Donating your eggs to help others become parents is one of the greatest gifts that a woman can provide. It is a selfless and generous act that women take pride in doing. However, this opportunity does not come to every woman. There are certain requirements and restrictions related to egg donation. For example, a donor must be healthy and fertile and between the ages of 19 and 29.
There are a variety of reasons that attract women towards egg donation. Some women want to help couples who are struggling to conceive, while some decide to proceed with egg donation for the financial rewards. Whichever the case may be, the bottom line is that giving your eggs to infertile couples is a priceless gift that will change their lives forever.
If you are considering egg donation, you must make sure that you meet all the requirements. However, you must first weigh the pros and cons of the egg donation process. Yes, egg donation is a noble act. But analyzing the advantages and the risks will help get a clearer picture. It can also provide clarity on whether you are fit to donate or not.
Pros of Egg Donation
Psychological Advantage – Makes you feel good
The psychological effect of egg donation can be considered both a pro and con (will discuss that later). On the brighter side, you’ll definitely feel happy knowing that your donated eggs will soon become a reason for someone’s happiness.
Even with advanced reproductive technologies, there are couples who still struggle to have a child. It’s hard to imagine the emotional stress they are going through but that can be alleviated with an egg donation. This creates a feeling which is incomparable.
It makes you aware of your own fertility
You will want to have kids someday and opting to become an egg donor before that time can provide insight into whether you can produce healthy eggs. If you want to delay giving birth, there’s always an option to freeze your eggs.
If the result turns out to be negative, it can be a good conversation point with a potential spouse who may want to have children. Knowing about infertility as early as possible in the relationship is good so you can plan accordingly.
Free testing for certain disorders.
In the United States, testing for several common genetic disorders is mandatory, by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, for women who are thinking of donating their eggs. Genetic diseases generally happen when two people with the same genetic mutation produce offspring. As such, testing before the egg donation process will determine whether a specific mutation will affect their future child.
Financial compensation is a big plus
Donating your eggs will provide you with financial incentives. This reward is for all your effort and time. It will also include any travel expenses and the several medical procedures that you’ll have to go through. Depending on the requirement and circumstances, a woman could receive anywhere from $7,000 to $25,000 for each successful egg donation cycle.
An amazing opportunity to know the child
This is not true for every case but yes it can happen. Some may consider it a con while others believe it to be a pro. In directed egg donation and with a known egg donor, it is possible for the donor to have contact with the child, throughout their life, albeit limited. This usually happens when the egg donors are close family members or relatives. It’s also possible in some cases, where the intended parents agreed to maintain contact with the egg donor.
Cons of egg donation
Psychological disadvantage
Many women have doubts about how their donated eggs will be used in conceiving a child. Also, many of them even have concerns over how the child will be raised.
There are some agencies that project a negative attitude towards donors. For instance, they seek people based on race, intelligence and physical characteristics. This is done to help couples who will be receiving the eggs produce a child that closely resembles them. The only problem is that there’s no guarantee the promise will be met. Additionally, such a screening process has been compared to a “master race” mentality.
On the brighter side, those who go with this method are from a stable financial background and can provide the child with loving homes.
It takes lots of time and effort
Just to be clear, egg donation is neither simple nor an easy process. Egg retrieval is done through a minor surgical procedure that lasts for only 15 to 20 minutes. But during that time, the procedure can sedate you, and you need to take the rest of the day off to recover. Following the procedure, you may have your reflexes impaired or may even feel disoriented. Although complications from egg donation are rare, some have reported bleeding and blood clots as a side effects.
May result in conception
This is true if you don’t abstain from unprotected sex for at least a week after retrieval. It may be possible that the clinic would not retrieve all the eggs, which may lead to pregnancy. You need to take precautions during the egg donation process and the week after to ensure you do not conceive.
Possibility of ovarian hyperstimulation
This may happen when a woman has swollen ovaries and abdominal pain. They also experience retention of fluid until their next period. That being said, there are no studies indicating that egg donation can affect a woman’s ability to conceive on their own.
May lead to a donation of eggs with genetic defects.
Despite all the precautions and screening, there’s still the slightest possibility that the donated eggs may have genetic defects which can develop into disorders. This may be a result of an unsure medical history of the donor’s family.
Becoming an egg donor gives you the ability to make a huge impact and a difference in the lives of others. However, it’s not a simple procedure and requires a perfectly suitable candidate. If you are considering egg donation, click on the button to see if you qualify.
