Egg donation provides a pathway for individuals or couples to achieve parenthood when they cannot conceive using their own eggs. Donors contribute eggs, which are fertilized in a laboratory. Donors play an important role in helping others build families. The donated eggs are typically utilized in in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, where they are combined with sperm before the resulting embryos are transferred to a recipient.
Eligibility and Initial Steps
Becoming an egg donor begins with an application, followed by a screening process to ensure suitability. Donors typically need to be between 18 and 34 years old, with some programs preferring ages 21-30. A healthy body mass index (BMI), generally between 18 and 29.9, is also a common requirement. Donors must also be non-smokers and in good overall health.
The screening process includes a review of personal and family medical histories for genetic risks. A physical examination, including a pelvic exam and ultrasound, evaluates health and ovarian function. Genetic testing screens for various conditions such as cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, sickle cell anemia, and thalassemias. Infectious disease screening is also conducted, testing for conditions like HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.
A psychological evaluation is part of the screening, assessing the donor’s mental and emotional preparedness, motivation, and understanding of the process. This evaluation ensures the donor makes an informed decision and can cope with the demands. Donors also engage in legal consultations to understand and sign agreements that outline their rights and responsibilities.
The Medical Procedure
Once approved, the medical phase of egg donation involves hormonal stimulation, monitoring, a trigger shot, and egg retrieval. Donors begin a regimen of injectable fertility medications, typically for 10 to 14 days, which stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs rather than the single egg usually matured in a natural cycle. These medications, such as Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), encourage the development of several follicles.
Throughout the stimulation period, donors attend frequent monitoring appointments at the clinic. These appointments involve blood tests to track hormone levels, particularly estrogen, and transvaginal ultrasounds to measure the growth and number of developing follicles. This close monitoring allows the medical team to adjust medication dosages as needed, ensuring optimal follicle development and minimizing risks like ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), as they often occur every one to two days.
When the follicles reach an appropriate size and the eggs are nearly mature, a final injection, known as the “trigger shot,” is administered. This shot, usually containing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or a GnRH agonist, mimics the natural luteinizing hormone (LH) surge that prompts final egg maturation. The timing of this injection is important, typically given 32 to 36 hours before the scheduled egg retrieval, to ensure the eggs are mature but not yet released from the follicles.
The egg retrieval procedure is a minor outpatient surgery performed under light sedation or intravenous anesthesia. During the procedure, an ultrasound-guided needle is inserted through the vaginal wall into each ovarian follicle to gently aspirate (suction) the mature eggs. The procedure usually lasts between 15 to 30 minutes, and donors typically do not feel pain during the process due to the sedation. After retrieval, the eggs are immediately transferred to a laboratory for evaluation and fertilization.
Post-Donation Experience
Following the egg retrieval, donors typically rest at the clinic for 30 to 60 minutes as the sedation wears off before being discharged home. It is common to experience some immediate side effects, such as mild cramping, bloating, breast soreness, or light spotting, which are often comparable to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. These symptoms usually subside within a few days, and over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage discomfort.
Follow-up care is important to ensure the donor’s complete recovery. While most donors resume normal activities within a day or two, some clinics may schedule a follow-up appointment two weeks post-retrieval to check on their well-being. Donors are advised to avoid strenuous activities and sexual intercourse for a period to allow their ovaries to return to their normal size and reduce the rare risk of ovarian torsion. Clinics also monitor for complications, such as a severe form of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which, though uncommon, requires medical attention.
Egg donors receive financial compensation for their time, effort, and commitment. This compensation is intended to cover expenses and acknowledge the undertaking. Beyond the physical recovery, donors often reflect on the emotional impact of their contribution. The act of donating eggs provides a sense of purpose, as it directly enables individuals and couples to pursue their dream of building a family.