Both the mother and her husband are high-income individuals in the high-tech industry. Despite experiencing two miscarriages, they sought the advice of Dr. Li Mengru, the director of the Reproductive Medicine Center at China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital. Following his recommendation, they opted for egg donation and achieved a successful pregnancy. Due to the mother's advanced maternal age, she experienced gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes during the pregnancy. These complications were promptly managed by Dr. Jiang Zhiyu, an obstetrician-gynecologist, and she successfully delivered a baby girl weighing approximately 2,900 grams. The couple was overjoyed with the outcome.
Director Li Mengru explained that according to consensus in reproductive medicine, when the ovarian reserve is less than 1 and the woman is over 43 years old, egg donation becomes a prioritized option. Therefore, he suggested that the mother consider egg donation. After a successful matching process that took three months, in vitro fertilization was performed, and the embryo was implanted by the hospital.
Dr. Jiang Zhiyu, the obstetrician-gynecologist, pointed out that the mother belonged to the high-risk group of advanced maternal age and required careful and cautious management. The prenatal check-ups were shortened by 1-2 weeks, and preventive measures such as low-dose aspirin, progesterone supplementation, and bed rest were provided to ensure a safe pregnancy. At 16-17 weeks, the mother showed signs of cervical dilation and shortening, leading to a cervical cerclage procedure. During the mid-pregnancy period, she developed gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes. Fortunately, the mother strictly controlled her diet and did not require insulin treatment. However, at 37 weeks, she experienced a sudden rise in blood pressure, with systolic blood pressure ranging from 170 to 180 and diastolic blood pressure from 100 to 110. An emergency cesarean section was performed to save the baby.
Director Li Mengru emphasized that the physical condition of the mother must be evaluated before proceeding with egg donation. Normal blood pressure and a BMI not exceeding 26 are required to avoid complications during the childbirth process. As for the conditions for egg donation, relatives up to the fourth degree are excluded, and the donor cannot be specifically designated. However, certain criteria can be considered, such as blood type, height, skin color, and hair color, which should be similar to those of the recipient.
Director Li Mengru also mentioned that for women over 43 years old with an ovarian reserve of less than 1, pursuing in vitro fertilization with their own eggs would take an estimated six months to a year, requiring 6 to 10 egg retrievals and resulting in a pregnancy success rate of less than 5%, with costs reaching millions. On the other hand, if the conditions for egg donation are met, the mother does not need to undergo egg retrieval, and the cost is approximately 400,000 to 500,000 yuan. Moreover, most successful matches can be achieved within three to four months, with a success rate of up to 50%, saving both time and money.
