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I can't use my own eggs? Now what?

To the dwellers within the world of infertility, the struggle I immagine is a life altering one. How one comes to acceptance that they cannot continue their exact lineage through their own means must be devastating.

There's the woman who always wanted to give her husband the gift of his own child so she can relish in the biological wonder that ties them. So, the doctor tells you your eggs are not viable. What do you do now?

Up to this point many have suffered heart breaking miscarriages that have taken a toll on emotions and willingness to push forward. But some do find the strength, pick themselves up and search for alternative means.

When one cannot sail down the river of conventianal methods for child bearing they turn to third party reproduction, or IVF. There are many reasons a couple may turn to egg donation. Factors include egg quality often due to age or other issues, historecomys, cancer, or hereditary diseases.
Egg Donation is the process whereby a healthy, non smoking woman, ages 18-32 opts to give her eggs to a woman who cannot use her own. The process of selection for an egg donor for an intended mother is never an easy one. She faces having to choose from physical characteristics, personality traits, health history, and ethnic heritadge. Most importantly she can only hope that the donor is being truthful about her health, sexual history or drug use. She is chosing the woman whose traits will be genetically passed onto her own potential offspring. It is a tough decision to make, but once a woman comes to terms with using donor eggs the process of selecting an egg donor is under way.

IP's (short for Intended Parents) can find a donor independently or choose from available donors via a clinic or agnecy. In addition, parents can opt see pictures of possible donors or not. Often times IP's will use the help of an agency which has several different profiles of potential egg donors to browse through. In these profiles one can usually find several pictures of the prospective donor, medical information, education, family history, personality information, hobbies, etc...

The qualities which draw an IP to a potential donor vary. Some wish to chose a donor whose physical charactoristics match that of the IM. Others seek high intelligence, while others lean towards personality, ethnicity, or even religion.
Most of the time, however, once a set of IP's has found their donor they know in their hearts that "She's the one".

The other option for IP's is to use a donor from their clinics donor pool. Most clinics use anonymous donors and do not reveal photos of the donor to the IP's. In these instances the parents rely on their clinic to chose a donor for them based on the desired qualities the parents have expressed. Some Parents prefer this so as not to make any mental or emotional connection to their donor and their potential offsprings physical traits or charactoristics.

No matter the method (pictures or anonymous) almost all donors and IP's maintain their identity from one another. Usually if one parties identity is revealed to the other the cycle is cancelled. In few cases however, IP's have met with their egg donors, if the egg donor agrees.
Once a match is made the donor and the IM's cycles are synced up, usually via birth control. It is important that Egg Donors realize the importance of reliability and the amount of involvment required of her during her cycle.

The process:

An egg donor will undergo an initial screening which is very thorough and time consuming. The first visit is to ensure that a young lady qualifies to donate her eggs. She is tested for communicable diseases, blood type, and possible heriditary diseases. An ultrasound is done to view the uterus and ovaries to make sure everything looks 'normal'. A Urine Test is done to ensure that the donor does not make use of recreational drugs or any other substances which would affect the eggs. Most clinics will also make you go through an extensive mental evaluation to make sure you're able to make the decision of being an egg donor as well as to evaluate mental health.

Assuming everything comes back normal the process is under way. She will sign contracts from counsel assigned to her which will outline her rights and obligations to the process, agreed upon compensation amounts, and that she has no rights or obligations to any potential resultant offspring. Any violation of the contract will constitute a breach and the cycle will be cancelled. In some instances the Donor can and will be liable for any monies the IP's have lost up to this point. Contracts are essential to protect all parties involved.

The first step is usually a birth control regimen for a minimum of three weeks. At a time when the clinic instructs (which could be weeks or months from the onset of birth control use) she will start taking self administered subcutaneous injections at home in the abdomen or intramuscular in the upper thigh. The dosage and types of medications differ from individual to individual as well as from clinic to clinic. These medications cause the donor to produce a larger number of eggs than what she would normally produce. The injections last on average one to two weeks and the donor is advised to abstain from sexual intercourse during this time.

The first stage of injections is ovulation suppression so the doctor can control when your ovaries release eggs. Commonly, Lupron (generic luprolide), is perscribed for ovulation suppression. The second stage of injections is follicle stimulation which causes more follicles to mature than normally would. Each follicle normally contains a single egg. Common FSH (follicle stimulating homones) are Menopure and Follistem and are usually administered to overlap ovulation suppresion agents to allow the doctor to continue to control ovulation. During the follicle stimulation phase you will visit the clinic, on average, every other day. You must be willing and able to give yourself self administered injections for approximatly 20 days. You will have blood draws at each visit to measure FSH levels as well several ultrasounds to monitor the growth and maturation of the follicles. At a time the clinicians deem you to be 'ready' they will schedule you for retrieval.

Once a retrieval time has been established you be instructed to take an HCG (Human Chronic Gonadotropin) injection, more commonly known as the 'trigger' shot. You must take this at the exact time instructed since your procedure will be scheduled exactly 36 - 38 hours later.
For the retrieval procedure the donor is usually placed under a light anesthesia in which she is comfortably sleeping. The doctor will then use a needle to puncture the follicles and aspirate the eggs. The number of eggs and quality of eggs retrieved also varies from girl to girl. However, most embryologists will tell you that the goal is quality over quantity.

Within a few hours the eggs are mixed with the IF's (Intended Father's) sperm or injected with high quality sperm to be fertalised. Once the Egg and Sperm meet it is then referred to as an embryo. The embryos are then incubated in a lab for a three to five days and monitored for quality and maturation. Once they're ready the doctor will implant two or three high quality blastocysts into the IM's uterus where hopefully implantation will take place.

Will I use up all my eggs?

I've been asked by many hopeful donors if donating her eggs will 'use up' all of her eggs. The answer is no. A healthy female is born with millions of eggs which of course do not mature until puberty. Many of these eggs die off prior to puberty leaving a girl with approximatly 400,000 eggs during her fertile years. During the course of her fertility even thousands of these eggs will fall off and only one or two will mature each month. The average number of eggs produced during a donor cycle can range anywhere from 15 to 30. In a small percentadge of cases a girl can produce 50 or more oocytes.

Among these eggs retrieved quality will vary and IP's are usually left with only a percentadge of high quality blastocysts to work with that have the potential of creating a pregnancy. While fertility medications do cause more eggs to mature than normal it will never use up all of the eggs leaving you with none for future pregnancies.

After the procedure

After the retrieval procedure the donor should stay off her feet for a period of 24 hours and will then take antibiotics to make sure she does not encounter any infection from the procedure.
It is important that you have someone to help you with daily chores during your recovery time. Stay rested, eat protein, and stay hydrated.

Compensation... the buzz word

While the compensation is normally the enticing factor in a womans choice to donate her eggs (normally $4k - $5k for first time donors, increased for proven or high calibour donors) it is not the only reason behind most girls decision to give the gift of life.

Some may have seen a sister, an aunt, or a close friend struggle with infertility which may have inspired them to donate to another couple in need. Most donors are left with a feeling of self worth, selflessness, and the wonderful knowledge that they did a good deed for another human being.

As with any medical procedure there are risks involved, so make sure you talk to your clinic and do a lot of research to decide if egg donation is right for you.

THIS BLOG SPONSORED BY http://www.aboutdonors.com/

A free social Network for egg donors, intended parents, and the curious!