Egg retrieval

[LouLou0505]

A few years ago, I started a thread called ”I donated my eggs, AMA”

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/4715888-i-donated-my-eggs-ama?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Anyway, I thought it was a great thread and I got some insight into other people’s experiences.

In short, my own was very traumatic. I am almost 7 years to the day of my donation and I still struggle.

Since that thread I’ve been diagnosed with endo outside of my uterus and I suffer terribly with anxiety.

I have emetophobia which doesn’t help with my anxiety but my anxiety since the egg donation is different.

I feel like my brain is wired differently, I’m truly a different persons

I’m going to try CBT again as I think I may have PTSD from the donation.

But my question is, has anyone who has gone through an egg retrieval suffered long term after?

You say in that thread you subsequently had a successful pregnancy, are you sure it's related time wise to the egg donation? I don't think what you are describing is very common either way and lots of other potential explanations

OP, I’m so sorry. A lot of selfish people take what they want from women and don’t care one bit about the aftermath. Sadly, there is little to no care or research into the women who have been paid for their eggs or have given them through charity. You deserve better.

@Whatatodo79- I certainly have different anxieties since having my child, however my brain feels like it’s wired differently since the egg donation. Personality wise, I’m very different too. I was carefree and a social butterfly and then from the minute I had the retrieval a switch went!

I think I need some serious unpacking in therapy 😂 if I don’t laugh I’ll cry

@Delphinium20- bless you, sadly I think you are correct. Although just to add, I wasn’t paid for my eggs I received £750 in expenses just to be clear 😅 as some people run away with that. It’s illegal to be paid for eggs etc in the UK 😂

Is there anyway for you to find out if you have children from the egg donation? I think that would really help you work out how you feel. Again, I'm very sorry. I think they take advantage of women who are young and have never had babies - I don't think that should ever be allowed: to donate or sell eggs if you've never had your own children. You just have no idea how you'll feel about parenthood until you go through it!

@Delphinium20- finding out won’t make any difference, that doesn’t phase me at all now. When I found out one of the rounds didn’t work I was devastated for them so I didn’t find out about the second one.

In hindsight, I should have noticed how excited the clinic was that I was young and willing to do this. Because I agree, unless you know for sure you don’t want children at all.. you should never be allowed to donate before you have your own. I was aware of the standard risks but what I didn’t know about was OHSS, how brutal the procedure can actually be (they told me it would feel like a smear test - although I wasn’t even old enough for one!) I’ve had manyyyy examinations and scans etc due to cysts so I’m really not phased at all but any of that, but what I went through in that “theatre” is like nothing I’ve experienced before. Truly, I’d rather have another emergency c-section 😅 and that’s saying something!!