Is Donating Eggs Painful?

The end result may be cute, but how painful is the process?

Human egg donation is a process that has been used for more than 20 years to help infertile couples get pregnant through in vitro fertilization. Compensation for egg donations can be high, with many organizations listing payment anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000. It might sound like an easy way to earn money, but the egg donation process can be complicated, uncomfortable and even painful.

Stopping the Normal Cycle

Once a woman has been selected as a donor, she may be prescribed a medication for up to two weeks to temporarily stop her ovaries from functioning normally. This makes it easier to control a patient's response to fertility drugs, but it can also cause hot flashes, body aches and mood swings, among other minor reactions.

Daily Injections

The next medication to be prescribed will stimulate the ovaries to mature more eggs than normal. These medications must be injected, either under the skin or into a muscle, for about 10 days.

Surgery

The eggs need to be removed from the ovaries in a surgical procedure called transvaginal ovarian aspiration. Though it takes only 15 to 20 minutes, there is a needle and suction, as well as painkillers and sedatives involved in the process. Most doctors advise patients to restrict normal activities while they recover.

Risks

After needle insertion into the ovary, bleeding might occur. In other rare cases, the bowel, bladder or nearby blood vessels might also be punctured, causing internal bleeding or damage to the pelvic organs.

Reactions

Egg donors can experience a range of emotions and reactions before, during and after the egg donation process. Reproductive health experts advise potential donors to talk to other women who have done it, as well as commit to extensively researching different egg donation centers before making a decision.

References

• "Information About Human Egg Donation"
• "Becoming an Egg Donor"