Some women are not candidates for "regular" IVF due to age, high FSH levels, premature menopause or poor response, or have failed multiple IVF attempts.

Donor egg is a variant of IVF in which an egg donor undergoes treatment with fertility drugs and her eggs are removed. The donor's eggs are then inseminated with the recipient husband's sperm. And the embryos are then transferred into the uterus of the recipient (the woman being treated). The recipient receives hormones to coordinate her menstrual cycle with that of the donor.