Wondering If Egg Donation is Right For You?

Being a part of the egg donation process is a wonderful opportunity as you help a couple in need start their own family. Besides, egg donation is one of the most selfless acts a person can do. It allows you to become a part of a phenomenal puzzle. When you donate your eggs, you embark on a journey of self-discovery and compassion for those around us. With little to no egg donation risks, top egg donation safety practices, and a team that consistently has your best interest at heart, there is no better place to begin other than RSMC, California.

Become an Egg Donor

So, How Can I Donate Eggs?

If you decide to donate your eggs, there will be little to no interruption in your daily life. The following is an overview of the egg donation process with RSMC, California:

1. Application Process

   First you must fill out an application. Once it is complete, one of our coordinators will then review it. He/She will ensure that you have met all the criteria. If you are eligible, you will receive a welcome email advising you that we’ve initially accepted you for the program. Afterwards, we will create your profile and present it to our Intended Parents.

2. Medical Screening and Evaluation

   Once you get a match with an Intended Parent, you will complete your screening process. It includes medical screening, psychological evaluation, and background check.

3. Legal Documentation

   You will have a third-party legal representative assigned to you. Your legal counsel will help you understand the terms and agreements in the egg donation contract. Moreover, he or she will be in contact with our attorney and the parents.

4. Cycle Calendar

   We will assign you a coordinator during the process. He/She will create a calendar for you. This calendar will take you through the process day by day and will include birth control and medication requirements.

5. Medical Injections and Monitoring

   In order to stimulate your eggs, you will undergo a 10-12 day injection period leading up to your egg retrieval.

6. Egg Retrieval

   This is a 10-20-minute process and will be done under light sedation. Your physician will retrieve your eggs vaginally. Once the procedure is over, you will get advice to rest for the remainder of the day.

7. Post-Retrieval Check-Up:

   To make sure that the process went smoothly, you will receive a post-retrieval check schedule at your local clinic. The appointments are typically scheduled in the morning. It is to make sure that you do not miss work, school, or other commitments. This appointment allows for you to ask any questions necessary, ensuring you are both comfortable and aware of the post-retrieval process.

What Are the Risks?

The egg donation process has proven to be safe with no long-term risks. However, it is a good practice to understand the potential side effects that may come with the process to ensure you feel totally prepared and knowledgeable on the possible egg donation risks:

• Medication side effects – Certain medications associated with egg donation can lead to moodiness, headache, fatigue or bloating. In some extremely rare cases, ovarian hyperstimulation occurs, but it is treatable.
• Antibiotics – Antibiotics used to prevent bacterial infections may lead to allergic reactions in some patients. So, it is best to consult your physician if you think you’re allergic to certain antibiotics.
• Blood-drawing – As with most needles, there may be slight discomfort and bruising from the blood-drawing process.
• Ultrasound guided retrieval process – After retrieval, physical discomfort is not uncommon for some donors. However, in rare cases there can be bleeding and bowel discomfort.

How Does Donating Eggs Affect Fertility?

Friends and family members of egg donors often feel a worry about the impact it will have on her future fertility. We make it a top priority to ensure that all of our donors are aware of egg donation safety. Research has shown evidently that egg donation process does not have a negative effect on future fertility. Our physicians put the donors health as their top priority. As physicians, they understand the medical risks and do not proceed with egg donors who are not healthy or medically fit enough.

Will the Process Deplete My Own Supply?

This is a common misconception but donating eggs doesn’t impact your egg supply. At the time of puberty, women will have approximately 300,000 eggs. Of the thousands, 500 will ovulate over the course of your reproductive lifetime. On average 10 to 20 eggs are produced per cycle, however only 1-2 eggs are mature enough to be released. The body reabsorbs the remaining eggs. In an egg donation cycle, because of medications, the body will mature around 15 to 20 eggs. In short, the same number of eggs are used in a natural ovulation cycle and egg donation cycle. Meaning, the process will not retrieve any additional eggs outside of what your body naturally puts out.

A study, conducted in 2013, followed a series of egg donors closely over a multiple year period as they engaged in multiple donations. Each donor completed a minimum of 5 donations between 2004 to 2012. Also, the average age of each donor was 26 years old at the time of their first donation and 28 at the time of their final donation.

During the span of this study, researchers examined the intake of hormones (medications) during the stimulation cycle, how long they were on the medications, and how many eggs were retrieved.

After the study was complete, the International Federation of Fertility Societies concluded that the egg donation process does not deplete a woman’s natural egg reserve. Even after six successful egg donation cycles, egg donors showed no sign of ovarian depletion.

Get started today!

At Reproductive Sciences Medical Center, California, we have worked with thousands of egg donors and will ensure your safety and privacy during the donation process. If you would like to see if you qualify as an egg donor, click on the link below.

Become an Egg Donor