Egg Donation Process: What to Expect

Advances in medicine have made it possible for women to donate their eggs, and women do this for a variety of reasons. Whether you would like to help a couple start a family or are looking for a financial incentive, you can donate your eggs to a clinic of your choice. Becoming an egg donor can be a process that comes with both monetary and emotional benefits. If you’re hoping to become an egg donor, read on to know what is expected from you. 

Key Takeaways

• Many couples and individuals rely on egg donation to conceive a child for a variety of reasons, ranging from infertility to a desire to prevent genetic diseases.
• The egg donation process consists of extensive testing, a course of hormone treatments, and a brief, simple extraction procedure.
• A typical egg donor is someone between the ages of 21 and 31 who is in generally good health and does not have a predisposition toward inheritable diseases. 

What Is Egg Donation?

Egg donation is the process where a woman provides eggs for fertility treatment or, in some cases, research. Most women who donate their eggs usually do it to help another woman conceive, be it to a woman they know or not. 

In some cases, the recipient of the eggs is the intended parent, while at other times, it may be a surrogate. How the process goes differs from clinic to clinic. For example, some fertility clinics enable women going through IVF to share any extra retrieved eggs with other women for free or discounted IVF treatment. 

Compensation for egg donation varies by area and fertility clinic, and this amount can go up based on various factors specific to each clinic.

Who Is Eligible for Egg Donation

Each fertility clinic is different, but there are a few basic requirements expected from potential egg donors.

• You must be between the ages of 21 and 31.
• You must have excellent physical and mental health.
• You must accept to be screened and tested by the clinic, including sexually transmitted diseases screening.
• You must have a history of at least one successful pregnancy. 
• You must not have a history of hereditary/genetic diseases.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, you must wait at least two to three months between donation cycles and can only donate a total of six total donation cycles.

Egg Retrieval Process

The egg donation process is done in different stages. This is done to ensure the donor is fully prepared for it. 

Screening

Before anything happens, NOVA IVF will put you through a screening process to check if you are an ideal candidate for egg donation. You will be evaluated on different parameters, including your physical health, fertility, and psychological well-being. 

Tests you can expect include:

• An ultrasound to check  the uterus and if you have a good reserve of quality eggs to donate
• Blood tests, including to confirm your blood type.
• Screening for sexually transmitted diseases
• Family medical history evaluation
• Psychological evaluation
• A cervical smear test
• Genetic screening for genetic conditions and abnormalities 

Ovarian Stimulation

Once you’re given the go-ahead, the next step will be ovarian stimulation. In this stage, you will be given hormonal medications to increase the number of mature eggs released during a menstrual cycle. These medications can be in the form of injections or oral drugs. Any eggs that aren’t used immediately are usually frozen for future rounds of IVF or other treatments using assisted reproductive technology.

Egg Retrieval

The clinic will closely monitor your eggs. The follicles where the eggs grow must be 18 to 20 mm on average before the final “trigger shot” is administered and the egg retrieval process begins. This shot is given approximately 36 hours before the retrieval process can begin. 

During egg retrieval, you will be under general anesthesia. The whole procedure takes between 15 to 45 minutes. The procedure is done through a vaginal ultrasound, where a needle is attached to an ultrasound probe, and each follicle is burst. 

All the fluid, along with the egg floating in it, is sent to the lab, where the eggs are isolated and put in incubators for assessment and fertilization. In most cases, between 5 to 24 eggs will be retrieved per cycle, and this is based on the number of eggs you produce.

After retrieval, you will be taken for recovery, where you will wake up within 10 to 15 minutes. However, the clinic will put you in a recovery room for at least an hour. After the procedure, you may face some discomfort, but the clinic will give you pain medications. For some, nausea might also occur, but it usually dissipates within a few hours.

Is Egg Donation Safe?

Even though egg donation is considered safe, some donors do face some mild side effects from the hormone treatments and the egg retrieval process. Nevertheless, according to this study, fewer than 1 percent of people experienced complications from this procedure, and these side effects are temporary in most cases.

Side effects can look like: 

• Bleeding
• Infection from retrieval. 
• Pain or minor bruising during the hormone injection 
• Temporary weight gain due to fluid retention. 
• Bloating
• Cramping
• Hot flashes
• Vaginal dryness
• Fatigue
• Sleep problems
• Body aches
• Mood swings
• Breast tenderness
• Headaches 
• Swelling
• Abdominal pain. 

Legal Implications of Egg Donation

When donating your eggs, you will be required to sign a contract. This contract usually details how the donor will relate to any children born from their egg donation. Most contracts require you to relinquish any parental rights, including the right to search or know the child. 

Another legal implication to look out for is what happens if you choose to stop the process. Some clinics will find you liable, and you may have to pay back any expenses incurred so far. 

Before signing any contract, read the fine print. Ask every question you have and consult a legal professional.

Cost Implications of Egg Donation

In most cases, the clinic will pay for medical tests and drugs related to your donation before, during, and for three months after the donation. In most cases, the clinic also covers the cost of any complications related to injections or egg retrieval.

Egg Donation FAQs

How long does egg donation take?

The egg donation process varies from clinic to clinic, but the entire process can take between two weeks and 3 months. 

Does egg donation impact my everyday life?

Outside required appointments and any potential side effects, egg donation doesn’t impact your ability to go to work or school. 

Is egg donation painful?

The hormone injections can cause discomfort, bloating, fluid retention, pelvic pain, and nausea. You may also experience pelvic pain related to the enlargement of the ovaries. After egg retrieval, you may also go through pelvic cramping and light bleeding. 

Can I still have babies if I donate my eggs?

Yes, you can still have babies after donating your eggs. 

Bottom Line

People have been donating their eggs for many years, and this is a great way to help a couple start a family. However, while the process can be incredibly rewarding, it can come with physical and emotional challenges. Before embarking on the process, do your own research to weigh the risks against the rewards.