Donor Oocytes (eggs)
This is the donation of an egg (oocyte) by one woman to another who attempts to become pregnant by In Vitro Fertilization.
Anonymous oocyte donation is offered to women up to the age of 51 (the natural age of menopause). Once a donor recipient is close to being matched with a donor, she and her partner will need to go through a series of screening tests and appointments prior to starting a donor egg cycle.
Donating eggs is not an easy process and will require a commitment of time and energy. Couples with whom you may be matched will be investing a large amout of money for each cycle.
What does the screening process involve?
The screening process will involve bloodwork, an ultrasound, and a psychological evaluation. For the psychological evaluation, you meet with a psychologist who will talk with you about why you want to be a donor, and her staff will administer a psychological test called the MMPI. The interview and test are not difficult or threatening. Additional tests may be required in certain circumstances.
What does this Lupron drug do?
Once you have been accepted as a donor it will be determined where you are in your menstrual cycle. You will utilize a medication called Lupron to help coordinate you and your recipients’ cycles. You will usually begin Lupron the week before your next expected period. If you are taking oral contraceptives you will overlap the Lupron and the pills for a few days then have you stop the pills.
What critia make a women eligible for egg donation?
A woman is eligible to become a donor if she is a healthy non-smoker between the ages of 21 and 34. The process begins with an application, which includes detailed personal medical information about the donor and her immediate family.
How do I know if I will be chosen as a donor?
The process of selection as a donor is varied and is made by each recipient that is currently active in various programs. Generally every few weeks a list of the donors available will go out to each active recipient. They will consider their choice with many particulars in mind that will vary from recipient to recipient. The donor list will outline age, infertility type, height, weight, hair color, eye color, build, complexion, ethnicity, education, occupation, blood type, previous pregnancy, previous IVF, medical background for donor and family.
What are the risks and side effects?
Most donors generally do not have problems with blood sampling and hormone injections; however, some experience local discomfort, redness or bruising at the injection sites. Injections can be painful and the side effects of medications may include breast tenderness, fluid retention, a bloated feeling, moodiness and tenderness in the ovaries. Rarely, a donor may form ovarian cysts or hyperstimulation, a condition associated with enlarged ovaries and fluid in the abdomen. Also in extremely rare cases, clotting of the blood vessels may occur, cysts may rupture or ovaries may become twisted and require surgery.
What else should be said about egg donation?
Oocyte donation has become an extremely successful option for many women who have otherwise been considered hopelessly infertile. As the egg donation process has become more widely accepted and recognized by general public the number of women who are willing to donate oocytes has increased. Oocyte recipients are now able to experience pregnancy and childbirth, which allows many women to feel no different from other women who give birth to children.
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