Egg donation is a procedure where a healthy and physically fit woman (also termed a donor) donates her eggs to another woman (also termed a recipient). It is a method under Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) which helps a recipient woman to have a child. The donor's eggs can be fertilized with the recipient's male partner's sperm or with another donor's sperm.
About the Egg Donation procedure
The procedure of egg donation covers the following steps -
a. Applying to become a donor
First, a woman who wants to donate her eggs must fill out an application, mentioning that she fulfils all the criteria set by the fertility hospital. The intended donor must be between 18-32 years. She also must mention if she has a medical history or any medications on which she is currently under.
b. Application and Candidate Screening
The next step is the screening of the applications and the potential donors. Here, the fertility centre conducts a complete set of tests on the candidate to determine her psychological, physical, and genetic conditions. The other tests performed are for Hepatitis B and C, blood tests, syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Rh factor, and gonorrhoea.
c. Synchronization of donor and recipient's cycles
Synchronization is the next step. The donor's and recipient's menstrual cycles must be synchronized. A physician does this by giving birth control pills. It is an essential step as the implantation of the fertilized egg must be done in the recipient's uterus when the egg is retrieved from a donor.
d. Medications for donor and recipient
The next step involves providing medications for both the donor and the recipient for a smooth egg donation and implantation process. The donor takes the fertility medications and goes through an IVF cycle. It helps in eggs' growth and maturation. Next, she will undergo an ultrasound for 10-15 days (until the eggs are ready for extraction). On the other hand, the recipient takes different medicines to prepare her uterine lining for implanting the embryos.
e. Fertilization and implantation of the eggs
After the eggs are retrieved, they are fertilized in the laboratory. A donor or recipient's partner's sperm is used for the fertilization process to obtain an embryo. It is then implanted in the recipient's uterus.
f. Recovery of the donor
This is another crucial step, as the donor must rest adequately after the egg donation. Some donors may take several days to get back to normal, and some might fit the next day. Take the prescribed medicine on time and consider your doctor immediately if you feel any discomfort.
Who qualifies for the procedure?
A woman (donor) qualifies for the egg donation procedure if she fulfils the below criteria -
- Is of the age 18-32 years
- Has menstrual periods regularly
- Does not smoke
- Has both ovaries
- Not currently using psychoactive drugs
- Does not have any serious medical history
- Does not have a family history of inheritable genetic conditions
Why the procedure is conducted?
A woman (recipient) goes for an egg donation and implantation procedure if she -
- Cannot have a baby with her eggs
- Is in her menopause stage
- Age factor
- Has poor egg quality
- Has failed IVF attempts
- Has genetic disorders which she does not want to pass on to her child
Benefits of the egg donation procedure
For a donor -
She is paid well for the donated eggs and for helping a woman or women have a child. She has monetary benefits as well as she will be satisfied that she has helped someone.
For a recipient -
She can have a child with the help of a donor and be a mother. The joy of being pregnant and later a mother is something that she can experience on her own.
The bottom line
The egg donation procedure has various physical and emotional challenges for the donor and the recipient. A person must research properly about the procedure beforehand and also consult the nearby fertility centre.
Request an appointment at Apollo Fertility, Varanasi or
Call 1860-500-4424 to book an appointment.
There are no legal implications with the egg donation procedure as the donor is anonymous. But, it is necessary that before going through the process, both a donor and a recipient must go through these things with the fertility centre.
There are several reasons for the success or unsuccessful egg donation procedure. Still, there are not 100% chances of egg implantation to successful pregnancy conditions. But, it has been noted that most of the cases of egg donation and implantation have been successful.
The egg donation is and must not be painful. If you feel discomfort even after the next day, then you should consult with your doctor.
10-12 eggs are extracted in one cycle.
Yes, a child has DNA from an egg and a sperm. Thus, the child born from a donated egg will have the donor's DNA.
Treatments
