Egg donation is the medical harvesting of fertile egg cells from a healthy donor. These cells are then fertilized and implanted into the womb of another woman who wants to get pregnant but can't use her own eggs. Egg donation helps thousands of women become mothers every year. Approved donor programs provide the direction, care and treatment required to perform the procedure. Women considering becoming donors or recipients should understand the process of egg donation before getting started.
Benefits
Egg donation can help women who want to get pregnant but are infertile for any number of reasons. Women who are at risk of transmitting hereditary illnesses to an unborn child may also opt to use donated eggs. Still others may be at an age where egg production has significantly lessened and fertility drugs haven't worked. Typically, women in their late 30s or 40s choose egg donation.
Considerations
Donors are usually matched to recipients based on physical characteristics such as ethnicity, body type, skin type, eye color, height, and hair texture and color. In some programs, recipients may be told about physical abilities, intelligence, personal accomplishments, academic achievements and other pertinent information that may assist in making a decision about using the eggs from a specific donor.
Requirements
Most programs require that a donor be between 21 and 35 for legal and health reasons. Also, some programs prefer donors who have had a healthy child, to ensure fertility and to address any emotional concerns about having offspring that are genetically but not maternally related.
Preparation
Applicants for egg donation usually go through a series of medical examinations to ensure the physical health of the donor. These include a physical and gynecological exam, an ultrasound of the ovaries, uterus and pelvis, and blood and urine tests. Donors are also screened for infectious, sexually transmitted and hereditary diseases or disorders. A medical history is taken, including questions on cigarette, illegal drug and alcohol use and any prescription medications being taken.A psychological evaluation of the donor and immediate family is performed. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine recommends that those who have a psychological disorder, are abusing drugs or alcohol, are on psychoactive medications, are under significant stress, in an unstable relationship, have been sexually or physically abused, or are not mentally capable of understanding the donation process should not consider donating.
Procedure
In preparation of donating eggs, donors are given medications that stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs simultaneously. A minor surgical procedure then removes the eggs. At this point, the donor's contribution is done. The donor's eggs are then placed in a sterile container and combined with the intended father's sperm to be fertilized. This process occurs in the laboratory setting and is referred to as in vitro fertilization. If embryos form, they are implanted into the mother's womb.
Rights and Responsibilities
Rights and responsibilities are discussed. Once the eggs are retrieved, the donor has no rights to them. The recipient is considered the rightful owner. The donor also holds no responsibility as to the outcome of the pregnancy. Both the donor and recipient should carefully review any legal documents that they may be required to sign.Donors are paid for their time, not for their eggs. This means that if the process must be canceled before the eggs are retrieved, most donor programs still provide some form of compensation.
Issues of Identity
Most donor programs don't reveal the identity of donors, preferring to keep that information anonymous. The recipient only has information about the donor that is important to the procedure itself and doesn't know the donor's identity. Other programs are more willing to reveal information if the donor and recipient give consent.
