Egg Donation Process: What to Expect

Key Takeaways

• Many couples and individuals rely on egg donation to conceive a child for a variety of reasons, ranging from infertility to a desire to prevent genetic diseases.
• The egg donation process consists of extensive testing, a course of hormone treatments, and a brief, simple extraction procedure.
• A typical egg donor is someone between the ages of 21 and 31 who is in generally good health and does not have a predisposition toward inheritable diseases. 

What Is Egg Donation?

Egg donation is the process through which a woman allows her eggs to be collected and used in fertility treatment or research. Most women who donate their eggs usually do it to help another woman conceive, sometimes to a woman they know or an unknown one. 

Some fertility clinics also enable women going through IVF to share their eggs with other women for free or discounted IVF treatment. These eggs can come from frozen eggs that the clinic deems viable. 

To donate eggs, the donor must go through hormonal treatments in order to enable the retrieval of many eggs. The eggs are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure and analyzed in a laboratory to be used during an assisted reproductive treatment like IVF or to be frozen for later use. 

Egg Retrieval Process

The egg donation process is similar in many clinics and typically follows the following phases.

Checkups

Before you can be approved as an egg donor, the fertility clinic like will take you through several tests to ensure you're well prepared to do so. The tests will analyze the quantity of your eggs, their viability, any genetic conditions and abnormalities as well as the mental health of the mother. The compassionate healthcare professionals at Ivy Fertility will offer comprehensive information and support to help you during the process.

Ovarian Stimulation

If the tests are favorable, the clinic will then take you through what’s called ovarian stimulation. This is where hormone medications are given to the donor to increase the number of mature eggs released during a menstrual cycle. This differs from a normal menstrual cycle where only one egg reaches full maturity and is released. 

These medications can be in the form of injections or oral drugs. These medications cause a large number of eggs to mature at the same time so they can be extracted as a group. Any eggs that aren’t used immediately are usually frozen for future rounds of IVF or other treatments using assisted reproductive technology.

Egg Retrieval

Once the eggs are mature, they are ready to be retrieved. However, timing is key, and the eggs are monitored closely to determine the right time of retrieval. For retrieval, the follicles where the eggs grow must be the right size. These follicles must reach a predetermined diameter (usually 18 to 20 mm on average) before the final hormone shot is administered and the egg retrieval process begins.

Egg retrieval is done under general anesthesia and can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. The procedure is done through a vaginal ultrasound. A needle is attached to an ultrasound probe and each follicle is punctured and the fluid (along with the egg floating in it) is sent to the lab. Here, the eggs are isolated and put in incubators for assessment and either freezing or fertilization.

The donor is then taken for recovery where they will wake up within 10 to 15 minutes but remain in the recovery room for at least an hour. You can expect some discomfort following the procedure and pain medications can be given for this. deal with it. Tylenol can be taken by the patient at home as needed every 4 hours. Occasionally, some nausea might also occur which usually dissipates within a few hours.

Who Is Eligible for Egg Donation

While each fertility clinic is different, there are general requirements expected from potential egg donors.

• Must be between the ages of 21 and 31.
• Must have excellent physical and mental health.
• Must accept to be screened and tested by the clinic, including sexually transmitted diseases screening.
• Some clinics only take donors who aren’t addicted to drugs or alcohol
• Must have a history of at least one successful pregnancy. 
• Must have not have a history of hereditary/genetic diseases.

Is Egg Donation Safe?

Egg donation is considered to safe. However, some donors do face some mild side effects from the hormone treatments and egg retrieval process, but one study found fewer than 1 percent of people experienced complications from this procedure.

• Potential side effects can be:
• Bleeding and Infection from retrieval. As the needle is inserted into your ovaries, there can be bleeding. In extreme rare cases the nearby vessels, bladder, and bowel can be punctured. 
• Pain or minor bruising during the hormone injection 
• Temporary weight gain (approximately 3-5 pounds) due to fluid retention. This is temporary and should resolve after your first period. 
• Bloating, cramping, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, fatigue, sleep problems, body aches, mood swings, breast tenderness, and headaches from the hormone injections.
• Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in some cases. This can happen following the egg retrieval process. Symptoms can include weight gain, swelling and abdominal pain. 

Egg Donation FAQs

What age can I donate eggs?

Between 21 and 31 years of age. Some clinics do take donors as young as 18. 

How often can you donate eggs?

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, you must wait at least two to three months in between donation cycles and can only donate a total of six total donation cycles. 

What are the legal implications of egg donation?

Most clinics require the donor to sign a contract stipulating the relationship between them and any children born from their egg donation. In many cases, the donor is required to relinquish any parental rights, including the right to search or know the child. Additionally, if the donor chooses to stop the process, they may be liable for any expenses incurred till that point. 

For this reason, it’s important to read the fine print. Any questions you have should be addressed, especially through a legal professional.

Bottom Line

Receiving an egg donation can be a solution for many women who have tried to conceive naturally or have used their own eggs during IVF unsuccessfully. It is also a life-saving option for same-sex couples looking to start a family.