In this episode of the “Dr. Fertilidad” podcast, Dr. Jorge Castillo speaks with Alexander Mejía of Cryos International about oocyte and semen donation.
Alexander explains that Cryos International is an international egg and sperm bank with 35 years of experience, headquartered in Denmark with operations in Europe, the US, and, more recently, Latin America.
Key points of the discussion:
History and growth: Cryos began with semen donation and entered the egg donation field 10 years ago.
Semen donation market: Initially strong in the US, Europe has now grown significantly, and Latin America is showing growth. The main users in the US are single partners, LGBT community couples, and heterosexual couples. Many single women in the US opt to freeze eggs or seek donors as they focus on their careers.
Criteria for semen donors: A psychological evaluation and the donor’s family medical history are important requirements.
Differences in donation programs (Europe vs. America):
Donor anonymity: In Europe, anonymous donors are no longer allowed, a significant change post-COVID. They are still permitted in the US, but a shift towards open identity is expected in 2-3 years. The difficulty in finding open-identity donors is sometimes compensated with higher remuneration. Panama still manages anonymous donation.
Implications of donor open identity: It offers transparency and the possibility for children to have information about the donor. Programs like “23andMe” have allowed the identities of anonymous donors to be discovered.
Oocyte donation: Cryos began operating more strongly with oocyte donation in the US 10 years ago. The pandemic affected production due to FDA regulations. The goal is to increase the catalog of donors with different phenotypes. In Latin America, oocyte donation has grown due to social changes.
Expectations and quantity of oocytes: Cryos recommends six oocytes to obtain one blastocyst. Dr. Villarreal notes the importance of having enough embryos for future transfers.
Fresh vs. frozen treatments in the US: Frozen egg treatments predominate due to safety and immediate availability. Fresh treatments involve a longer procedure.
Impression of Panama: Alexander was pleasantly surprised by the number and quality of reproduction centers in Panama, highlighting the technology and the kindness of the people.
