EGG DONATION.............. Anyone know?

[Kidstrack2]

Might just be me but i feel my eggs are going to waste,(what i actually mean is couples could be using them, couples who really need them) i have my own 2 children, not having anymore and i have about the next 25 or so years of mentrual cycles, could i be an egg donor, or am i living in coo coo land? I know its not easy because of the hormone injections and the endless trips to hospital to see about ovulating etc

Would strongly suggest you initially read the HFEA's website as this process is governed by them:-

www.hfea.gov.uk. There is a section on there marked For Donors.

Also be aware of something called hyper ovualtion stimualtion syndrome
As they encourage more eggs per cycle, it cna lead to early menopause
I also looked into it, but some of the side effects really frightened me.

You might be able to be (depends on your age and FSH level) but it really isn't anything to be taken on lightly, it does involve a lot of homrone drugs and medical intervention. Having said that, if you could bear to do it, you would be giving hope to some very desperate people.

it's an incredible thing to do for someone, i met an egg donor once, who'd been through ivf herself (unsuccessfully) and felt strongly she wanted to give something back to the system which had tried to help her.

it's also no longer anonymous.

mmm early menopause i could do without, off to research, thanks everyone

Piffle can you give me a reference for this please? TIA.

Hyper Stimulation

Ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a syndrome that can occur in the luteal phase following the use of gonadotropins (and rarely after clomiphene). Following the development of multiple follicles, multiple corpora lutea develop. As a result of this, the ovaries enlarge, usually to an insignificant level but sometimes to as much as eight or ten centimeters or more. The extent of enlargement is proportional to the number of corpora lutea present and can be somewhat predicted by the level of estradiol prior to hCG administration at the time of ovulation. Most women on gonadotropins will experience some symptoms of hyper stimulation with bloating and some ovarian tenderness being common. These symptoms are usually mild—you may want to wear baggy sweat pants rather tight jeans and may not feel like going to aerobics class. But usually normal activity can be pursued.

More severe hyper stimulation is uncommon and is more likely to occur when these medications are intentionally used to achieve the development of more than just a few follicles (such as in an ART procedure). In severe hyper stimulation, the ovaries are very enlarged, and fluid may accumulate in the abdominal cavity. Women may experience bloating, difficulty breathing, weight gain and decreased urine output.

Although unusual, this can require hospitalization for management until the ovaries begin to return to normal size. If a woman does not conceive in a cycle using gonadotropins, the ovaries will return to normal quickly after the period begins. If pregnancy does occur, it may take several weeks for the ovaries to return to their normal size.

Oh sorry - should have been more specific! I have had OHSS (hospitalized for four days), but wondered about the early menopause bit?

If you get the info fromt he HFEA website on clinics that do egg donor treatments, you can call your nearest one and they will set you right.

The whole thing will take about 7 or 8 weeks of hormones - could be a sniffer plus injections, or just injections. Beforehand, you will have to have a set of blood tests for things like HIV, HepB+C, FSH, LH, prolactin, progesterone (maybe) and a couple more. You'll need to go in for scans, and towards the end when you're doing the stimulating injections (once a day) then you could be going in daily. It's quite a big committment in terms of time. Once the eggs are there, you'll go in for minor surgery to remove them: mine was done by inserting a collecting needle through the vaginal wall to the ovary. You will be under heavy sedation though...I have no memory whatsoever of it (thankfully!)

The way the law stands, when any resulting child reaches 18, he/she has the legal right to know your name and the address at which you lived at the time of donation. It is not handed over just like that, the child would be counselled through this in some way. Of course, they will be able to trace you probably quite easily...

People worry about half-siblings meeting and marrying/having children: basically, if the child knows he/she was conceived as the result of donated gametes or embryos, they can check with the HFEA to find out if their intended partner is related to them. (I think they get a yes/no answer rather than your details if it's a yes.)

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (ohss) is a risk, albeit relatively rare, but bear in mind that there are differing degrees of it and clinics are on the lookout, you will be given information on symptoms, called to see if you're ok, and advised to drink loads in any case. OHSS can happen, but the very serious, death-inducing degree is extremely rare and I think the last time it happened the clinic was sued because they didn't respond to the woman's worries, ie were negligent. TBH I had heard it could cause ovarian scarring but I didn't know about premature menopause. I haven't heard that one.

I have a friend with twins from donor eggs and went to donate myself (they wouldn't let me because I'm still holding out for another baby). It would be a wonderful thing to do.

Hat's off to all you brave donors. It's not something I could do, especially if they could find out who I am.

I did consider donating to a gay couple, but we were going to parent together. In the end, however, they decided to foster first.

Is there an age limit for donating?

I think the age limit is 35.

I have had the preliminary stages of OHSS. It's not pleasant, but the risk is fairly low.

I am afraid that the change in the law regarding anonymity will put so many women off.

It's a lovely thing to do if you feel you can.

mmm lots involved, i would still love to donate,but maybe not right now, maybe when kids are older more for the fact i need to look after kids so when they are a bit older i can attend appts at hospital and of course any complications. its weird you should say that pruni about being genetically connected because i was thinking the same i.e two receiptents of eggs from same donor and then their children meet up kinda thing, (my mother nearly dated her half brother when they were teenagers from another village up the road, turned out my grandfather had an affair nearly same time as my mother was conceived, my gran new this but didnt tell her children as she felt they didn't need to know what their father had done, and when my mum brought home her new said friend my gran had to explain to them both that they were half brother and sister)

I'm in the process of trying to donate eggs to my sister. Unfortunately I am a little older than they would have preferred but there are just no egg donors around and I was the best chance my sister had. So far we've had one aborted cycle and are going to try again. The process is not easy but not awful either. It would be a really great thing to donate eggs anonymously and I can't express how much it could help the many couples who might otherwise face the reality that they will never be able to have a child. I so totally adore my two children that it makes me really sad to think that my sister may never be able to experience this love.