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| Photo by Laercio Cavalcanti on Unsplash |
Becoming an egg donor can be rewarding in
many ways and to many people, but the decision is a deeply personal one - one
that must intrinsically come from you.
It’s also important to recognise that such a rewarding decision, which can
potentially have a lasting impact on others, doesn’t come without its’
sacrifices or concerns. There are many factors to consider when making the
decision to become a donor, but rest assured, there’s no right or wrong reason to donate
eggs.
As an egg donor, you’ll have the
opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself. You may find the
ability to gift those struggling with infertility the opportunity to become parents
far outweighs the physical and emotional task ahead. Remembering your
motivation to donate your eggs can help see you through the entire egg donation
process and give you permanent peace of mind you made the best decision for yourself.
Meeting the Requirements
To become an egg donor, you must not only
be willing to commit physically and emotionally to it, but you also must be
willing to commit your time. As a potential egg donor, you’ll be subject to a
thorough screening process which involves medical tests, evaluations, and
questionnaires. Your screening results will be used to determine if you meet the
standard egg donor requirements listed below.
You must…
·
be between 21 to 33 years old.
·
currently be tobacco and
drug-free.
·
not have any sexually
transmitted diseases such as HIV, chlamydia, or hepatitis.
·
be in good overall mental,
emotional, and physical health.
·
be prepared to have genetic
screening.
·
have a psychological
evaluation.
·
be available approximately 3 to
4 months to complete the donation process cycle.
·
be capable of
self-administering injections with medication to stimulate your ovaries.
Egg Stimulation and Retrieval
After you complete the screening portion of
the process and meet the eligibility requirements, you can start the egg
collection process. To begin, your doctor will prescribe an injectable
medication regimen to stimulate your ovaries and prompt them to produce several
mature eggs. During this stimulation cycle, you’ll frequently visit the doctor’s
office so they can carefully monitor your body’s response. For some women, this
will require daily visits, while for others, it may be every few days until
retrieval. At each visit, you’ll have a transvaginal ultrasound and provide
bloodwork. Such comprehensive monitoring is crucial not only to monitor your
health, but also to timing the release of your eggs, a key element of egg
donation success.
Once your medical team has determined your ovaries
are ready, your ovaries will again be stimulated by medication to release the
mature eggs produced. Your eggs will then be retrieved using a thin needle
while you’re under light anesthesia. Next, your eggs will be cryogenically
frozen and stored until they’re selected by a recipient.
Recovery after egg retrieval varies for
each woman, but most egg donors return to their normal routines the next day. The
most common side effects experienced are light bleeding, abdominal pain or
cramping, and constipation.
After you sign legally binding contracts
and donate your eggs, you’re no longer the legal owner of them. You give up
control over who uses them, how they are used and any children that are born
from them. This responsibility ultimately transfers to the parents who select
your eggs to bring their dream family to life.
Your Decision
The decision to donate your eggs may not be
an easy one, but it’s ultimately a life-giving opportunity to help another
woman experience pregnancy and deliver a baby of her own.
After careful reflection, you may realise
the impact you can make will certainly outlast any physical discomforts you may
experience. And the knowledge you may give the gift of a child to a family can
put you at ease with any emotional concerns you have before, during, or after
the egg donation process. You can donate knowing your eggs are a potential
source of life and perpetual happiness for another family. Make the decision
today to help fulfill someone else’s dreams while you achieve
yours.
