How Does Egg Donation Work?

Qualifications

Though laws on egg donation vary state to state, there are some federal rules that govern the process. The basic qualifications for becoming an egg donor include being between the ages of 21 and 35. A medical examination is required, including a physical examination, a pelvic examination, a blood sample to check your hormone levels and an ultrasound to examine your uterus. A complete medical history will be taken, in which you need to reveal any genetic conditions of which you or your blood relatives are aware. You will also under go a psychological screening to ensure that you are emotionally equipped to donate your eggs. Though it is uncommon, some egg donation agencies prefer donors who have already given birth or donated eggs before.

Donation Process

If you are selected to donate your eggs, you need to administer a hormonal medication daily to stimulate the production of eggs. This continues for about 10 days. You will have frequent ultrasounds and blood tests to ensure that the eggs are forming properly in your ovaries. Once they're matured, the eggs are removed from the ovaries during the egg retrieval process. During this process, a thin needle is inserted into follicles on your ovaries to suction the eggs out. The procedure lasts approximately a half an hour and is administered along with pain medication or anesthesia to ensure that you are comfortable. This is an outpatient procedure. After a few hours of recovering from the procedure and the anesthesia, you are allowed to go home.

After Donation

What happens after you donate eggs is unpredictable at best, especially if you signed a confidentiality contract. If the eggs are implanted they may result in a pregnancy, multiple pregnancies or a miscarriage. Fertilization may also fail to take place if there is a problem with the egg, the sperm or an error with the laboratory fertilizing the egg. Eggs from one donor may also go to more than one recipient, which can, naturally, result in multiple children for multiple parties. The recipient may also fail to use the eggs, in which case the donor agency will usually ask the party to donate the unused eggs to another in-need party or to research. If neither scenario occurs, the eggs will likely be destroyed or permanently frozen. Egg donors need to note, however, that once they donate their eggs the fate of those eggs are no longer in your control. The donor may never know what happens to the eggs.

Resources

• Review egg donor and surrogacy programs