To ask about egg donation while breastfeeding?

[pjani]

My sister has struggled with infertility and has had no luck with IVF. Egg quality is one of the issues sadly.

I’m nearly 37 and she’s just turned 40. I am open to donating eggs but want to do it soon as I) surely my own egg quality must be getting poorer 2) I’m on maternity leave so can travel to our home country and stay as needed and 3) I want to start trying for another baby soon myself.

But I’m still bfing my six month old DS. I can’t ask her to link me up with her clinic to ask questions as she’s having a very hard time right now.

So does anyone know:

• could I still be breastfeeding while donating eggs (I’m guessing not, and am fine with that as was planning to wind down soon anyway)

• do I need to have my period back before donating eggs?

Any other information or advice about egg donation would be gratefully received.

Thanks...

I think you’re too old. I’m sure you have to be 35 or under...

www.altrui.co.uk/giving-eggs/becoming-an-egg-donor/who-can-be-an-egg-donor/

Yup, sorry. This will be a non-starter for you.

You can't donate anonymously over 35, and I know some clinics won't let you donate to a relative over 35 either - their reputations are built on their success statistics and it's not in their interests to bring those down, so I can see why. I'd think you might be able to find one that would, but it's definitely a consideration.

Can you not go along to a clinic and ask? Or there's a donor conception board on MN where I guess people might know, though for obvious reasons most of us are receiving not giving.

Yes unfortunately you are too old, and also donating eggs is not a simple process - it’s nearly a full IVF cycle and a lot of drugs and tests.

Helpful warnings! This would not be done in the UK but in my home country (think Australia/NZ) where the guidance looks a bit softer... ‘ideally under 35’. I will call a clinic ASAP though and thank you for the heads up.

I know it’s a big commitment but would do anything to help my sister.

Does anyone know about egg donation while breastfeeding/if you need your period back though?

You're too old to donate anonymously, as others say, but they will let you donate to your sister (if you pay sufficient amount and are aware of lower probability of a successful outcome). But I would go for it, it is a very nice gesture. You do share 50% of your genes with your sister and her children will be almost biologically hers.

What an amazing thing you are thinking of doing for your sister. You may not be too old to donate to your sister, the clinic I work at would do tests of your ovarian reserve then take it from there. You do need to have stopped breastfeeding and it is likely you'll need to have had a period just so the tests are reliable.
These tests determine what dose of drugs you might need to stimulate your ovaries so are important, and some of the drugs affect milk supply so hence need to stop BF.
HTH

It’s an amazing thing you’re thinking of doing op, but have you read much into the mechanics of egg donation (apologies if you have, don’t want to sound patronising)??

It’s not very nice and can be quite hard on you physically, with risks including ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome which can be quite serious - I say this as a veteran of four egg collection procedures for ivf😣. My sisters both offered bless them, but I couldn’t put them enough it.

Your sis is c lucky to have you x