Egg donation is a medical process where a healthy woman volunteers to provide her eggs, or oocytes, to help an individual or couple conceive a child. This act involves a controlled cycle of hormone medication followed by a minor surgical procedure to retrieve the eggs. The entire journey is a highly structured, multi-step commitment that requires careful screening, daily self-injections, and frequent medical monitoring over several weeks. Understanding the physical and logistical demands of this process is an important first step for any prospective donor considering this contribution to family building.
Eligibility and Initial Screening
The initial hurdle for any prospective donor is meeting a rigorous set of physical and mental health standards designed to protect both the donor and the future child. A donor’s age is strictly regulated, with most programs requiring applicants to be between 21 and 31 years old to ensure optimal egg quality. Physical health requirements also include maintaining a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28, as a BMI outside this range can increase the risk of complications during hormone stimulation. Donors must be non-smokers and must not use recreational drugs, as these factors negatively affect ovarian function.
The screening process begins with a detailed application, followed by an in-person interview and a comprehensive medical evaluation. This medical testing involves a physical exam, a transvaginal ultrasound to assess ovarian reserve, and extensive blood work. The blood tests check for infectious diseases, including HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea.
Genetic screening is also performed to identify carriers of inheritable conditions, such as Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle Cell Anemia. Finally, every donor must undergo a psychological evaluation with a qualified mental health professional. This assessment ensures the donor is emotionally prepared for the process, understands the long-term implications, and has a reliable support system.
Hormone Therapy and Monitoring
Once accepted, the donor begins the phase of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, involving daily medication and frequent clinic visits for monitoring. The goal is to stimulate the ovaries to mature multiple egg-containing follicles in a single cycle, rather than the single follicle that typically matures during a natural cycle. This is achieved using injectable hormones called gonadotropins, which include Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) analogs.
The donor self-administers these injections, typically in the abdomen, once or twice daily for about 9 to 14 days. A second medication, a GnRH antagonist, is introduced a few days into the cycle to prevent the body from prematurely releasing the eggs before retrieval. The timing of the shots is critical to the success of the cycle.
Throughout the stimulation period, the donor must attend frequent appointments, often daily or every other day, for transvaginal ultrasounds and blood draws. The ultrasounds measure the size and number of developing follicles, aiming for the majority to reach a size between 18 and 22 millimeters. The blood tests track estrogen levels, helping the medical team adjust the hormone dosages to optimize egg maturation.
The high levels of hormones and the rapid growth of the ovaries can cause noticeable physical side effects during this period:
- Abdominal bloating and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the pelvis.
- Breast tenderness.
- Mood swings.
- Fatigue and mild nausea.
The Egg Retrieval Procedure
The stimulation phase culminates with the administration of the “trigger shot,” a precisely timed injection that signals the eggs to undergo their final maturation process. This shot, usually a form of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or a GnRH agonist, must be given exactly 34 to 36 hours before the scheduled egg retrieval procedure. The exact timing is crucial because it ensures the eggs are mature but have not yet been released from the ovaries.
The retrieval itself is a brief outpatient procedure lasting approximately 15 to 30 minutes, performed in a specialized clinic or surgery center. The donor is given intravenous conscious sedation or light anesthesia, which ensures there is no pain or memory of the procedure. A physician uses a thin needle attached to a transvaginal ultrasound probe, which is inserted through the vaginal wall and into the ovaries.
Guided by the ultrasound image, the needle gently enters each follicle, and a suction device aspirates the follicular fluid, which contains the egg. The eggs are immediately passed to an embryologist for examination. Because of the sedation, the donor will need a responsible adult to drive them home and remain with them for the rest of the day.
Recovery and Post-Donation Experience
Immediately following the procedure, the donor is moved to a recovery area for observation, typically lasting one to two hours. It is common to feel groggy and slightly disoriented from the sedation, along with experiencing mild cramping and pelvic discomfort. Light vaginal spotting is also expected, as the retrieval needle passes through the vaginal wall.
Most donors are able to resume light daily activities within one to three days, but they are advised to avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and sexual intercourse for about a week. This restriction is in place because the ovaries remain slightly enlarged and tender, and physical exertion could increase discomfort or lead to a rare complication like ovarian torsion.
A risk associated with ovarian stimulation is Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), which occurs when the ovaries overreact to the medications. Mild OHSS symptoms, such as bloating and mild abdominal pain, are more common and usually resolve on their own within a week. Severe OHSS, which can involve significant weight gain, severe pain, or shortness of breath, is uncommon with modern protocols but requires immediate medical attention.
Following a successful retrieval, the donor receives the agreed-upon compensation, or stipend. The donor’s obligation is complete after the retrieval, although a follow-up appointment is sometimes scheduled to ensure a full physical recovery. The donor’s body returns to its normal cycle with the start of the next menstrual period, which typically occurs 7 to 10 days after the procedure.