Egg Donation Process

What comprises a family is continually being redefined and as a result, the way families are being built is changing. Assisted reproduction technologies for many years catered to heteronormative couplings that were facing challenges with fertility. In more recent years, it has been used by same-sex couples or individuals who want to raise children as single parents. The egg donation process has several phases and this article will be outlining what each phase entails. 

Who Uses Egg Donation?

Egg donation is for any individual or couple that cannot produce eggs naturally, any one experiencing menopause, a couple or individual who have had unsuccessful ART treatments in the past, individuals or couples who want to avoid passing on a hereditary condition to their child (or children). 

What Is Egg Donation?

Egg donation is a process whereby one individual willingly gives eggs from their ovarian reserve so that another person can use the eggs to become pregnant. The person who gives their eggs is referred to as a donor, while the person who uses the donated eggs is referred to as a recipient. Sometimes the donor may be known to the recipient, and in other cases, the donor may be anonymous. 

The Egg Retrieval Process

The egg retrieval process occurs in several stages in order to ensure the best possible outcome for the recipient when they use them. As well, it is essential that the donor understand the scope of the role they play when they donate their eggs. The following process is what a donor will undergo in order to have their eggs retrieved.

Pre-Retrieval Checkups

Pre-retrieval checkups are a series of assessments designed to ensure that the quality and quantity of eggs available in the donor’s reserves are viable. These assessments also include screening the DNA of the donor for any genetic disorders or markers that would cause vulnerabilities to diseases.

Ovarian Stimulation

The natural menstrual cycle usually produces one egg per cycle. For egg donation, this process is sped up by stimulating the ovaries to produce more than one egg in any cycle. This results in the availability of a bigger amount of eggs upon retrieval. Ovarian stimulation is done using prescribed hormonal injections and medications over a period of time, which develops and matures these eggs as a group.

Egg Retrieval

When ovarian stimulation begins, the growth of the antral follicles is monitored closely as they must grow to a specific size. Once they are developed to the right size, the mature eggs are retrieved from within the follicles. This process takes about 15 to 45 minutes and entails inserting a probe into the ovary through the uterus, then using a long needle to carefully pierce the follicles and retrieve the eggs within. Once the eggs are retrieved, they are put directly into a controlled environment where they can be screened further.

Eligibility for Egg Donation

Donating one's eggs is a straightforward process, but there are certain criteria that one must fulfill before they can do the actual donation. Egg donors are typically selected from the 21 to 31 age bracket. They must be in good health and have a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI). Egg donors will be disqualified if they drink, smoke, do drugs, have hereditary genetic conditions, or sexually transmitted infections. 

Another crucial part of egg donation is a psychological assessment. It is important that egg donors understand the scope of the role they play in bringing a child into the world. The donation of their eggs to another person, in order to help them build a family means that they as donors relinquish any responsibility or parental rights toward the child that will be born.

One more thing is that it is possible for a donor to donate eggs more than once. If one wishes to donate more than once, the recommendation is that they wait two to three months between donation cycles, as well, they should not donate more than six times in their lifetime. 

Side Effects of Egg Retrieval

There may be one or two side effects a donor may experience during or after egg retrieval. Usually when undergoing ovarian stimulation it is not typical for patients to experience any side effects. However, it has been observed that about three to six percent of women undergoing ovarian stimulation will experience something known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This causes them to have some swelling, mild abdominal pain or some weight gain. 

Again, following egg retrieval, mild or acute discomfort, swelling, moodiness, sand nausea may be experienced by patients. However these side-effects typically resolve themselves shortly thereafter.  may experience some mild or acute discomfort, nausea, moodiness, and swelling, but these aftereffects usually resolve within a short time. 

At this juncture, let us point out that any medical procedure that is done using anaesthesia or medical equipmentIt always has some risks. A professional medical practitioner will advise you on what they are prior to the procedure, after which you may sign your consent. However, the egg retrieval procedure is generally safe.

Legal Implications of Egg Donation

Due to the nature of the interaction between donor and recipient regarding the donated eggs, as well as to ensure a smooth donation process, it is the practice to have both the donor and recipient sign a contract that outlines their roles and responsibilities. This includes the costs, expenses and payments for the process and the parties responsible for them.

Donors do not usually have any parental rights or responsibilities toward the child, and if a donor changes their mind mid-process, they are free to. They are likely to be held liable for the costs incurred up to the point of their discontinuation. Therefore, whether you are a donor or a recipient, it is important to have professional legal counsel to help you navigate the delicate intricacies of this process.

In Conclusion

Egg donation is generous and crucial in helping people in building their families. If one qualifies, the procedures are generally safe without any lasting side effects. The scope of participation for donors begins and ends with the donated eggs, and no more. Therefore a donor must understand that they have no further responsibilities once their eggs are retrieved. 

For the families that receive the donated eggs, this brings hope to their dreams of building their own families. With the right support, both donor and recipient can navigate this process. If you would like to know more about how you can donate your eggs, or if you are in need of donated eggs to build your family, contact us. We are a professional and compassionate partner committed to your family building journey.