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Five Questions Egg Donors Deserve Answers To

by MyEggBankin Becoming a DonorOctober 21st, 2019

If you’re considering becoming an egg donor, you probably have a lot of questions — about the medical procedures involved, the emotional commitment, the compensation, and so on.

To help you navigate this exciting — yet sometimes stressful and confusing — time, we’ve outlined five important questions that all egg donors deserve answers to.

1. Is donating eggs painful?
The simple answer is, it depends. Most women experience some discomfort, achiness and/or bruising during the eight to 12 weeks of self-administered hormone-based injections, which help with egg development. Some women experience mild to moderate bloating, cramps, and nausea. Your doctors will show you how to administer the shots, and some donors opt to have a loved one administer the injections after receiving professional instructions.

The actual egg retrieval process is straightforward, taking about 15 to 20 minutes. Light IV sedation is provided, and you’ll have time to rest at the hospital afterward. You may have some discomfort after the procedure, with cramping, spotting, and bloating the most common symptoms. Acetaminophen is usually enough to ease these symptoms, and most donors return to usual activities the day after retrieval.

2. Will donating eggs harm my chances of conceiving?
First, it’s important to know that donating eggs will not deplete your egg supply quicker. The hormones injections mentioned above merely ensure that the eggs naturally available in that cycle are fully developed. No more eggs are removed than what is naturally produced.

Next, know that there are no studies that positively correlate egg donation and infertility. Although there have been media stories about egg donors experiencing difficulty later in life when trying to conceive for themselves, infertility is very complex and can be caused by a range of factors. If you’re thinking of growing your own family in the future, the comprehensive fertility, genetic screenings and physical exams undergone by prospective donors can be hugely helpful, allowing you to gain valuable insights and better plan your future. You get to keep all records from these screenings as well.

3. How many times can I donate eggs?
After the egg retrieval process, it typically takes about six to eight weeks for your donation to be evaluated — whether it was successful and safe, the quality and quantity of the eggs, and so on. From there, your doctor will be able to determine if and when you can donate again.

If approved for future donations, you’ll be able to donate up to six times in your lifetime, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) standards. Eligibility will be determined based on a consultation with your physician and donor coordination team.

4. Is my egg donation anonymous?
The majority of egg donors choose to be anonymous. In these setups, no identifying information is shared between the donor and the intended family. Donors are also not informed of the outcome of their eggs.

Semi-anonymous, or semi-open, setups also exist, in which donors and intended parents agree to share a small amount of information with one another. This may include locations or first names. Known donors, or open donors, are far less common. These setups involve a friend or family member of the intended parent(s) serving as a donor.

At MyEggBank, all donations are identity-restricted, meaning your information will not be shared with intended parents. You can choose to disclose your identity to a donor-conceived child or potential donor-conceived children, though it’s important to keep in mind that not all children want to know the identity of their egg donor, and not all parents will disclose the information to their children if provided.

5. How will I be compensated?
Monetary compensation varies by geographic location, but on average, donors can expect to earn about $5,000 to $10,000 per cycle. Compensation is distributed upon completion of the cycle. Donors may be eligible for increased compensation upon subsequent cycles, if eligible.

In addition to monetary compensation, donors receive a comprehensive physical exam as well as genetic and fertility screenings, from which valuable information can be gleaned for future family planning of one’s own.

Learn More
To learn more about egg donation or to get started with the donor application process, contact the experts at MyEggBank today.

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