Infertility techniques have been extremely impressive these days. The breakthrough on the field has given people more and more options, especially in the face Infertility problems Or when navigating parent-child relationships as a queer couple or single person.
One of these breakthroughs is egg donation. This is to help people on the journey to become parents using someone else’s egg, or egg. Of course, donations of eggs are required.
This raises many questions. Why do people donate eggs? What is the process like? Are there any potential risks to donate eggs? If you are thinking of donating your eggs or looking for a donor, we are here to clear up any confusion.
Why people donate eggs
For example, donating eggs is much more complicated than donating sperm. This raises questions. Why? As we’ll go into detail later, let’s first explore the various reasons why people are trying to donate eggs.
Economic benefits
One of the most common reasons why people donate eggs is because of the serious compensation they can receive. Egg donations are not legal in all countries, and even in countries that are legal, it may not be legal to compensate donors.
In the US, compensation is legal in some states, such as California. In these states, payments range from 5,000 to 50,000 US dollars, and in some cases even more.
To help people start families
Whether you’re a close friend or a family member or anonymous donation, egg donations are literally making someone else’s dream come true. Being a parent is not always easy, especially for strange couples and couples who have problems getting pregnant or staying pregnant.
Donating your eggs will give you a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in helping you realize your dream of becoming a parent.
Becoming an advocate for the issue of fertility
According to World Health Organization (WHO)1 in 6 people are affected by infertility. Donating your eggs will allow you to create options for people suffering from infertility while being a community advocate.
To maintain your own fertility
Freeze the eggs It will help to provide more fertility options in the future, while putting pressure from now on. But it’s an expensive process. Shared donor programs include egg freeze fees or IVF A fee is in exchange for donating a portion of the acquired eggs.
Combination of reasons
These various reasons are not mutually exclusive. People can benefit from the massive payments they get from donations and feel emotionally satisfied that they have made a huge difference in someone else’s life.
Those eligible to donate eggs
Naturally, egg donations require a rigorous screening process. Strict eligibility requirements help ensure the best possible outcome for donor recipients. Some requirements may appear to be arbitrary and do not necessarily have research to back them up, but different clinics are allowed to set their own requirements.
The most common requirements for egg donors are:
- Between 20 and 30 years old
- Has both ovaries
- No prior or current drug abuse
- There are no smoking or illegal drugs
- Minimum alcohol use or social drinking only
- No hormonal contraceptives or contraceptive devices
- Has a normal menstrual cycle
- Proportional height and weight
- Schedule flexibility to attend all appointments and take all medications for about 3 months
- There is no family history of hereditary disorders
- Psychologically and physically healthy
- You can refrain from having sex during the process
Other more arbitrary requirements and preferences include obtaining a university degree and achieving a high score on standardized tests.
Egg donation process
The first part of process They have undergone detailed medical, family, and personal history screenings to ensure that they meet the requirements of a particular clinic. You may then need to meet with psychologists, social workers, and genetic counselors and infertility specialists. It will also screen for infectious diseases and genetic diseases and reproductive hormone levels.
The search process is the same for people who have frozen eggs or undergo IVF. If selected, it will begin a cycle synchronization process with the use of artificial hormones. This usually involves short periods of hormonal contraception, starting injections of synthetic hormones (usually leuprolide), which temporarily halt normal ovarian function.
Injectable follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is then used to stimulate egg production. These injections are usually done by yourself at home. During regular office visits, you will likely perform blood tests as well as vaginal ultrasound to track your progress.
1-2 weeks after the stimulation stage, participate in the egg collection procedure. Egg collection is performed by adding follicles and needles to remove the egg using an ultrasound probe within the vagina. This involves mild general anesthesia, so you will need to repeat the appointment before driving someone.
Most people can resume normal activities after a search, but they may require a day of downtime. Donation Clinic or donor recipients usually pay all medical and travel expenses.
The risk of donating eggs
Although invasive, egg donation remains a complex and time-intensive process. One deterrent for people is the risk of possible side effects. Let’s see what they are.
Some people experience side effects during hormone use or egg retrieval.
- Irritation, pain, or redness at the site of injection
- Blood, weight gain, abdominal pain
- Swelling of the ovaries
Although rare, the more serious risks of egg donation include:
- Allergic reaction to hormones
- Ovarian hypertrophy (OHSS) occurs 1% Donor cycle
- Bleeding during searches requiring hospitalization
- Injury to internal organs or infection
Currently, there is no comprehensive data or research that egg donations can harm your future fertility.
Determine if the egg donation is right for you
Deciding to donate your eggs is not an easy decision. There are potential risks and it’s a pretty big time commitment.
It is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages, including looking at your motivations, compared to the potential risks of the process. Most clinics require psychological screening, but it may be helpful to talk to people who have done it before, as well as your own mental health provider. You are the only one who can tell if egg donation is the right choice.
