a pregnancy.  The grading system on the day of transfer is not always accurate though it is taken into consideration.  Even with the best grading systems possible, there is no accurate way to know if an embryo will make a pregnancy.  Using our scoring system, the embryologists distribute the embryos that seem to have the highest potential across the recipients participating in the transfer.  Our pregnancy rates are high enough to offer most patents the refund guarantee option.  Typically the embryologists are not aware of the guarantee status of a patient and strive to maximize the overall success of the program for all patients.

The California Conceptions Donor Embryo Program uses fresh and frozen embryos.  Typically we will engage egg donors only when there is a demand for new egg donors in the program.  After donors complete their cycles, there may be frozen embryos that are then made available to recipients.  At any given time there is a very limited number of frozen embryo profiles available.

Using the newer vitrification techniques perfected from our successful egg freezing program, the rate of success with frozen transfers is very similar to the rate seen with fresh transfers.

Patients cannot reserve embryos in the California Conceptions program.  When a match is made, the embryos are held for a limited time.  Any embryos that are not transferred are eligible to match with another recipient.  If a pregnancy occurs and a patient would like to participate in the program to attempt another pregnancy in the future, they will be presented a profile with a different sperm and egg donor.  Patients that desire to save embryos for future use should investigate our affordable shared donor egg program.

The program does not reserve embryos for future transfers.  On occasion, there are embryos available from the same profile and can be matched to the same recipient.  There are no assurances this will be possible as all embryos not currently matched are available to matching to another recipient.

California Conceptions uses sperm from FDA-approved sperm banks.  The program does not allow reserving embryos for future use.  Patients are not able to provide sperm that will be used for their transfer as we can not reserve embryos. Patients that have donor sperm left over from previous treatments may be able to donate the unused donor sperm to our program, but there is no assurances the patient will be matched to the embryos formed using the donor sperm. There is no form of compensation for this sperm.  Please speak with our coordinators for any additional information pertaining to donating unused donor sperm to our program.

No.  California Conceptions uses donor sperm from FDA-compliant sperm banks.  If you wish to use sperm from your husband, partner, or a directed sperm donor, California IVF Fertility Center has several oocyte donor programs available.  Often our egg donor program is more affordable than our patient’s local donor programs.  We routinely work with patients from out of town.

Patients receive detailed information about the egg and sperm donor.  This detailed information includes their medical history, family history, ethnic background, and various parts of their social history including information about the donor’s personality.  Patients have the opportunity to review this information and decline a proposed match if the information in the donor profiles is not acceptable to the recipient.

Patients submit their recipient profile information to our program.  This profile may include photographs and general preferences for matching.  Typically the program strives to make matches that would make sense for a couple by imagining a family portrait in the future.  Donors are selected with similar characteristics to the recipients.  We can not assure any specific features or detailed matching.  If more detailed control over the matching process is desired, potential recipients should consider selecting their own egg donor.

Typically the matching process takes between 1 to 3 months.  Completing the necessary testing and counseling as soon as possible can help to expedite this process.  Matches are made only when all of the requirements have been met.  Occasionally we may encounter a delay in matching for certain ethnicities or when there are criteria for donors that can not be met quickly.

We find the most important factor affecting success with the California Conceptions Donor Embryo Program to be the uterus.  When the uterus is completely normal, the chances of success are typically very high.  Things that interfere with the success of the program include:

• Uterine fibroids
• Uterine polyps
• Adenomyosis
• Scar tissue in the uterus
• Thin endometrial lining at lining check
• Patients not taking medications properly

Other factors from the patients past history seem less important for the overall success of the program.  Things such as poor sperm and egg quality will not affect us when using donor embryos.  Endometriosis may affect egg quality but doesn’t seem to affect our success with donor eggs.  Most patients with previous pregnancy losses are able to have success with our program.

There is a lot of controversy regarding autoimmune testing.  This includes things such as anti-phospholipid antibodies, HLA typing, and natural killer cells.  There is very limited support for treatments directed at immunologic causes of infertility though there are doctors promoting these treatments.  Often patients experience pregnancy losses due to advanced age.  In most of the cases we encounter with recurrent pregnancy losses, we are able to use simplified hormone replacement protocols without treatment for immunologic disorders.  The vast majority of our patients previously diagnosed with immunologic infertility are able to conceive without any special medications.  In cases with documented blood clotting disorders where medications or pregnancy are thought to increase the risk of clots, we use anticoagulation as indicated.  Questions pertaining to medical risks and prescribed medications can be discussed with the California IVF physician during your physician consultation.

Most previous fertility treatments will not have a direct effect on the success of the California Conceptions Donor Embryo Program.  Records pertaining to uterine abnormalities, health risks, or problems developing an adequate uterine lining are beneficial.  Consultations with specialists regarding pregnancy risks or health matters that may affect pregnancy are often required.  We will need copies of current blood tests, mammograms, and PAP smears.  Complete medical records with information not related to fertility or pregnancy risks is usually not required.

Yes.  We will need copies of your blood test results.  You may print the list of routine blood tests and ask your doctor to order the tests for you.  Please provide these results.  If you are doing these tests before having your consultation with our California IVF fertility doctor, please keep in mind the doctor may require additional tests and you may have to make another trip to the lab.

Patients interested in the refund guarantee option will have to complete their saline ultrasound at our center.  Some patients chose to have this tested near their home first before travelling to Davis California.  Patients that are not eligible for the refund or do not wish to pursue the refund may complete their saline contrast ultrasound (saline hydrosonogram) testing closer to home.

Clinical psychology counseling needs to be performed with a counselor experienced with third party reproduction and follow ASRM guidelines.  This can be completed locally or scheduled to occur using one of our locally approved providers.  Information for mental health counselors is provided for your convenience.

The California Conceptions Donor Embryo Program follows the American Society For Reproductive Medicine’s (ASRM) guidelines for third party reproduction for donors and recipients.  Recipients of donor embryos are required to undergo counseling with a mental health provider familiar with, and experienced with, ASRM’s recommendations for counseling.  This is not the same as marital counseling or counseling for infertility.  Our clinic must receive a copy of the provider’s letter or notes documenting the counseling.  If this counseling was previously completed as part of treatment with donor sperm or donor eggs, a copy of the counseling letter may be sufficient.

An example of topics covered and information for your counselor is provided in a document Psychological Counseling of Donor Embryo Recipients.  Basically the counselor will discuss topics pertaining to the use of donor embryos and will also discuss recommendations about disclosure to future children.  Specific details will vary among counselors.

Patients attempting to qualify for the refund option will need to have their saline contrast ultrasound performed at our clinic.  This takes place before the initial treatment.  Once the treatment is scheduled, patients have a “baseline ultrasound” before starting medications.  This baseline ultrasound can be completed close to home.  The “lining check” ultrasound confirms the lining is adequate for starting progesterone and confirming the transfer.  This ultrasound must be completed at our center for patients participating in the refund option.  The embryo transfer takes place at our clinic in Sacramento.

The California Conceptions Donor Embryo Program has helped patients from across the world with pregnancy.  Our coordinators are experienced working with people from places as far away as Australia.  Patients can work with their local doctor or infertility clinic to help coordinate treatments.  Patients will need to travel to our clinic for treatments.  During your consultation with one of the treatment coordinators you will learn about available hotel near our center.  There are a lot of local activities including Sacramento, San Francisco, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Monterey, and much more – all within driving distance.

No.  Embryos are matched as soon as possible with potential recipients.  When embryos are frozen, the coordinators initiate the matching process with patients who have completed the program requirements.  Profiles will be provided to patients based on criteria provided, but there isn’t a catalog of embryos as long term cryopreservation of embryos is avoided with the California Conceptions Donor Embryo Program.

The donors participating in our program are anonymous donors.  Donors and recipients are free to participate in the Donor Sibling Registry.  The clinic does not provide information to the registry.  Donors frequently relocate without updating their address or contact information.  Donors are not provided information about the recipients other than being made aware of the nature of the program and consenting to donate to multiple recipients.

Patients’ information is protected health information protected under HIPAA laws.  Information is not disclosed to other recipients or donors.  Patients are free to make contact with other participants through the Donor Sibling Registry or other discussion forums.  A popular discussion forum where patients have made contact with one another is BabyCenter.

Patients sharing the same donor profiles have referred to themselves as sibling parents or sibling moms.  Patients have made contact with one another during their appointments and established friendships with the hopes of allowing the siblings to have contact in the future.  This form of contact is completely optional.  Patients may wish to discuss this with their mental health counselor as part of the Getting Started process.

The California Conceptions Donor Embryo Program was founded in 2010, with the intent to offer a highly successful alternative to expensive fertility treatments and adoption.  By using donor sperm and donor eggs, patients with a normal uterus will typically have such a high rate of success, we are able to extend a refund option.  Hundreds of patients from across the US and the world have traveled to our program and been successful.  In most cases, the three transfers result in a cumulative 95% rate of success.  Searching the web for information about our program will turn up patient testimonials and success stories.  Individual success depends on multiple factors but we are happy to discuss your chances as part of your consultation with our physician.

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Most patients that apply for the refund option are able to qualify.  Participants must be willing to travel to our center for the saline contrast ultrasound and the ultrasound to check the uterine lining.  The most common causes that disqualify people is the desire not to travel to our center for these ultrasounds and weight.  Many patients have been motivated enough by the refund option to lose enough weight to qualify.

To be eligible for the donated embryo guarantee option, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• 54 years of age or younger
• BMI (body mass index) less than 28
• Any factors determined by our physicians that would interrupt or hinder a pregnancy
• A saline contrast sonography or hysteroscopy must be performed at California IVF before a patient’s first embryo transfer to assess the patient’s uterus for any abnormalities that may hinder or interrupt a pregnancy with donated embryos
• Uterine lining evaluation after estrogen treatment, but before progesterone, must be performed at California IVF

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PGS stands for preimplantation genetic screening, and CCS stands for comprehensive chromosome screening.  The two terms both refer to the same procedure involving genetic testing on a small sample of cells from each embryo.  The testing that is performed will not test for all possible genetic abnormalities, but it will test for the correct number of chromosomes.  Abnormal numbers of chromosomes is one of the most frequent reasons why pregnancies don’t occur with otherwise normal appearing embryos.  In a group of embryos from an oocyte donor, an estimated 50 to 60% will be genetically abnormal.  By using PGS or CCS, we will select only the embryos that have been determined to be genetically normal.  PGS / CCS has been associated with higher rates of pregnancy, lower miscarriage rates, and avoidance of genetic conditions such as Down Syndrome and Turner Syndrome.  The standard California Conceptions program has an excellent pregnancy rate, however PGS / CCS may be desired to maximize the chances of success and reduce the costs associated with travel to our clinic for repeat cycles.  PGS / CCS has historically resulted in 70% rate of success with 1 embryo and 80% rate of success with 2 embryos (with a twin rate as high as 60%).