15 Aug 2023 What’s Really Involved When Donating Your Eggs?
Egg donors have helped thousands of intended parents fulfill their dreams of parenthood. According to a study of prospective egg donors published in the Oxford Academic Journals, 98 percent of participants expressed that altruism played a significant role in their decision to donate eggs. Financial compensation ranked second, with 81.32 percent of the participants saying it was significant in their decision, and the desire to pass on their genetic material ranked third with 23.08 percent of participants. A full 20 percent of those motivated by altruism knew someone struggling with infertility.
To view an egg donor recruiting ad, you might think that all the process entails is showing up at a clinic for a visit and walking away with thousands of dollars in compensation, but the egg donation process is far more complex and demanding than the egg donor recruiting ads portray. The ideal egg donors are women aged 18 to 30, so the ads are prevalent in social media and “smart marketing” campaigns. Egg donor recruiting ads can often gloss over the reality of what it means to be an egg donor and what the process entails, and there’s certainly not enough space in an ad to explain the depth of what’s truly involved. In a quick search on social media, an ad on Instagram with a picture of a young woman wearing a backpack states, “Become an egg donor and earn between $5,000 - $60,000.” Other ads offer an “opportunity of a lifetime” and the chance to “give the ultimate gift.” Yet another ad states, “Get a financial boost. Give the gift of parenthood.”
Although these are examples of actual ads, becoming an egg donor should not be solely based on financial or altruistic motivations but should be combined with a comprehensive understanding of the physical, mental, legal, and long-term impacts that may arise during and after the donation process. As stated by the Society for Ethics for Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS), a nonprofit organization working to define and promote ethical standards for egg donation and surrogacy, an egg donor recruiting advertisement “shall be considered coercive if undue emphasis is placed on monetary incentive” to the donor.
There are many reputable egg donor agencies – companies that are FDA, HIPAA, and ASRM compliant, who have a solid history in the fertility community of caring for an egg donor’s best interests, and who are highly rated by their peers, doctors, lawyers, and psychologists who work in this area, and even the Better Business Bureau. Women who desire to become an egg donor should seek out one of these agencies, and they should explore the possibility of becoming a donor armed with the facts.
What the Egg Donation Process Is Really Like
To become an egg donor, there are many steps to complete over the course of a few months, and as correctly noted in Very Well Family, egg donation is an invasive medical procedure that can take a physical and emotional toll on the donors. Before the donation can even occur, there will be testing to see if a potential donor qualifies. This will involve filling out questionnaires including the donor’s medical history, fertility and gynecological exams, transvaginal ultrasounds, blood work, a psychological assessment, genetic testing, and testing for sexually transmitted diseases. After the initial set of tests, if a donor qualifies, there will be weekly doctor appointments, daily injections of fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries to release more eggs (usually 20-30), and finally, a surgical procedure in which a needle is used to retrieve the eggs.
Egg Donation May Pose Side Effects
Although the surgical procedure itself is quick, usually around 20 to 30 minutes, there may be side effects both during and after the egg donation. Nausea, bloating, cramps, and headaches are all common side effects. “You are extremely hormonal,” says Ellie Asquith, a 19-year-old egg donor in the UK who decided to donate her eggs after seeing an advertisement on Instagram, in INEWS. “I had bad cramps for two weeks while I was doing the injections. Then, on the way to the clinic to get the eggs extracted, you look about three months pregnant. I was so bloated. I had this little bump. When I came around after the operation, I wanted to cry. I felt stressed out. I was very overwhelmed.” She says the process was harder than expected but does not regret her decision to help other families have a child.
Although rare, there is also the possibility of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), a swelling of the ovaries that can lead to serious medical problems including blood clots. Of course, these side effects do not apply to all donors. Many donors have very mild side effects, but it is something to be aware of when going through the donor process. It takes time and can take a physical toll.
Egg Donation May Also Present Psychological Challenges in the Future
Becoming an egg donor is not a decision to make in haste or for a “quick buck.” It is something that requires time; time to consider the scope of what becoming an egg donor means, including psychological challenges a donor may face in the present and in the future. Dr. Diane Tober, associate professor at the University of Alabama Department of Anthropology and Institute for Social Science Research, has been researching egg donors’ decisions and experiences in the global market with a focus on the commodification of human genetic material and well-being of the egg donors since 2003. In an article in INEWS, she relays stories where some donors she’s spoken to have expressed remorse and regret. Reputable egg donor programs require psychological screening and counseling for potential egg donors to make sure they are an appropriate candidate, and that they are making an informed decision. It is not only important to think about the process of egg donation but also what the future holds. An egg donor will be helping another family have a child, but that child will share a genetic connection with the donor.
In the U.S., a patchwork of laws governing the rights of donors, and donor-conceived people vary from state to state, but in the U.K., a law has come into effect this year stating that any child resulting from sperm or egg donations will receive their donor’s information upon their 18th birthday (Colorado passed a similar law in June of 2022 and became the first state to do so). As technology evolves, DNA testing kits gaining popularity, and children growing up with internet access, the days of anonymity may be gone altogether as we reported in April. A donor-conceived child may very well find and contact the donor at some point in their lives, making counseling an important part of the egg donation process.
Legal Considerations for Becoming an Egg Donor
There are also legal aspects to consider when becoming an egg donor. It is important to note that it is illegal to pay a donor for her eggs as it is considered the selling of human tissue. The compensation to an egg donor is for the time and inconvenience of the process and procedure. Seeking legal counsel can help with questions that may arise when making the decision to donate. How much is the compensation for time spent being a donor? When will the donor be paid for her time? Will this be an open or closed donation? Will there be any contact with any resulting donor-conceived children? Who will pay for the donor’s medical expenses? Will the donor be required to give any health updates in the future? These are only a few aspects of the donor process that should be considered and addressed in an egg donation agreement. Most clinics and agencies will require the parties to have written agreements in place, so seeking legal advice before signing any contracts will ensure all parties involved are represented fairly and that they understand their rights and obligations before proceeding.
If you are considering becoming an egg donor, thank you! You are essential to the process of assisted reproduction, and we are here to help answer any questions that you might have, so please contact us. We are happy to help you and to make sure your interests are protected.
