PFC Proudly Announces the Opening of the Pacific Fertility Egg Bank

This August, the Pacific Fertility Egg Bank (PFEB) became the first freestanding egg bank in Northern California. This follows development of highly innovative egg freezing technology (vitrification) and proven successful birth rates using embryos derived from frozen eggs.

The Pacific Fertility Egg Bank and clinical teams are very excited to offer this new option to patients needing donor eggs to create or expand their families. We want to help you realize your dream!

The PFC lab has been using vitrification technology for egg freezing since 2007, and has gained tremendous expertise with these techniques. Our clinic results, as well as published studies reporting on experiences worldwide, confirm that the chances of a live birth using frozen eggs are comparable to those using fresh eggs. World data also show no increased incidences of birth defects in babies born from embryos derived from frozen eggs.

With these reassurances, PFC is now offering frozen egg cycles to patients, which allows them access to quicker and less costly services. Here are a few of the differences between fresh and frozen egg cycles and services.

A contemporaneous donor (fresh) cycle

• Ability to find a suitable donor
• Donor's and recipient's personal schedules
• Synchronization of menstrual cycles between the donor and recipient
• Success with IVF stimulation

A typical contemporaneous donor cycle provides intended parents with one fresh transfer and, on average, an additional 4 embryos to freeze. The cost for this type of cycle is $35–40,000.

A frozen donor egg cycle takes 1–2 months—from decision to engage in a treatment cycle until the pregnancy test after an embryo transfer. The eggs are already frozen, so there is no need for synchronization between the donor and recipient. And once the recipient has chosen the eggs, it is possible to set a treatment calendar. The recipient's personal schedule determines the start of the treatment cycle.

All donors in the PFEB have been chosen for their desirable characteristics and have been screened using the most up-to-date recommendations.

A frozen egg cycle guarantees the intended parents 2 embryos for transfer, and the odds of pregnancy are comparable to those of an embryo transfer using fresh donor eggs.

Because fewer embryos are available in an PFEB cycle, the fee is lower—$21,500. Although less expensive, a frozen egg cycle provides a highly successful option for family building. There are, however, some exclusions for participating in an PFEB cycle, which your PFC physician can review with you.

PFC is proud and excited to have launched this option for family building, and we look forward to providing this service for our patients who would like to take advantage of it.

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