Do I have to pay anything to become an egg donor?
No. All screening, medication, monitoring, retrieval, follow-up, and travel related to egg donation are the responsibility of The World Egg and Sperm Bank.
What are the risks and side effects of egg donation?
Your health and safety are our top priority throughout the egg donation process. To donate, we provide you with medication to stimulate your ovaries to mature more than the typical one egg per month that you normally mature. The side effects of medications are similar to premenstrual symptoms. You will probably feel some fatigue and bloating. You are extremely fertile during this time; if you have sex, your risk of pregnancy and multiple babies significantly increases. We advise you to abstain from sex during the month you donate. The risk of infection is always a possibility with any procedure; however, it is virtually negligible. As a heightened safety precaution, we will administer antibiotics during your egg retrieval to help decrease this risk. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is an extremely rare complication that can occur after egg retrieval.
Will I run out of eggs if I donate?
No. Your future supply of eggs is not affected by egg donation. When you experience menopause later in life, you still have eggs, just not the ability to mature them. The eggs that are retrieved during your donation are the same ones that would have either ovulated or been absorbed by your body on their own. Each month, you lose up to 1000 eggs in a natural cycle, even though only one egg is naturally matured for fertilization. Through the donation process, we are able to rescue some of those eggs that would be otherwise lost.
Can I donate my eggs if I am using birth control or my tubes are tied?
You can donate your eggs if you are on birth control pills/ring/patch or have an IUD. You can also donate if you have had a tubal ligation. Other types of birth control, such as Depo Provera, Nexplanon, Implanon have to be discontinued before being eligible to donate.
Can I donate my eggs if I am breast feeding or have given birth recently?
After you have given birth and are finished breast feeding you need to have 2 normal periods (not counting the bleeding immediately after giving birth). Once you have two normal menstrual cycles, you are eligible to begin the donation process.
Can I donate my eggs if I am adopted?
Being adopted does not disqualify you from donating your eggs. However, you will need to know the medical history of your biological parents and grandparents in order to complete your initial application.