The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) describes egg donation as, "the process of fertilizing eggs from a donor and transferring the resulting embryos to the recipient’s uterus."
Before the procedure, donors are administered hormone stimulation drugs to stimulate the ovaries for producing a larger quantity of eggs at once. During the donation cycle, the donor frequently goes through various ultrasound examinations and blood tests to monitor her reaction to the fertility drugs.
On the day of the retrieval, the donor receives one last stimulation injection to prepare for the extraction. The doctor then typically performs a transvaginal ovarian aspiration to remove eggs from the ovaries of the donor. An ultrasound probe is used to be inserted inside the donor's vagina, pulling out the eggs through a fine needle.
The process is non-invasive in the sense that it does not require cutting or opening up any organ of the donor's body however, the drugs administered prior to the procedure can potentially have some mild side effects varying from patient to patient.
There's a commonly held belief that the primary motive behind donating one's eggs is the prospect of a handsome compensation. What most people fail to see is that the process of egg donation is an involved and invasive procedure requiring multiple medications and hormone injections.
More often than not, egg donors are motivated by the bigger picture of helping out a family who would otherwise have no shot at having a biological child of their own.
Some of the key benefits and reasons why many young women opt for egg donation are:
1. Helping build a family
Egg donation is undoubtedly a compassionate, well-thought out decision to help an individual or family bring a new life into this world however, it's important to understand that it's a commitment that entails a series of medical procedures and screenings. It's not as straight-forward as sperm donation, which is why egg donation is always in high demand. It can be emotionally taxing but the end reward is what makes the entire process worth the all.
2. Getting in touch with your fertility
Egg donation is a process that involves multiple medical check-ups and examinations which gives the donor the opportunity to gauge their own reproductive health as a by product. Getting in touch with your fertility lets you make informed decisions about self-care and possibly identifying any hereditary diseases in a timely fashion.
3. Egg Preservation
At Patriot Conceptions, we encourage repeat egg donors to freeze their eggs for later use at a significantly lower cost than what egg freezing normally costs. By preserving your fertility at your peak reproductive age, you can get a chance to store your most fertile eggs for IVF in future.
4. Compensation
Egg donation is a highly regulated procedure just like any other organ or tissue donation, due to which donors are screened and selected very meticulously. Given the rules and regulations in place guiding this procedure, egg donors are compensated a handsome amount ranging somewhere from $6000 to $8000. Access to these immediate funds can be used by the donors for any immediate, personal financing needs.
As egg donation continues to rise in demand with ever increasing infertility rates, it is important to remove any stigmas around this compassionate, selfless act of kindness and educate prospective donors on how to best navigate their decision to donate.