Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Historical Evolution of Oocyte and Embryo Donation as a Treatment for Intractable Infertility

  • Chapter
Principles of Oocyte and Embryo Donation

Abstract

Within mammalian species, pregnancy is immunologically privileged. By rules of this concept, a conceptus transferred into a host uterus can be carried uneventfully to viability with a parturition time determined by the genetics of the oocyte donor.1,2 Clinical exploitation of this principle, long established in laboratory animals and livestock breeding, produced the first reports of viable pregnancies to infertile women in 1983 and first births in 1984.3–5 During 1994, in the United States alone, more than 929 pregnancies producing viable births from donated oocytes and embryos were celebrated.6 With this number increasing steadily, oocyte and embryo donation occupies a highly significant role in the practice of reproductive medicine.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Seidel EG Jr. Superovulation and embryo transfer in cattle. Science. 1981; 211: 351–357.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kitts DD, Anderson GB, BonDurant RH, Stabenfeldt GH. Temporal patterns of delta 4 C-21 steroids in coexisting, genetically dissimilar twin lamb fetuses throughout late gestation. Endocrinology. 1984; 114: 703–711.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Buster JE, Bustillo M, Thorneycroft IH, et al. Non-surgical transfer of an in vitro fertilized donated ova to five infertile women [letter]. Lancet. 1983; 2: 223–224.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lutjen P, Trounson A, Leeton J, Findlay J, Wood C, Renou P. The establishment and maintenance of pregnancy using in vitro fertilization and embryo donation in a patient with primary ovarian failure. Nature. 1984; 307: 174–175.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bustillo M, Buster JE, Cohen SW, et al. Delivery of a healthy infant following nonsurgical ovum transfer [letter]. JAMA. 1984; 251: 889.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Assisted reproductive technology in the United States and Canada: 1994 results generated from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine/Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Registry. Fertil Steril. 1996; 66: 697–705.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Heape W. Preliminary note on the transplation and growth of mammalian ova in a foster mother. Proc R Soc London. 1890; 48: 457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Willett EL, Black WG, Casida LE, Stone WH, Buckner PJ. Successful transplantation of a fertilized bovine ovum. Science. 1951; 113: 247.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hodgen GD. Surrogate embryo transfer combined with estrogen-progesterone therapy in monkeys. Implantation, gestation, and delivery without ovaries. JAMA. 1983; 250: 2167–2171.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kraemer DC. Intra-and interspecific embryo transfer [review]. J Exp Zool. 1983; 228: 363–371.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Steptoe PC, Edwards RG. Birth after the reimplantation of a human embryo [letter]. Lancet. 1978; 2: 366.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Blumberg GG. Legal issues in nonsurgical human ovum transfer. JAMA. 1984; 251: 1178–1181.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Trounson A, Leeton J, Besanko M, Wood C, Conti A. Pregnancy established in an infertile patient after transfer of a donated embryo fertilised in vitro. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1983; 286: 835–838.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Trounson A, Mohr L. Human pregnancy following cryopreservation, thawing and transfer of an eight-cell embryo. Nature. 1983; 305: 707–709.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bustillo M, Buster JE, Freeman AG, Gornbein JA, Wheeler N, Marshall JR. Nonsurgical ovum transfer as a treatment for intractable infertility: what effectiveness can we realistically expect? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1984; 49(4): 371–375.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Bustillo M, Buster JE, Cohen SW, et al. Nonsurgical ovum transfer as a treatment in infertile women. JAMA. 1984; 251(9): 1171–1173.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Buster JE. Embryo donation by uterine flushing and embryo transfer. Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 1985; 12(4): 815–824.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Buster JE, Bustillo M, Rodi IA, et al. Biologic and morphologic development of donated human ova recovered by nonsurgical uterine lavage. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1985; 153(2): 211–217.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sauer MV, Bustillo M, Gorrill, MJ, Louw JA, Marshall JR, Buster JE. An instrument for the recovery of preimplantation uterine ova. Obstet Gynecol. 1988; 71(5): 804–806.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Croxatto HB, Ortiz ME, Diaz S, Hess R, Balmaceda J, Croxatto HD. Studies on the duration of egg transport by the human oviduct. II. Ovum location at various intervals following luteinizing hormone peak. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1978; 132: 629–634.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Seed RG, Seed RW. Artificial embryonation-human embryo transplant. Archives of Andrology. 1980; 5: 90–91.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Buster JE, Bustillo M, Thorneycroft IH, et al. Non-surgical transfer of an in vivo fertilized donated ovum to an infertility patient [letter]. Lancet. 1983; 1: 816–817.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Formigli L, Formigli G. Pregnancy and delivery in two women with ovarian failure following nonsurgical transfer of in vivo fertilized uterine ova [letter]. JAMA. 1986; 256(11): 1442.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Formigli L, Formigli G, Roccio C. Donation of fertilized uterine ova to infertile women. Fertil Steril. 1987; 47(1): 162–165.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Formigli L, Roccio C, Belotti G, Stangalini A, Coglitore MT, Formigli G. Nonsurgical flushing of the uterus for pre-embryo recovery: possible clinical applications. Hum Reprod. 1990; 5(3): 329–335.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Carson SA, Buster JE. Diagnosis and treatment before implantation: the ultimate prenatal medicine. Contemp Ob/Gyn. December 1995; 71–88.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Carson SA, Smith AL, Scoggan JL, Buster JE. Superovulation fails to increase human blastocyst yield after uterine lavage. Prenat Diagn. 1991; 11: 513–522.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Rosenwaks Z. Donor eggs: their application in modern reproductive technologies. Fertil Steril. 1987; 47(6): 895–909.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lutjen PJ, Leeton JF, Findlay JK. Oocyte and embryo donation in IVF programmes. Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 1985; 12(4): 799–813.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Navot D, Scott RT, Droesch K, Veeck LL, Liu H-C, Rosenwaks Z. The window of embryo transfer and the efficiency of human conception in vitro. Fertil Steril. 1991; 55(1): 114–118.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Navot D, Bergh A, Williams M, et al. An insight into early productive processes through the in vivo model of ovum donation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991; 72(2): 408–414.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Wildt L, Diedrich K, van der Ven H, Al Hasani S, Hubner H, Klasen R. Ovarian hyperstimulation for in-vitro fertilization controlled by GnRH agonist administered in combination with human menopausal gonadotrophins. Hum Reprod. 1986; 1: 15–19.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Schmidt CL, de Ziegler D, Gagliardi CL, et al. Transfer of cryopreserved-thawed embryos: the natural cycle versus controlled preparation of the endo-metrium with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and exogenous estradiol and progesterone (GEEP). Fertil Steril. 1989; 52(4): 609–616.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Pados G, Camus M, Van Waesberghe L, Liebaers I, Van Steirteghem A, Devroey P. Oocyte and embryo donation: evaluation of 412 consecutive trials. Hum Reprod. 1992; 7(8): 1111–1117.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Van Voorhis BJ, Williamson RA, Gerard JL, Hammitt DG, Syrop CH. Use of oocytes from anonymous, matched, fertile donors for prevention of heritable genetic diseases. J Med Genet 1992; 29: 398–399.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Sauer MV, Paulson RJ, Lobo RA. A preliminary report on oocyte donation extending reproductive potential to women over 40 [see comments]. N Engl J Med. 1990; 323: 1157–1160.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Sauer MV, Paulson RJ, Ary BA, Lobo RA. Three hundred cycles of oocyte donation at the University of Southern California: assessing the effect of age and infertility diagnosis on pregnancy and implantation rates. J Assist Reprod Genet. 1994; 11(2): 92–96.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Legro RS, Wong IL, Paulson RJ, Lobo RA, Sauer MV. Recipient’s age does not adversely affect pregnancy outcome after oocyte donation. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1995; 172(1, pt 1): 96–100.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Sauer MV, Paulson RJ, Lobo RA. Pregnancy in women 50 or more years of age: outcomes of 22 consecutively established pregnancies from oocyte donation. Fertil Steril. 1995; 64(1): 111–115.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Abdalla HI, Baber R, Kirkland A, Leonard T, Power M, Studd JWW. A report on 100 cycles of oocyte donation; factors affecting the outcome. Hum Reprod. 1990; 5(8): 1018–1022.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Yaron Y, Amit A, Brenner SM, Peyser MR, David MP, Lessing JB. In vitro fertilization and oocyte donation in women 45 years of age and older. Fertil Steril. 1995; 63(1): 71–76.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Cano F, Simon C, Remohi J, Pellicer A. Effect of aging on the female reproductive system: evidence for a role of uterine senescence in the decline in female fecundity. Fertil Steril. 1995; 64(3): 584–589.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Antinori S, Versaci C, Gholami GH, Panci C, Caffa B. Oocyte donation in menopausal women. Hum Reprod. 1993; 8: 1487–1490.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Robertson JA. Ethical and legal issues in human embryo donation. Fertil Steril. 1995; 64(5): 885–894.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Leeton J, Trounson A, Wood C. The use of donor eggs and embryos in the management of human infertility. Aust NZ J Obstet Gynaecol. 1984; 24: 265–270.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. The American Fertility Society Guidelines for gamete donation. Fertil Steril. 1993; 59(suppl 1): 1S–9S.

    Google Scholar 

  47. The Ethics Committee of The American Fertility Society. Ethical considerations of assisted reproductive technologies. Fertil Steril. 1994; 62(suppl 1): 47S–53S.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. John E. Buster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, 622 West 168th Street, PH16-28, New York, NY, 10032-3784, USA

    Mark V. Sauer

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Buster, J.E. (1998). Historical Evolution of Oocyte and Embryo Donation as a Treatment for Intractable Infertility. In: Sauer, M.V. (eds) Principles of Oocyte and Embryo Donation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1640-7_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1640-7_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7226-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-1640-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation