How Egg Donation Works: A Step-by-Step Guide

Female eggs are one half of the fertility equation when it comes to having children. For women, fertility is regulated by a menstrual cycle which in turn is regulated by hormone production. If a woman’s hormones are imbalanced, it affects her cycle, and when her cycle is affected it impacts her ability to have children naturally.

When, regardless of all interventions, a woman cannot conceive naturally or use her own eggs for fertility treatments, she may have to rely on another woman’s eggs to build her family. This is fertility using egg donation. In this article we shall discuss what egg donation is, how it is applied in family building and how one can donate their eggs to help soon else to build their family.

What Is Egg Donation?

When a female gives some of the eggs from her ovarian reserve to facilitate someone else’s family building, it is referred to as egg donation. As the family structure continues to change, family building options are continuing to diversify to accommodate varied family building goals.

Egg donation is used by couples unable to produce their own eggs naturally, females unable to produce healthy eggs, females whose ovarian reserves are diminished, females who have genetic conditions that are hereditary, among others. Let us look at how this is done one step at a time.

Egg Donation, Step-By-Step

Step 1: Screening & Eligibility Requirements

Before a donor can give their eggs, there are requirements they must meet. This pre-screening process ensures that the eggs retrieved are of good quality and in good health. Screening involves physical, medical, and psychological checks which amount to a donor has to: 

• Be between 19 and 32 years old
• Have a healthy BMI and be in good health
• Have no history of drug or alcohol abuse
• Not smoke or use nicotine products.
• Have no history or mental health problems
• No genetic conditions or terminal illness

Step 2: Hormone Stimulation & Monitoring

Once cleared at the preliminary screening, the donor can begin the process toward donating their eggs. This will begin with the ovaries being stimulated using hormones to develop multiple eggs to maturity. The eggs will be closely monitored as they grow and develop until they reach a suitable size whereby a final hormonal injection will be administered to rapidly develop them to full maturity. 

Step 3: Egg Retrieval Procedure

Egg retrieval is a procedure that takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes and is done under local anaesthesia. A long needle and transvaginal ultrasound are used to conduct the procedure. The ultrasound helps the doctor to see the eggs, and the needle is used to gently puncture the follicles and draw out the eggs within. One the procedure is complete the eggs will be examined then frozen and stored. 

Step 4: Recovery & Aftercare

After the egg retrieval, the egg donor rests for about an hour or two at the healthcare facility. When the anesthesia wears out, there may be some pain. The doctor will prescribe some painkillers that one can go home with. As well, it is recommended that once at home, the egg donor should take a day or two to rest before returning to their regular routine.  

Conclusion

If you have been trying to conceive for six months to a year without any success, consult with the fertility specialists at Dallas Fertility Center. We are happy to diagnose the cause of  your infertility and recommend the next steps, including egg donation, to assist you in building your family. If you would like to donate,you are more than welcome to do so. Let us have a conversation to see if  you are an eligible egg donor. 

FAQs About the Egg Donation Process

How long does the egg donation process take?

The process of egg donation usually takes two to three months from the initial consultation and screening to the actual egg retrieval procedure.

Is the egg retrieval procedure painful?

Since egg retrieval is done when a donor is sedated, they usually do not feel any pain during the procedure.

What happens after egg retrieval?

After retrieval, the eggs are examined, prepared for storage, and frozen. On the part of the donor, it is recommended that they take some rest, and if they experience any pain, they can take painkillers as prescribed by the doctor.