Oocyte donation.

Use of donor oocytes is becoming an increasingly important facet of assisted reproductive technology programs. Candidates for donor oocytes include women with premature ovarian failure or severe genetic disorders, women who respond poorly to human menopausal gonadotropin, and women older than 40 years who do not conceive with used of other therapies. The coordination of donor and recipient of oocytes is facilitated by pituitary desensitization of both parties using gonadotropin-releasing-hormone agonists. Pregnancy rates are much higher than that achieved with traditional in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, possibly because of the young age of the donors and better endometrial receptivity.