Need some help ....

[karlykate]

I have a question I desperately need an answer to. My little sister is going to be my egg donor. We went through the initial testing and everything came back fine for her except for one test. She tested positive for chlamydia and we were told (by an agency and an IVF clinic)she could not donate for one year after the positive test via FDA regulation. We want to use another clinic, but were told that the FDA has her test results and any clinic can request a copy of her results. Is this true? What about medical records and privacy laws? I can not find a definitive answer for this question. There is nothing about this listed on the FDA.gov website. She has taken treatment and tested negative for everything and now has a clean bill of health. What I want to know is, do I have to wait a year to use my sister as a donor or can we simply go to another clinic and tell them we are new clients. I don't want her to be humilated again by another clinic if they can access her medical records or have some sort of FDA database they can check. Any help would be apprecaited! I only want to use my sister as a donor.

[mauve]

Hi KK
Sorry, I can't give you any advice on the FDA but I know that most clinics do follow the letter of the law with things like this. They do like to protect the health of the recipient (I've found that out with quarantine periods for sperm donors). Have you tried ringing around other clinics and what state are you in? You may find one that will allow you to sign a waiver. The FDA probably keep a register of some sort for all kinds of conditions - chlamydia being one of them so it could be quite possible any clinic will find out. Try ringing around, can't hurt.
I feel for you and your sister, especially as she is clear now. It must have been hard enough for her to find out she had chlamydia let alone probably now feeling like she's some kind of 'cast off'. I really sympathise with her.
I hope it all works out for you - finding an ED can be so hard, you've jumped that hurdle though.
Good luck!

[leisurly]

Hi KarlyKate

I bet your sister is very very happy that she was helping you as this has mean that the chlamydia was diagnoised, it affects 1 in 12 women, very common, no symptoms but can and does cause infertility, so in your sister helping in your infertility she has been able to be treated preventing her becoming infertile due to chlamydia.

The poor koala is also suffering infertility due to Chlamydia. I don't know why you need to wait a yr, seems really mad especially s it is so common. I'd first check out a sexual health clinic with an STD specialist and get the information of treatment, reoccurance and double checking. With the true facts you should be able to argue your case.

I really do hope your sister does not feel like a 'cast off' and is an extremely fortunate young lady for having it diagnoised. I wish you the best of luck

Leisurly

[sarahstarfish]

Hey Karly

Gee I don't like your chances love if it's a matter of record at FDA....it really does sound as if this is part of some official procedure that they have to do as a matter of course??

Is there any chance you can cycle with her now so she doesn't have to wait around for a year with this all hanging over your heads, and freeze the embies until the wait is over? No it's not ideal by a long shot, just a suggestion if there's nothing else you can do when you try other clinics. I would also try ACCESS (www.ACCESS.com) and the Fertility Society of Australia. I would also be finding out if a 'normal' IVF girl could go ahead, and if you are prepared to sign a waiver, then why can't you.


Would be good to find out if this was a precaution peculiar to your clinic or a general guideline that they have to follow.

Good luck - let us know how you go. Hugs to your dear sister.

Love

Cindy