Today on our blog, MySurrogateMom, shares their insights on what to consider when deciding to become an egg donor. Being an egg donor can lead to a very exciting and rewarding journey to help make a dream of becoming a parent come true.
The decision to donate your eggs is life-changing, as well as life-giving. The parents who receive your eggs will be forever grateful for the chance to have children that they otherwise couldn’t have—a chance that you gifted them. Yet egg donation is multi-layered.
MySurrogateMom shares five things consider before becoming a donor.
1. There Are Three Donation Options
When deciding to donate eggs, there are three options to do so: through an agency, through a clinic, or through a directed egg donation.
Agencies typically factor in a donor’s wages and incurred expenses from the donation process—considerations that are defined from the cost of living in an area.
Donating eggs to a fertility clinic can sometimes yield a higher payment, and access to clinics is widespread because they exist in every state and across multiple locations.
Donating your eggs to a friend or family member is known as a directed egg donation. Even though the matchmaking process is bypassed here, regular screenings must still occur.
2. The Process Takes a Couple of Weeks
Donating eggs is a very involved and complex process. Indeed, before eggs are even harvested, a donor must undergo extensive physical, psychological, and genetic testing. Social history is also taken into account.
Once cleared, a donor must then begin a series of hormone injections done nightly to stimulate the ovaries. Ovarian stimulation induces your body to produce a large number of eggs over the course of two to three weeks. Growth is monitored closely, ending in a “trigger shot,” which prompts the eggs to be released. This release is timed precisely to occur just as you undergo the procedure in which the eggs are aspirated and then provided to the intended recipients.
Due to the hormones and resulting ovarian stimulation, you can expect to feel uncomfortably bloated, but this feeling quickly fades once egg retrieval is complete.
3. It’s About More than Money
Yes, egg donors are paid, but compensation varies depending on a few factors, such as the type of donation made, where you live, and the clinic used.
You should know that seeking cash as the primary reason for egg donation is frowned upon, and many clinics might reject you in the screening process for this very reason. For most donors, the ability to give someone their very own family is a precious gift they feel honored to give. For them, it’s not about the money but rather a selfless decision that can change lives.
4. There Are Risks
Before any medical procedure, it is important to make an informed decision, which includes being educated on the risks involved. Ovary stimulation during the egg donation cycle can result in a lingering fertility boost. As such, your chances of becoming pregnant can increase. Also, egg retrieval is performed under conscious sedation, and as with any anesthesia procedure, there are associated risks.
A known risk of egg donation is the possibility of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This syndrome is excessive swelling of the ovaries beyond the normal growth experienced during the stimulation phase of egg donation due to the hormone shots.
5. You Have Options Regarding Your Privacy
Donors can be divided into two categories: known and anonymous.
As the name implies, known donors are familiar to the intended parents and can be in contact with the family. However, the exact type of relationship can vary greatly, and there are many emotions involved in managing it.
Egg donation is not a decision to be taken lightly. Knowing the facts and what to expect can prevent you from making a decision that you might regret down the road.
Final Thoughts
Egg donation can be one of the greatest gifts of all, but take care to be sure it’s the right decision for you. Discussions with your doctor and reviewing all the risks and considerations are paramount before embarking on this life-changing journey.
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Egg Donation, Inc’s Southern California agency in Los Angeles is host to one of the most successful donor egg programs in the United States and the world. We are at the forefront of advances in egg donation technology including egg banking of frozen donor eggs. We invite you to see why we are one of the leading Los Angeles area agencies.