Are you thinking about becoming an egg donor so you can give someone else the gift of life? Or are you considering looking into egg donation as a possible solution to your infertility journey?
Whatever your reasons for looking into egg donation, you’ll no doubt have a multitude of questions.
You can find out more about the entire process through companies like donoreggbankusa.com, but to answer some of your initial questions, we’ve explored some of the most common in more detail below.
What Screening Process Do Egg Donors Go Through?
Understandably, it’s imperative for someone to meet a number of requirements before becoming an egg donor. Besides requiring possible egg donor candidates to be between 21 and 33 years old, many donor clinics have a strict screening process involving different tests, including:
- Physical and psychological examinations
- Health history questionnaires
- Drug screenings
- Ultrasounds, cultures, and blood tests
- Infectious disease testing
- Expanded genetic testing
- Sexually transmitted disease testing
- Risk assessment questionnaire
What about the profiles donors create for potential recipients?
Once an egg donor receives approval from a clinic to proceed, they’ll need to provide information about their hobbies, interests, career, education achievements, medical history, and more. Personal statements play a huge role in the selection process and are integral to helping egg donors and recipients find their best possible matches.
What Emotions Are You Likely to Experience?
Whether you’re the person utilizing egg donation to become pregnant or going through the process of becoming an egg donor yourself, there are array of emotions you’ll likely experience and none of them are considered “wrong.”
After all, it’s a huge undertaking for egg donors and recipients alike!
Initially, as you explore egg donation in more detail, you may feel elated for the amazing chance this will give you. But, then the questions may creep in – is this really the right decision for you and your family?
As an egg donor, will you be able to cope with the knowledge your biological child could be walking this Earth without you knowing them?
As a recipient, are you able to accept the fact that your partner has a genetic connection with the baby – but not you?
As you process these questions, you’ll go through stages of excitement, grief, anxiety, and perhaps even resentment. That’s why it’s always a good idea to prepare yourself for the rollercoaster ride you may find yourself on. Enlisting the help of a psychologist is often recommended.
Who Has Rights to the Eggs and, Consequently, the Baby?
When someone agrees to donate their eggs, they’re giving up their responsibilities and rights associated with their eggs and any baby born from them.
However, if you’re using your own donor or you’re donating your eggs to someone you know – this area can become quite gray.
You’ll need to fully understand the legal implications of egg donation before proceeding, which is something donor clinics or a lawyer can help you with.
Having the right legal documents in place from the start will help iron out any potential issues in the future. If both parties want the egg donor involved in the baby’s life once they’re born, this needs to be stipulated in the contract, alongside the rights of both parties and any financial obligations.
What Can You Expect from the Egg Donation Process, once a Donor is Selected?
The time invested and the amount of traveling, medication, and expenses will depend on the type of egg donation used – fresh or frozen.
Fresh egg donation requires far more strategic organization because the donor’s and recipient’s cycles must be synchronized prior to implantation. Equally, this can add costs to the recipient as they often have to pay travel expenses to get to and from the donor’s clinic, or for the donor’s travel expenses to their clinic.
On the other hand, frozen egg donation can take place when the recipient is ready. It requires no synchronization with the donor and the eggs are often sent to the recipient’s clinic. This makes it a more cost-effective, convenient, and hassle-free process.
Moving Forward in Infertility
Nothing unites a family more than a child, and egg donation plays a huge role in providing families all around the world with this priceless gift.
But ultimately, this needs to be your decision and yours alone – whether you’re donating your eggs or receiving someone else’s.
Taking the time to ask questions, like the ones above, can help broaden your understanding of the process, which will hopefully provide you with the clarity you need to take this rewarding step in yours or someone else’s infertility journey.
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