Egg donation: what's involved

[amidaiwish]

Does anyone have any experience or know what's involved in donating eggs to a family member? (from the donor's perspective).

There is a policy for every hospital about egg donation....they will have a copy of it if you request it.

Egg donation to a family member is the same (practically) as donating to a non family member. However, as part of this policy...you have to receive counselling (donor and recipient and there partners) and there may be more ethical areas to discuss.

Did you want to know the practical steps too????

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yes, the practical steps - what's involved, side effects of hormone treatment, how grim the hormone treatment really is etc...

will do search Pruni - thanks. what was your experience?

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amidawish, I am due to start IVF on this coming Wednesday and I have a friend that is donating her eggs to me..... hope the following helps?!

1. both donor and recip have an appointment to see consultant to have all procedure explained and risks and poss side effects.

2. Both parties and partners have 3 sessions with counsellor (1 with recip and partner, 1 with donor and partner and 1 all together) They are assessing that you are prepared.

3. Recip and donor have lots of bloods done for loads of tests.

4. Wait for blood tests to come back (about 6-10 weeks)Once they are back and all is ok with them the procedure starts.

5. You have to wait for the donors 21 day of her cycle, then the recip and donor attend hospital for a scan each and the drug therapy starts... they give both parties 'shutting down' drugs which puts you into premature menopause for 2 weeks. Then the donor gets stimulating drugs and the recip gets drugs to make the lining of her uterus get ready for the embryo for 7-14 days

6.Then egg retreval under sedation, the eggs are instantly mixed with the sperm and they go into incubator for 48 hrs.... then 2 are transfered into the recips uterus.

7. When all this is happening the donor and recip go for a series of quick scans to make sure the drugs are going their jobs

8. Side effects of the drugs are bloating, headaches, mood swings, weight gain and hot flushes.... but not everyone gets them!

9. After the whole procedure the donors ovaries and reproductive system goes back to normal again

10 from start to finish all this takes about 3 months.. the actual procedure takes about 4-6 weeks.

PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the longest post every!

thanks tempi - that's really useful.
those side effects sound horrible, i was terribly ill and nauseous with my 2 pg's so am likely to be a nightmare!

do you know how important it is for the donor to have "finished" their family? i'm 34 and have 2 DDs (3.5 and nearly 2). I think i am done but dh would like another - we've agreed to wait for a couple of years.

Also is 35 a fixed cut off?

Best wishes for your forthcoming IVF too.

They do say they would like you to have maybe finished your family.... but our consultant... said that does,nt matter. Your fertility system should go back to normal after a few months.

The cut off is sometimes different in different hospitals. Mine.... the cut off was 35, but my consultant said that if I know my donor..... then its 37.

I agree with you about all the side effects...... but it is only for 1 month!

Hi there,
Bit late to follow up- but only just saw your message. I am in the process of becoming an egg donor for my sister. Cut-off is usually 35, but they'll go over this for family members (at least our clinic will). I'm writing a diary about the process, if you are interesed - look here. I have completed my family (and have one of each) so that was easy.
All the best with it!