Fertility Road Issue 14

F E R T I L I T Y R O A D
E G G D O N A T I O N E X P L A I N E D
How long will it take to plan my donor
program and what should my first step be?
Typically, a two month period is required to plan a donor
program. As menstrual cycles can be manipulated, the timing can
really be planned to the recipient’s specifications. Usually donor
programs are planned within a three month period, but with the
consent of all parties, planning can extend beyond this time frame.
So after the egg donor’s screening, recipients can be given exact
dates to allow appropriate planning arrangements to be made.
Is egg donation expensive, what are the costs
for egg donation and what does this cover ?
In addition to a regular IVF fee, additional costs for egg
donation include screening assessments (psychological and
medical) for the egg donor, ultrasounds for egg donors to assess
egg development (this is in addition to the uterine assessment
scans performed on the egg recipient), donor donation (which is
commonly a fixed amount paid via the fertility clinic), possible
donor travel costs (depending on the donor’s situation) and donor
agency fees (to facilitate the egg donor program). Essentially egg
donation is a very viable, feasible and affordable solution.
Do I need to be medically confirmed to receive donor
eggs and if so where do I go to get the required tests?
To optimise the process for egg donation, women as recipients
of donor eggs should have necessary medical tests. Men, whose
sperm will be fertilising the eggs, should also have specific tests
done. Recipients can submit required medical results to fertility
specialists in person or online to confirm that their body is in an
optimal space to receive donor eggs.
Do I need to worry about the legal requirements
and contractual obligations in the donor process?
No, a professional egg donation agency will take care of any
such details and ensures compliance with the legalities of the
country as well as any governing guidelines.
I've read online that I need to match my blood
group to that of the egg donors, is this correct?
No, matching of blood types does not influence the outcome
at all. Blood groups are really provided for information purposes
so that recipients have access to all information.
Will and I meet my egg donor, is it
possible to send my donor a message?
No, egg donation is usually completely anonymous and
confidential. The egg donor will not be able to trace the egg
donation. In keeping with the anonymity, only childhood pictures
of the donors, up to the age of 10 are provided. Unfortunately
some egg donors do not have access to these, so no pictures will
be available. The egg donor’s responsibility and participation ends
on the day of egg retrieval with the full understanding that no
further involvement is required, Most agencies are happy to pass
on message, as long they remain anonymous.
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What screening is carried out on an egg donor,
are there both physical and psychological tests?
Full psychological assessments, blood tests and an internal
ultrasound are performed. Hormonal blood levels are tested to
confirm the egg donors’ suitability to produce good quality eggs,
in addition HIV status is also checked. If a recipient elects for a
donor to be tested for other aspects these can be undertaken.
Professional egg donor agents do not recruit donors to their
database if they have a medical history of predisposition to genetic
disorders such as club foot, haemophilia, bipolar illness, etc.
How do I select an egg donor, what should
I be looking for, can I get help with this?
Refer to the online egg donor database and consider what is
important to you. For some recipients physical match is
important. Other recipients elect to match personality, interests,
academic, religious or other aspects. At the end of the day this is a
personal decision and recipients are encouraged to be guided by
their heart to select the right egg donor. The egg donor agent
should be willing to assist with recommendations.
Will I be able to breastfeed if I receive donor eggs,
there is conflicting opinion on the internet?
Of course recipients can and are encouraged to breastfeed.
Other than the recipient’s ovary not producing the egg, all
aspects about the pregnancy are the same. Breastfeeding actually
encourages further bonding and provides the new infant with all
required nutrition to start life.
Should I select an egg donor with proven fertility,
i.e. a donor who has donated successfully before?
A careful screening of the ovarian reserve of the egg donor is
more important than their fertility history. It is not necessary to
select an egg donor who has a history of fertility; these facts are
provided for information only. Every woman is different and
every cycle is different. Egg donors may respond differently to
artificial stimulation than to natural fertility.
What happens if my egg donor is found not
suitable, what are my options if this is the case?
It may happen the egg donor is declined psychologically and
or medically and these aspects can only be confirmed at the
time of such professional assessments. These screenings are
controls to give the recipient the very best of chance of
conception with donor eggs. In the event of the donor not being
advised to proceed, the egg donation agency will assist you in
finding a new egg donor or you as the recipient can select a new
egg donor from the database.
Would my egg donor donate continuously, is there
a limit or can they donate as many time as they wish?
No, egg donors donate a maximum of 6 times or to the extent
that 6 children are conceived of egg donation.
Jenny Currie is founder and owner of dynamic egg donation
agency baby2mom. For more information about egg donation in
South Africa please visit www.baby2mom.co.za
44 | WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM |
APRIL - MAY 2013