Egg donation is a service that provides human eggs to be implanted in women who are struggling with infertility issues. Egg donation services first started in 1983 with the successful donation, implantation and birth of a child through egg donation at the Harbor UCLA Medical Center. Since then, egg donation has become a common practice that is regulated by both the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Application
Becoming an egg donor starts with a detailed application process that evaluates your physical history, your family history and in some cases your psychological history. This determines whether you are a good fit for providing eggs to a needy couple. Once your application has been approved, the egg donation process can begin.
Process
Because both the donor and the the woman receiving the donation need to be on the same cycle, a mixture of birth control pills and injections may be used to halt your cycle until the woman receiving the donation has begun her cycle, creating the right atmosphere for the egg to be implanted. Once it is time, the donor will be injected with follicle-stimulating hormones to increase the amount of mature eggs your body can produce. Once the eggs have fully matured, the donor is given a mild anesthetic, after which the doctor will use a small needle through the vagina to collect the eggs from the ovaries.
Benefits
Donating eggs has many. For the people who receive your eggs, you have most likely given them the chance to have a child, something they could not have done without your donation. You will also be financially compensated, with egg donation payments typically between $5,000 and $10,000, according to the ConceiveAbilities Agency.
Considerations
As with all medical procedures, the act of egg retrieval may cause some discomfort for the egg donor. Most of this discomfort is relieved by the anesthetic. According to the Beverly Hills Egg Donation Center, you may also feel bloating or slight abdominal pain until your next period. Before donating you will also be under a strict set of rules prohibiting the use of drugs, including cigarettes and alcohol. You will be prohibited from having sex until after the eggs have been harvested.
Time Frame
You have to be between the ages of 21 and 29 for most egg donation centers to consider you as a potential donor. Once admitted, the entire process can take up to six weeks before the eggs are harvested.Typically, most centers allow you can donate up to six times.
