If you are interested in becoming an egg donor, you probably have many questions about the process. This is a big decision to make and one that should not be taken lightly. It’s true that some people may not understand your decision, but know that you are making a wonderful choice that will give a deserving couple the gift of life.
Like other donors in your situation, the motives for donating should always be altruistic. Maybe you’ve seen a friend or family member struggle with infertility or maybe you know someone that has had a positive experience donating eggs. Whatever the reason, it’s the collective effort of egg donors and egg donor programs that give couples a chance to be parents and go through the normal cycle of conception, pregnancy and delivery.
It’s important to keep in mind that all programs have their own set of criteria for egg donors to meet. In general, you need to be healthy, have a healthy family background, have some type of higher education and be at an ideal body weight. You will also have to meet the age restrictions, which most programs want women in their 20s, although the recommendation is up to 34 years of age. Some programs may only take applicants that live in the same state as the clinic or already have children.
Since you are giving the greatest gift of all, you should be just as selective with donor programs as they are with you. Ask questions; get a feel for the dynamics of the program and the type of care you’ll receive. You should never pick a program without doing your research and knowing that you will be part of a team that will treat you as a patient and put your health and safety first. Once you find the right program, you will start off with an initial application or phone interview.
The initial process of becoming an egg donor takes time, so don’t expect anything to happen overnight. After being accepted, you will need to be screened both psychologically and medically. These evaluations ensure that you are in good medical and psychological health and able to go through the egg donation process. More in depth tests are then conducted to look for potential genetic disorders or medical conditions. Basically, everything will be out in the open, but you will be given the results so that if there is an issue, you can be aware of it.
By this point, most donors have no problems and all tests and screenings are completed without any issues. Since donors are young and healthy, they are able to tolerate the donation process rather well. With a frozen cycle, you can start the process almost immediately, as you won’t need to sync your cycle with the recipient. You will give yourself hormone injections for 8 to 12 days, and these hormones will stimulate your ovaries.
Each month, there are several eggs chosen for ovulation and the ones that are not chosen are absorbed by the body. Using these hormones, the eggs will be matured and collected, so no additional eggs are actually being taken from you. Both your ovulation cycle and the onset of menopause will remain the same.
You will be monitored using ultrasounds and lab tests, and when the eggs are matured, the retrieval process will be scheduled. A vaginal probe will be inserted and the mature eggs will be collected, frozen and sent to the donor bank. Although there is minimal risk with the retrieval process, many donors find that they feel severe cramping and soreness for the first few days. After a follow-up appointment, you can resume your normal activities and the process will be complete.
To keep the process confidential, most donors do not know what resulted of their egg donation. There are many outcomes, as some of the eggs may not survive the freezing process, other eggs may not be able to be fertilized and other eggs may not form healthy embryos. Some programs will ask a donor to donate a second time, and in these cases, you can safely assume that your donation resulted in a healthy pregnancy.
Becoming an egg donor is single handedly, the most effective way to make a difference in a couple’s life. While it does involve your complete time, dedication and commitment during the process, you can walk away knowing that you helped create a family; something that could not have been done without you.
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