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Is Egg Donation Painful?

by MyEggBankin Becoming a DonorFebruary 19th, 2020

If you’re thinking about becoming an egg donor, you probably have a lot of questions about the process. One common concern that potential donors have is whether the procedure will be painful. While egg donation is generally not painful, there are a few possible sensations and side effects you should be aware of.

Pre-Retrieval
The first major step in the egg donation procedure is to stimulate the ovaries with fertility medications to make them produce multiple eggs at once. These drugs are self-administered by the egg donor via a needle injection.

While needles make some people nervous and can cause mild physical discomfort, the needle used to administer these medications is very thin and shouldn’t cause you any significant pain. Furthermore, a nurse will be able to teach you the best way to self-administer the medications so that discomfort is reduced to a minimum.

It’s important to note that these drugs sometimes come with side effects. In most cases, these side effects are mild to moderate and can include bloating, breast tenderness, bruising at the injection site, mood swings, and/or an upset stomach.

Donors can also sometimes develop a case of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). In mild cases of OHSS, the symptoms can include cramping, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and ovary tenderness. These symptoms generally go away on their own after about a week.

However, in rare cases donors sometimes develop a more severe form of OHSS. Severe OHSS is characterized by more extreme symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, rapid weight gain, blood clots, shortness of breath, an enlarged abdomen, severe and persistent nausea, and vomiting.

OHSS can be very serious and may require hospitalization. Therefore, it’s important to report any symptoms to your doctor, even if they are mild or moderate in nature.

Egg Retrieval Day
Eggs are extracted from the ovaries using a technique called transvaginal oocyte retrieval. During this procedure, an ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina and used to guide a needle into an ovarian follicle. The needle is connected to a suction device, which is used to retrieve the eggs.

During this process, the donor is sedated and therefore doesn’t experience any pain or discomfort.

Afterward
As the sedatives wear off, donors typically feel groggy after the procedure is over and will need assistance getting home safely. It’s also common for donors to experience some mild cramping and light bleeding in the days that follow. These symptoms should go away within a few days but can last up to a week or more.

Learn More
While there are some risks and discomfort that can occur during the egg donation procedure, the process is generally painless and safe. It helps a lot if you know you’re working with a top-tier organization that will make your health and safety a priority throughout the entire process.

If you’re thinking about becoming an egg donor and have any questions about the procedure, please connect with the team at MyEggBank.

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