egg donation?

Question

iv been thinking about donating my eggs since the birth of my 5th son 4 months ago, i know i have completed my family and my heart goes out to couples who are unable to concieve, i discussed it with my husband and he thinks that i could have children all over the place an in 18 years time they come to find me! altho he will support me if i decide to do this.
also iv been told that the actual procedure is painful and this also keeps me in2 minds....but then again i still would like to help....so confused

i am only 32, i had my first child at 17.

iam due to be sterilized in 2 months so thinking of doing this at same time, i dont want money, just knowing iv helped is enough and im not in the position to donate money!

Answer 1

During our 10 years of infertility, we did three donor egg cycles with two anonymous donors. I think it is a wonderful gift a woman can give a couple. Unfortunately, none of our cycles worked, but I still think about those women often. I hope that one day if either of those women need anything in their lives as important as what they have to us, that blessings pour down on them!

Our clinic will only accept egg donors until the age of 32 or 33. After that time, there is suched a marked increase for chromosomal abnormalities and a decreased fertilization rate.

It will not hurt for you to look into it. My advice is to contact a local fertility clinic. They will be more than happy to help you and hopefully you will be able to give a wondrous gift to a loving couple.

ETA: You will most likely not be able to have a tubal ligation at the same time as an egg retrieval. They are two completely different procedures. One is typically done by a gynecologist and one is done by a reproductive endocrinologist.

Also, even if you have a tubal ligation, you can still donate eggs down the road as long as your ovaries are intact.

Answer 2

There is a lot to think about. Personally, I don't think a laproscropy is that bad. Especially if you are already getting sterilized, that part shouldn't make a difference. But the drugs and potential side effects are something to think about. My husband and I will probably be ready to have a baby in a couple of years. Because of medical problems I have that could be inherited, I think there is a good chance we will end up using a donated embryo or egg. Giving couples a shot at having healthy kids is a wonderful thing. And it makes young women like me think it is still reasonable to dream big in terms of possibilities. You could donate annoymously and that way they would never track you down. I imagine you could even stipulate that anyone who got pregnant using your eggs would have to tell their child how they were concieved when they grow up so they don't hook up with their siblings if you are truly worried about that...

Answer 3

I think its a very selfless thing you're thinking of doing. Talk to your gynae dr, who will arrange for you to speak to a fertility counseller, who will be able to discuss the pros and cons with you without any pressure (this will probably be a pre-requisite anyway). Take your hubbie along, so he can voice his concerns and have his questions answered too.

I know from personal experience that egg donars are very hard to come by and gave up on the whole idea of having a child naturally several years ago, beacause of the lack of egg donars. If you decide to proceed, you're going to make some family, somewhere, very happy. If not, at least you thought about it and investigated it, even if it wasn't for you.

Answer 4

I wouldn't recommend you doing this unless you did not plan on having your own kids. It's a very sweet and thoughful thing for you to think of, but you have to remember it would be like having kids "all over the place" as your hubby says, and just not something to get your family (especially kids) involved in. I think that instead, you should donate money to an organization or something that helps the women that you are concerned about. Resolve.org is a place you can donate money, I believe it's to help in the fight to get financial coverage for infertile couples. This way you are doing a big part to help, with no emotional or family issues to go along with it. I wish more people were as caring as you are, don't lose that!

Answer 5

You should look into it. But I read that the competition is getting pretty fierce and most couples are opting for eggs from really young women (18-22), and if you've had 5 children I'd guess you don't fall into that age category.

Answer 6

The criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:

All egg donors in the United Kingdom are altruistic volunteers (there is no financial or other incentive to donate).

Egg donors may or may not be a known to the recipient couples.
Egg donors should be healthy women, between the age of 18 and 35 years

Ideally, they should have had healthy children of their own.
No history of mental disorders.
There should be no family history of genetic or inheritable diseases.
Some clinics may require the potential egg donor to undergo counselling to assess their suitability to become a donor and to ensure as far as possible that the donor is comfortable about donating her eggs.
Donors should be screened for infectious diseases (HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia), genetic diseases (eg cystic fibrosis carrier status and karyotype (chromosome mapping)) and blood group and Rhesus status. In addition, in appropriate ethnic groups, women are screen for sickle cell and thalassemia.

There is always the possibility that one or more of these tests may reveal a previously unsuspected condition or infection. All prospective donors should consider this very carefully before giving their permission to the tests
Egg Collection
Eggs are collected either by:

Using a needle guided by ultrasound. This may be done under a general anaesthetic or more usually a sedative ('conscious sedation'). A fine hollow needle is passed either through the bladder, urethra or vagina and each egg is removed in turn. If the ovaries are abnormally situated it may sometimes be necessary to pass a needle under ultrasound guidance through the abdominal wall.
Laparoscopy, for which a general anaesthetic is normally necessary. A small cut is made just below the navel for a laparoscope (an instrument for looking into the abdomen) to be inserted and a fine, hollow needle is inserted separately to remove the eggs.
Some women undergoing sterilisation decide to donate eggs. Since laparoscopy is frequently used to perform sterilisation, no additional operative procedures will be required to donate eggs.

What Medication Will Be Given?
Drugs containing hormones will be given, usually of three types:

Suppression of the normal menstrual cycle by a nasal spray or an injection given every day throughout the 28 day cycle.
Stimulation of the growth and maturation of the eggs using daily injections or tablets. The injections contain the hormone that naturally causes egg production in the ovaries. These drugs are known as superovulatory drugs.
When the ultrasound scanning and/or hormone measurements show that an adequate number of eggs are maturing, a final hormone injection is given which completes the maturing process. This injection must be carefully timed 34-38 hours before egg collection.
Some of these drugs can be taken by mouth but most have to be given by injection. Usually you can be taught to do these yourself at home.

The risks and possible side-effects of egg donation
Medication
Whilst taking the first drug, some women experience mild side-effects. These may include hot flushes, feelings of depression and irritability, headaches and sleeplessness. These side-effects usually disappear once the second drugs begin and they are not a cause for concern.

Before the final hormone injection there will be an ultrasound scan to see how many eggs are developing on the ovaries. At this stage it may be clear that a woman has over-responded to the drugs and too many eggs have been produced. The woman may feel bloated and have abdominal pain. To avoid the development of more serious side-effects, known as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, the final hormone injection and egg collection may have to be cancelled. If the cycle is abandoned at this stage, ovarian hyperstimulation is avoided.

Despite careful monitoring, a small number of women may develop a mild or moderate form of the syndrome. Cysts may appear on the ovaries and fluid may collect in the abdominal cavity, causing abdominal discomfort. This condition needs to be monitored by a fertility specialist. It is usually treated by bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids and taking simple painkillers.

Very rarely (in about 1% of cases) the response to the superovulatory drugs is excessive and a large number of eggs develop causing the ovaries to swell. Side-effects such as nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and swelling, and shortness of breath occur. A patient may also feel weak and faint and notice a reduction in urine output. These serious complications require urgent hospital treatment to restore the fluid balance and monitor progress.

Egg Collection
Women undergoing ultrasound-directed egg recovery may notice a small amount of blood in their urine or from their vagina for a day afterwards. This is quite common and should not cause concern.

Laparoscopy carries the usual minor risks and side-effects of any procedure involving a general anaesthetic. Some women experience soreness in the stomach, chest or shoulders, or vaginal bleeding for a few days after the operation.

Will Any Part Of The Procedure Be Painful?
Following laparoscopy there may be some abdominal pain similar to a painful period. The pain usually disappears in a short time. The operation to remove eggs under ultrasound can be uncomfortable and painkilling drugs can be given before the procedure. Some abdominal discomfort may be experienced for a short time after the operation is over.

To help you understand what is involved in egg or sperm donation and how to go about becoming a donor you can contact our confidential helpline on 0845 226 9193. We will be able to give you impartial advice or put you in contact with someone who has already been through the process.

Answer 7

I think it is a very admirable notion and so many couples will be eternally grateful. Can you ask for your identity to be withheld? Good luck with your decision.

Answer 8

I wanted to do this once. My worry though, was that my 'children' could meet up and end up together, not knowing they were 'related'.

Answer 9

You should talk to your OB about it. They will be able to help you more than anyone.