Consider Egg Donation? 3 Things to Think About...

Egg donation is becoming increasingly common as a way for young women to fund college or get started on their own. Many healthy women between the ages of 21 and 30 are eligible to donate their eggs to couples who struggling with fertility issues. If you’re thinking about becoming a donor, here’s what you need to know.

The Screening Process is Lengthy 

Becoming an egg donor isn’t as easy as slapping your name on a volunteer form. Prospective donors undergo an extensive screening process. This typically begins with hormonal testing via a blood draw that will determine whether you’re an optimal candidate. You may also need a transvaginal ultrasound. If these tests look promising, you’ll move on to the psychological screening. After this, you’ll submit to a more extensive set of medical tests before you’re added to the donor database.

Each database works differently, but common details that you may need to provide include your GPA and educational test results, photos, and a detailed medical history. This information becomes available to prospective parents. The program may choose to decline your application at any point in the screening process, and even selected donor candidates may not match with any parents who are looking for a donor. It’s important to keep in mind that beginning the donor process is no guarantee that you’ll make it through to donating your eggs and receiving full compensation.

There are Many Medical Considerations 

Once you’re selected as an egg donor, you’ll begin the most difficult part of the donation process. You must take medication to stimulate your ovaries to produce and grow the eggs. This involves daily injections to a fatty part of the body, such as the belly or thigh. Most patients need to take these injections for 10 to 14 days. The injections affect each person differently, but you may notice symptoms such as bloating, headaches, mood swings, weight gain, and breast tenderness. Speaking to a knowledgeable fertility doctor is the best way to gauge your own reaction to the process.
There is the potential for more serious side effects from the donation process, including Ovarian HyperStimulation Syndrome (OHSS), arterial thrombosis, infection, damage to the ovaries, and infertility later in life. OHSS is one of the more common reactions, and causes nausea, vomiting, bloating, and abdominal pain. You should stay in close contact with your doctor throughout the process so you can catch and treat any adverse side effects as soon as possible.

The Compensation is More Than Financial 

Many young women choose to become egg donors for the financial compensation, which can range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more per donation. Donors are often surprised to discover some of the other benefits of providing their eggs to prospective parents. Some women stay in touch with the families that use their eggs and have the joy of watching happy, healthy children grow up. There’s also tremendous emotional satisfaction for many women that comes from the knowledge that they’ve helped a struggling family achieve their dream. Donating your eggs is a major undertaking, but it can provide tremendous rewards for everyone involved if you’re in the right situation.

Image via Flickr by Neeta Lind