Have you experienced the devastating impact infertility can have on families? Do you want to pass on the wonderful gift of motherhood to other women? Or do you need some extra funds for your future ambitions?
If you’ve answered yes to one or all of the above, you may have considered becoming an egg donor.
But what’s involved?
Becoming an Egg Donor: Answers to Your Questions
Of course, there’s the medical aspect (you can find out more about it here: https://donoreggbankusa.com/our-egg-donors/donate-eggs), but there’s so much more to the process.
From deciding on the reasons you should become an egg donor to understanding the emotions involved, choosing egg donation takes a lot of careful consideration – but it’s also one of the most rewarding and altruistic acts you can do.
Let’s find out more about the egg donation process to see if it’s right for you.
How Can I Become a Candidate?
To determine whether or not you’re a prime candidate for egg donation, the clinic will need to carry out a number of tests, including:
- Medical history examinations
- Psychological evaluations
- Drug tests
First time candidates must be between 21 and 28 years old, be available for four months to take part in the process, and be able to inject themselves with specific medications.
Additionally, clinics will ask you to provide information about your education, personal life, and professional background. This data enables egg donor recipients to choose the right candidate for them.
However, all of these tests and evaluations aren’t just for the recipient’s benefit.
In-depth examination into your own medical history and eggs allows you to understand if there are any genetic conditions in your family. If you decide to start your own family one day, this information can be incredibly useful.
What’s Involved in Donating My Eggs?
After preliminary tests are completed and you’re approved by the egg bank as a donor, you’ll begin the process of maturing your eggs. This involves taking medication to stimulate your ovaries.
At first, you might find administering these injections difficult, but after a couple of days most women find the process becomes easier.
You’ll be required to visit your clinic at various times while taking these medications because it’s important for the staff to monitor your body’s response. Each case is different, but visits will entail transvaginal ultrasounds and blood tests. Although this process may involve visiting the clinic every day or every few days, it’s vital to not only ensuring successful eggs, but also in protecting your health.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is one of the main risks involved in taking stimulation medication, but regular checkups at the clinic significantly reduce the possibility of developing the syndrome.
Finally, once your eggs are ready, you’ll need to inject a different shot of medication that encourages your ovaries to release the eggs. Then, the eggs are retrieved at the clinic using a thin needle while you’re under local anesthesia.
What Happens to Your Eggs Afterwards?
Depending on whether you’re a fresh or frozen egg donor, they’ll either be transferred directly to the recipient or frozen to be ready for transferral. However, their path after they’ve been retrieved is out of your hands, as you’ll have passed over your legal rights to them.
What Can I Expect from Egg Donation?
While going through the egg donation process, every woman will experience a vast array of emotions– and all of these emotions are completely natural.
You may experience highs when you think about the new life you’re helping another woman create. These may be followed by lows, as you wonder whether doing this is the right thing for you.
It’s important to embrace all these feelings, allowing yourself to adjust to them over time. Talking about these emotions and accepting them when they arise will help you remain calm throughout the process.
Is Donating Eggs Right For You?
This will depend on your thoughts, feelings, and expectations of the process. However, the overwhelming joy of giving a mother the chance to give birth to her own child often far outweighs any momentary negative feelings you might have.