FAQ’S ABOUT EGG DONATION

WHAT IS EGG DONATION?

Egg donation is the process by which one woman (an egg donor) donates her ova, or eggs, so that an infertile family may have a child. This does not involve the removal or donation of the ovaries; it simply means that doctors will extract several egg cells from the donor's ovaries.

WHO NEEDS EGG DONATION?

Some couples are infertile because the woman is unable to produce eggs. This may occur because her ovaries have never developed properly (as in, for example, Turner's syndrome), because of ovarian failure (premature menopause) or because surgery or chemotherapy has made her infertile. Also, many older women undergoing fertility treatment may have a better chance of achieving a pregnancy if they receive donated eggs. Some women are carriers of genetic disorders which can be passed on a child through the mother's egg. Rather than risk giving birth to a child who may suffer greatly and die at an early age, a woman may request egg donation in order to increase the chance of a healthy child.

WHO CAN DONATE EGGS?

If you are a physically healthy woman of proportionate height and weight between the ages of 20-32 and of Jewish ancestry you may be a good candidate for egg donation. If you have the desire to do this incredible mitzvah after you have given careful consideration to the potential medical and psychological effects associated with egg donation, please complete the application form. Upon receipt, your information will be reviewed in detail by a reproductive endocrinology nurse, a geneticist and a physician and you will be contacted.

SCREENING OF POTENTIAL DONORS:

It will be necessary for you as a potential donor to be "screened" so as to ensure that you are free of infections, diseases or genetic conditions that might be transmitted in the donation process. Information will be required from you about your medical and family history. Potential donors will also need to have a general medical examination and blood tests.
With the potential donor's permission, their General Practitioner may be contacted in order to obtain a more detailed medical history.

COUNSELING OF POTENTIAL EGG DONORS:

Potential donors are carefully counseled to ensure that they are fully aware of all that is involved in egg donation, their rights, the rights of the eventual parents and any child born as a result of donated eggs; as well as potential effects on the donor if they do indeed become an egg donor. Equally, they are advised of the medical procedures involved.

Can I DONATE EGGS IF I AM ON BIRTH CONTROL?

You can apply to become an egg donor even if you are on the birth control pill or the patch. You will, more than likely, be asked to stop taking your contraceptive for a short period of time in order to allow for the hormonal testing to be done before you can start an egg donation cycle. Most physicians will then place the donor on the pill in order to regulate your cycle with the recipient’s cycle before the actual start of stimulation of your ovaries. If you are taking Depo Provera, you will need to stop this method of birth control in order to become an egg donor. You can also donate if you have had a tubal ligation or have a non-hormone producing IUD.

ONCE I GET SELECTED, HOW LONG IS THE PROCESS BEFORE MY EGG RETRIEVAL?

The process can vary depending on the clinic where the procedure will be done. It will usually be between 2-4 months before you actually donate your eggs. Once you are selected as a family’s donor you will begin the testing process in order to make sure that you free of genetic disease or any other issue which would potentially cause a problem. The testing process usually requires 2-3 visits to a physician and includes blood work for the Jewish genetic panel, hormonal testing, cultures, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, physical and psychological exam.

IS SEXUAL INTERCOURSE PERMITTED DURING THE CYCLE?

Most physicians will advise you NOT to have intercourse throughout the cycle, but the doctor will give you exact instructions. Please make sure to speak with the physician about specific guidelines.

WHEN CAN INTERCOURSE BE RESUMED?

You will be advised to wait at least a week after the retrieval. However, once again, your physician will give you specific instructions.

DO I HAVE TO TAKE ANY MEDICATION, AND DOES IT HAVE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?

In essence, the treatment involved for the egg donor is much the same as that for a woman undergoing IVF treatment. Other than the birth control pill you will be on a combination of hormone medications for a period of time ranging between 2-6 weeks depending on the protocol of the physician who is managing your egg donation cycle. There are several medications that can be used to regulate and stimulate your ovaries.

Fertility Medications And Potential Side Effects

The fertility medications which you will be taking are all considered to be safe. However, women can experience some common minor side effects. Your medications may include a combination of the following:

• ANTAGONISTS: (Antagon, Ganurelix or Cetrotide), are given as a subcutaneous injection and may be administered for three to four days in order to help prevent premature ovulation. OR, LUPRON: Doctors may use this medication to control your cycle to artificially stimulate ovulation or to control when ovulation occurs. It is administered as a subcutaneous shot (just under the skin). You may experience some hot flashes or headaches. Occasionally, some women experience bone discomfort, but this is quite rare with short-term use. Some redness or irritation may occur at the injection site.
• GONADOTROPINS: These are the true fertility hormones used to stimulate multiple egg growth from your ovaries. These medications are all basically the same, consisting of the hormone FSH with some preparations containing the hormone LH. These medications have different trade names in Canada, Europe and the United States. You may be using one or a combination of the following: Gonal-F, Follistim, Bravelle, Repronex, or Menopur. You may notice some breast tenderness or pelvic discomfort as the growing follicles (containing the eggs) become larger toward the end of your cycle. Infrequently, women may get flu-like symptoms when taking these medications and you may experience some redness or irritation at the injection site. Ovarian cysts may develop after ovulation, and rarely, women may develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
• HCG: This medication is used to induce ovulation (egg release). There are no known side effects.

RISKS INVOLVED IN TAKING FERTILITY MEDICATION

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is potentially the most serious complication that can arise from the use of fertility medications. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a condition that can usually be predicted before it occurs, but it sometimes occurs when only minimal risk factors exist. The following risk factors increase the risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome:

• Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

• Women with high Estradiol (E2) levels (>5000 pmal/L) measured by blood tests especially when associated with numerous small follicles (<7.4 cm) on ultrasound.

• A previous history of ovarian hyperstimulation.

In order to reduce the risk of OHSS, frequent blood monitoring of Estradiol (E2) and transvaginal ultrasounds near the time of ovulation are done to monitor the number and size of developing follicles. Some women may be more sensitive or resistant to these fertility medications, but careful daily monitoring is the key to prevention. Symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation include abdominal pain or discomfort, abdominal distension, nausea, dizziness, increased thirst, decreased urinary output, or shortness of breath. Fortunately, this condition is extremely rare and almost never occurs in severe form unless a woman becomes pregnant. The donor, therefore, has a much lower chance of developing this condition. It is caused by enlargement of the ovaries following gonadotropin administration, which in turn causes abdominal discomfort and pain, abdominal swelling and bloating, shortness of breath, decreased urinary output, and weight gain.

WHAT DOES THE RETRIEVAL PROCEDURE INVOLVE?

You will have frequent trans-vaginal ultrasound and blood test the last week before the retrieval in order to check your hormone levels and to check the number and size of your follicles. A small probe will be inserted into the vagina in order to see the developing eggs clearly. The day of your egg retrieval, you will be given sedation or anesthesia before the egg retrieval. A trans-vaginal ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina, and a needle guide is placed onto the probe to allow for accurate access to the eggs. The eggs are then removed through this needle guide. After the egg retrieval is completed, you will still feel drowsy and will be advised not to drive for a period of 24 hours.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS TO THE DONOR?

The risks to the donor are considered to be minimal and short-term. Such risks include the possibility of troublesome bleeding or pelvic infection (less than a 1% chance). Equally, there is a 1% - 2% risk of excessive ovarian stimulation (too many eggs being produced) despite careful monitoring. In such a case, the donation cycle will probably be abandoned and treatment would be commenced. Other possible complications, although incredibly rare, may be associated with allergic reaction and complications of anesthesia.

IS THERE PAIN DURING THE RETRIEVAL?

Depending on the individual IVF center either a general anesthetic or local sedation is used during the procedure. Either way you are very relaxed. You may feel some discomfort, but you shouldn’t be in pain. Following retrieval you will likely feel bloated and a little sore. Cramping is also a common experience immediately following the retrieval. Donors can usually return home or to their arranged accommodations within several hours after the egg collection has been completed. However, they need to be aware that they will not be able to drive until the following day when the after-effects of the anesthetic or sedation have worn off. It is generally advised to rest the remainder of the retrieval day and take it easy for a few days post the retrieval. Your doctor may give you other guidelines about post-op activities.

HOW MANY EGGS ARE RETREIVED?

On average 10-15 eggs are aspirated during the retrieval, however, donors can produce significantly more eggs or less during their cycle.

CAN A DONOR NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH EGGS IN A CYCLE?

Yes, unfortunately this does at times occur. If the doctor cancels the cycle due to an inadequate or otherwise problematic response and the donor does not have her retrieval then the donor will be compensated between $500.00-1000.00.

HOW MANY EGGS DOES A WOMAN USUALLY HAVE?

Women are born with approximately 2 million eggs. By the time you reach puberty you have approximately 200,000 eggs remaining.

IF I DONATE MY EGGS WILL I RUN OUT OF EGGS WHEN I WANT TO HAVE A BABY OR WILL I REACH MENOPAUSE EARLY?

NO, women develop many follicles each month although only 1 of these follicles makes it to maturity and is ovulated. The medication that you will take during the cycle will stimulate some of the other follicles to grow and mature in order to give the recipient family the best possible chance to achieve their dream.

wHERE WILL MY RETRIEVAL TAKE PLACE?

The egg retrieval will take place at the clinic with which the intended parents are working.

WILL I HAVE TO TRAVEL, AND FOR HOW LONG?

You will have to travel only if the clinic that the intended parents select is in a different city. If so, you will have to travel to the city in which the clinic is located for a minimum of 5 days but, normally, no more than 10 days.

A Jewish Blessing LLC will arrange all travel and hotel accommodations for you.

WHO PAYS MY TRAVEL EXPENSES?

A Jewish Blessing LLC pays on behalf of the intended parents all of the expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred as part of the ovum donation program.

CAN I BRING MY HUSBAND, significant other AND/OR CHILDREN WITH ME IF I HAVE TO TRAVEL?

The program covers travel and accommodations for the donor only. Your spouse and children may, however, travel with you at your own expense. Please be aware that children are not always allowed in the clinics; you would need to check with the clinic that is managing your cycle about their policy.

Is the donation an ANONYMOUS process?

Most egg donation cycles are completely anonymous, where both your identity, as well as the intended parent’s identity is protected. Occasionally, however, the intended parents will want to know who their donor is. They may request contact which is limited to emails or phone calls or may request a meeting with the donor. You may choose to participate in a known donor cycle if you want to.

WILL I BE TOLD OF THE OUTCOME OF THE CYCLE?

This decision will be made by the intended parents. However, if you have strong feelings about this, either not wanting this information shared with you OR feeling that it would be very important for you to know, please let me know. This will be taken into consideration when you are matched.

What are the COMPENSATION arrangements?

You will be compensated the agreed upon amount after your retrieval. We do not encourage donors to negotiate higher fees than the centers on the east coast are currently paying ($8000). As you can safely imagine the costs incurred by the recipient family are prohibitive and do not even guarantee a pregnancy. If you feel the need to request a higher fee you may let me know and I will communicate this to the recipient family but it may reduce your chances of being matched.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN I DONATE MY EGGS?

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine recommends that any one woman donate eggs only 6 times or less. Whether you may donate as a repeat donor, and how many times you may do so, will be determined the physician and the treatment team.

DO YOU WORK WITH ALL TYPES OF FAMILIES?

A Jewish Blessing LLC works with all types of Jewish individuals and families. We do not discriminate against age, marital status, or sexual orientation.
In addition, we work with families throughout the United States, as well as Internationally.