What is Egg Donation?
Egg donation is the process of one woman donating her healthy eggs to another to conceive a child. The process is part of a family of assisted reproductive technologies otherwise known as “ART”. In many cases, there are health reasons that prevent the normal fertility process in the donor-recipient. Other times the choice to use an egg donor is made for personal reasons.
The Application Guidelines
Applying to become an egg donor is truly a selfless decision. There are certain egg donor requirements and qualifications to determine eligibility, see Egg Donor Qualifications & Requirements. Filling out the application is the first initial step towards the process of becoming an egg donor. The application is essentially a prescreening tool to establish if the applicant can move forward to the next step.
Egg donor agencies have many pre-qualification standards such as age, health, mental and lifestyle history. Some egg donor agencies require psychiatric evaluations, several interviews, and pre-genetic screening to qualify. On average, only a small percentage of egg donors are accepted. One applying to become an egg donor should expect to provide:
- Background Information
- Medical information
- Identification and any other relevant documentation
- Educational background
- Family history
- Photos
Matching
Selecting donor eggs involves a delicate process of defining which egg donor profiles are desirable. Once the egg donor profiles are narrowed to a particular one, then there is an acceptance process by the donor to the intended recipient. The time frame in which a donor is chosen is unable to be determined due to the personal nature of selection criteria.
Once a donor is chosen and all parties agree, the next action is to begin the medical portion of the egg donor process. Most often, it is not uncommon for both parties to experience a wide range of emotions as they move to the next steps. Lastly, the donor and the recipient will complete the necessary paperwork to fill out to begin the process.
Medical Screening
This step of the egg donor process is what most medical experts consider to be one of the most important steps. The health assessment of the egg donor determines the viability and success of the entire process. The egg donor should expect a battery of tests and procedures to comply with the medical screening process.
The medical screening includes complete blood and genetic testing of the egg donor that meets all required FDA rules and standards. The results determine continuation of the egg donor medical protocols and procedures. The medical portion of the process may appear rigorous to some and both parties should understand and become well educated on what to expect.
Medical Protocol / Medication
To facilitate the egg donor process, the egg donor has to be prepared to undergo multiple medical procedures. Before the egg retrieval procedure can be performed, there are some medical protocols to aid in the successful harvesting of the egg. The egg donor will be required to inject herself with Lupron, a medication designed to suppress her natural reproduction cycle in an effort to synchronize with the reproductive cycle of the egg donor recipient. Also, the egg donor will have to administer daily injections of another medication called gonadotropin to stimulate her ovaries for egg production.
Below is a complete list of the most commonly used medications to facilitate the egg donor harvesting process include:
- (BCP) Birth Control Pills or (OCP) Ovulation Control Pills
Birth control pills or ovulation control pills are used in the egg donor prior to IVF to assist the ovaries in response effectiveness of stimulation medicines.
- Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are used in some cases to treat infertility in women undergoing IVF who have had a history of failed IVF and miscarriages. The science behind the use of the steroids is that reducing the immune cells called natural killer cells in an effort to facilitate pregnancies. The immune system plays a large role in the fertility process.
- (FSH) Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Stimulates and helps mature the eggs that were donated.
- (GnRH) Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Antagonist
Prevents premature release of hormones
- (HCG) Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
This drug is used to stimulate the ovaries.
- (GnRH) Gonadotropin-Release Hormone Agonist
This drug falls under the names of Lupron, Synarel, or similar and is used to prevent the release of eggs by ovulation and assists in maintaining proper FSH and LH levels during the egg donor cycle.
- Various Antibiotics
Various antibiotics are used to prevent infection.
Egg (Oocyte) Retrieval
To proceed to the next step of egg retrieval, an ultrasound is given to see if the egg donor’s eggs have successfully developed. At this point, the egg donor is instructed to administer the ovulation stimulating drug of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). The next procedure is performed while the egg donor is under intravenous induced anesthesia (asleep).
A qualified physician will then use a needle to aspirate the follicular fluid that contains the eggs while being guided via ultrasound view. The fluid containing the eggs is then collected in test tubes. The entire egg retrieval procedure takes about 30 minutes.
Following the procedure, the egg donor is taken to the recovery room for rest and observation. The recovery process is about an hour after surgery at which point the egg donor is released to go home and rest.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Will I be able to have children after donating my eggs?
Yes. Studies have concluded there isn’t any evidence that affects the future fertility of the egg donor.
What if my tubes are tied? Can I still donate eggs?
If one has had a tubal ligation, they are still able to donate eggs.
How much time from work or school will I work if I donate my eggs?
Typically, one day off from work or school is needed for the egg retrieval process unless there is travel involved.
Can I become pregnant during the egg donor process?
Yes. You can become pregnant during the egg donor process.
How many times can a person donate eggs?
For optimal health and the safety of both the donor and recipient; the recommended amount of times a person can donate eggs is six.
Do I have to give myself shots?
Yes. You will be required to administer daily injections.
Will donating my eggs affect my health?
Research indicates that there are no long-term adverse health effects from the egg donor process.
Will the egg donor agency share or sell my information with others?
Every egg donor agency has a different policy about sharing information with affiliate agencies and related services.
Are there many potential long-term side effects from the medications used in the egg donor process?
In most cases, there are no long-term side effects from any of the common medications used in the egg donor process. The physicians will go over all of the health risks and explain what to expect. Research and medical experts cite that long-term effects from the medications are considered to be an anomaly.
If I donate my eggs, can I have sex during the egg donor process?
Yes. But because you can get pregnant during the egg donor process, the egg donor agencies ask that you refrain from having sex during the entire process.
