Some women try to conceive without success; the egg donation procedure can be tiresome since it involves removing eggs from the donor, after which they are taken to a laboratory where they are fertilized, the doctor transfers the embryo into the womb of the recipient. This is made possible by the use of implantation procedures, like In Vitro fertilization.
At times the embryo may be frozen by specialists for future implantation in various women.
Eggs donation is beneficial to women who are not able to use their eggs for different reasons, such as old age, trying to avoid anomalies in the Festus, and ovarian failure.
In reference to an article published in 2014 in America’s journal Fertility and Sterility, it indicated that 93% of fertility centers in the USA offer these services. There is another backup story that states about 50% of the procedures are successful.
In this article, the main focus will be on choosing egg donors, procedures one should follow, and the legal rules guiding the donation of eggs.
Pregnancy test stick, surprise
What One Should Expect
Doctors’ infertility centers will carry out a selection process to choose a suitable egg donor, and the process is carried out following all the legal requirements.
Before a donor can donate an egg, there is a medication that aims at stopping one’s normal menstrual cycle.
There are some effects associated with this medication, and they are:
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Hot flashes
The doctor will administer medication of fertility drugs that will make the ovaries produce more than one egg at the same time. The process is referred to as hyperstimulation. The medication should be self-administered by the donor either into the muscle or under the skin.
Some donors may experience side effects such as:
- Bruises at the injection site
- Tender breasts
- Mood swings.
Some women may experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The case is common when too many eggs form in the ovaries. If a woman develops the condition, immediate hospitalization is essential.
Donors may get pregnant before they donate the eggs, so it is important to avoid sexual intercourse or use protection like condoms.
During the whole donation procedure, the donor is subjected to frequent ultrasound examinations and blood tests to see how they react to the medication.
During Extraction
Prior to the egg retrieval, the specialist will administer an injection that will prepare the donor well before the procedure.
A certain procedure will be performed called Transvaginal Ovarian Aspiration 2 so as to remove the needed eggs from the ovaries. An ultrasound probe will be inserted into the donor vagina, and by the use of a needle, they will remove the required egg from any follicle.
During the whole process, which may roughly last for 30 minutes, the donor may be subjected to the anesthetic, sedatives, or even painkillers.
Since the procedure is not that intensive, the donor is free to leave any time or spend some hours in the hospital.
After Donation
Some women may require some days to rest after the whole procedure, but some of them resume normal activities immediately after being discharged from the hospital.
The best egg donation agencies are known to offer aftercare to their patients, while others are never competent enough. The process may, at times, affect the donor psychologically.
Final Verdict
Egg donation is a simple procedure that is very successful. It involves the extraction of an egg by a specialist from a well-screened donor. The cost of the whole process may be from $36,000 to $50,000.
A donor will be subjected to certain drugs aimed at stimulating their ovaries and stopping the menstrual cycle.
Egg donation and implantation can have psychological and physical effects. But it is not that dangerous.