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How do I reassure my husband that donating eggs to my sister is a good idea?

24 replies

lotsofchoc · 22/02/2008 21:27

I've got through the first egg donor tests and the next step is counselling for me and my DH. I'm worried that if it doesn't go ok, I'll be told I'm not suitable, and bang goes my sister's hope of a family.

My husband has been very honest and has told me he would rather I didn't donate eggs to my sister. He is worried that my 2 children will be unhappy if I have new nephew/nieces who feel they have a special relationship with me. He has also said he doesn't feel comfortable about me "having a child with someone else". He is also concerned about the health risks for me.

I sympathise with his concerns but I don't agree with them (apart from the health risks). My kids would love more cousins, and my sister would 100% be the mum not me, I've always had that clear in my head. But I can't seem to give my DH my peace of mind.

Does anyone have any advice? What I really need is to get in touch with an egg donor's husband who was worried about it but is now really glad they went for it!

Any thoughts appreciated x

OP posts:
northshield · 22/02/2008 22:14

I think what you are thinking about doing for your sister is very kind BUT I do think that your husband and dc are also part of the equation and that you should only go ahead with your dh's support as egg donation is likely to change the dynamics between everyone in your family including your sister and bil.

PotPourri · 22/02/2008 22:18

Personally, I couldn't do it. What if they look really like you. It wouldn't be a case of them looking a bit like you, they would actually look LIKE you. And how would you feel if your sister wasn't doing things the way you would - this is inevitable in my view. And would the children themselves find out and then feel weird, who is their mum really??? I think you are a wonderful sister thinking about doing this, but agree with northshield - you need to be careful about the relationships dynamics- everyone affected really needs to be fully happy.

ProfessorGrammaticus · 22/02/2008 22:20

Yes I think there has to be agreement otherwise you may be setting up problems for the future - you need to talk through specifics with DH maybe, get an idea of his concerns in more detail? I would worry that if he feels railroaded, that in itself could be a problem for the future.

BoysOnToast · 22/02/2008 22:20

ooh, this is a toughie, eh?

i am in slightly diff position, in that i think my cousin may need a surrogate to carry a child for her at some point in the future... and for me it is a total no-brainer. i would do it without hesitation.

but having spoken to dp about it i was really quite surprised to hear his objections, and the force of his feelings on the subject. he objects on his own grounds and also on behalf of our dc... and like you, i see where hes coming from but disagree that it would be so difficult for them.

i really dont havce any answers since i havnt pushed the issue yet... but just wanted to post that i understand the position you find yourself in. tis diff to reconcile your own desire to help, and agreement to undergo physical and emotional Big Stuff, with possible objections and 'issues' of your own loved ones...

hope you find the peace and reconciliation you need - and good luck!

Heated · 22/02/2008 22:24

Although what you are doing is selfless, you do need to be a bit more selfish imo in safeguarding your relationship with dh. Something as emotive as egg donation can only go successfully ahead if all involved can see the benefits. I can't see you sister being happy if it threatens your marriage.

My aunt's married into a complex family of 3 adopted children, and the youngest was set to donate her eggs to the elder sister, but doubts set in but amongst precisely who I don't know, but I know it's been fraught for all concerned.

wannaBe · 22/02/2008 22:30

How would you feel if it was your dh donating sperm to someone in order that they get pregnant? Could you be happy knowing that someone else was bringing up your dh's biological child?

I think what you are doing is totally selfless, but this is not just about you and your sister, it's about your own family as well. Your children will have half siblings that are their cousins. do you intend to tell them that their cousins are actually their siblings?

it's really not that straightforward.

ib · 22/02/2008 22:36

Gosh, I'm really surprised at all the negative comments. I think it's a no brainer, but then again I would be extremely willing to donate some bone marrow or a kidney to a sibling as well...egg donation strikes me as pretty easy/uncontroversial in comparison. But I do accept there are risks, it's just that I think if you can't count on your family who can you count on?

One of my nephews looks very much like me and he's my sister's - we share a lot of our genes, so that's not particularly surprising. Equally ds has features that are more like my sister than like me.

I think it's lovely for nephews/nieces to have a special relationship with their aunts. I have a very special relationship with my nephew because I was there at his birth, and was the first person other than his mother to hold him - I don't see how this could possibly be an issue.

BoysOnToast · 22/02/2008 22:41

was gonna post; why is it no big deal that men can donate sperm and suddenly a Huge Issue to help ones own sister??

i disagree it would be slefless too. i would do it and would derive HUGE satisfaction and happiness from doing such a valued thing for someone i love deeply.

PotPourri · 22/02/2008 22:43

I wouldn't hesitate to donate bone marrow or kidney for my sister. But eggs, I just couldn't do it.

BoysOnToast · 22/02/2008 22:43

tis clearly a v emotive issue. all round.

cba · 22/02/2008 22:44

ib, i agree with you. you are sharing the most precious thing in life with your SISTER. if i was in your position i would do the same thing. ask dh to think about it from the perspective of one of your own siblings donating eggs to one another. You are donating the egg, only one half of the conception of already shared genes.

CaraStar · 22/02/2008 23:46

Wow I am surprised. Total no brainer for me too. I would and I am sure my sister would for me.
If I could give her the chance (she has 2 so doesn't need it) I would. And she already offered to me. I am not even at that stage yet but she loves me and wants me to experience what she has.

helenlouisey · 23/02/2008 12:11

Hi lotsofchoc - having experienced (or rather experiencing) infertility due to PCOS and Endometriosis, all I can say is donating eggs to your sister is an amazing and wonderful thing for you to do. If I was in your position I would donate eggs to my sister no question.

However I can also understand your husband's concerns and hopefully the counselling will enable you to consider and think about the various issues and how you will handle them.

Please don't be discouraged, I hope you managed to sort things out and get your husband on board as you will need his full support and help with this, otherwise it will effect your relationship.

Good luck and I hope it all works out ok.

Mumcentreplus · 23/02/2008 12:25

If I'm honest I have to say I wouldn't do it...a kidney yep..bone marrow ok...but eggs no way...a life is created and we are bringing it into a strange situation in pursuit of our own satisfaction...just doesn't sit right with me...but then I'm not in the situation...I wish you all the best

lotsofchoc · 24/02/2008 21:55

Thanks everyone for taking the time to post xxx

OP posts:
madcows · 28/02/2008 15:17

Don't know if you are still reading this thread... but thought I'd add my bit. I have recently been an egg donor to my sister and delighted to say that she is now pregnant. My dh had no problems with the idea of it, so I guess I was lucky. It is really important that you are all (ie all four of you) wanting the same things (in terms of whether you would tell the child, how it might or might not change the relationship etc.). It might be that in fact once you go through these sort of issues in detail (they should be dealt with by counselling) your h will be reassured about his concerns. Don't know if you have been to fertilityfriends - but there is a whole forum there for people who have been donors, and you might get some useful input there.

tempid · 28/02/2008 16:33

Hi lotsofchoc, just wanted to give you an alternative viewpoint.

My dh's brother has a genetic condition with means he has a zero sperm count. He and sil are desperate to have kids. They are soon eligible for IVF and were asked to consider whether they'd like to use a donor known to them or an anonymous one. They then asked my dh if he would consider it. Bil has another 3 brothers he could have asked but chose to ask dh.

I didn't know dh had been approached initially. Dh pretty much decided he'd like to help them, so he asked me if I'd be ok with the idea. I'll try to be as honest as I can about my thoughts.

Initially, I was overwhelmed with the 'jealousy' thoughts I had. I thought (and still do to some degree) that I'd be the only women to bear dh's children and I couldn't get my head around another women doing so, and the thought that my dh was so willing to allow this. It just seemed/seems so much to go against our exclusive relationship. Stepping aside from these major issues, I couldn't help but think about other practicalities. Eg, one of my ds looks very very similar to his cousin - they could be brothers. But obviously they are not, their dads are brothers. But what if bil/sil's baby (with dh's sperm) had a strong resemblence to my dc. (Btw, bil/sil have not told anyone else in the family about the struggle ttc, ivf and possible sperm donation). There would be all the 'oh doesn't he look like ds, they could be brothers' etc. It happens a lot now with just cousins, so I know it could happen with sperm donated half brothers. And how would we all cope with these comments. Another one is, we have 3 ds and have probably completed our family. I have no idea how I would feel if the donated sperm led to a girl. Or for that matter how dh would feel. It would be the girl he never had. Another major issue is that kids now are allowed to have information regarding donated sperm/eggs. So there would be an obligation to tell the child when older that s/he was borne through donation. And if s/he wanted they could find out that it was their uncle who 'fathered' them. I cannot envisage how this would affect the dynamics of the whole family, including gparents, my dc etc. In our situation bil/sil still do not want the family to know anything. I can't get my head around how we can all do the transition from nobody knowing to everyone (especially the child) knowing.

I am very aware I am looking at our situation from a very selfish stance. Dh on the other hand is being selfless and aultraistic. He tries to understand how I feel. And I think we know nothing would happen unless we were both completely happy. Dh told bil we need some more time to decide (I was pregnant at the time). Although dh is selfless, he's not very proactive and has never spoken again to bil about it. I think they are both waiting for each other to broach the subject. Meanwhile I had a heart to heart to bil. He told me that they also asked sil's sister's dh at the same time. He apparently has said yes. So the dilemma has been taken from our hands.

My first thought when I heard this? It was relief tbh. Swiftly followed by thoughts of 'so what's wrong with my dh's sperm then?' and 'my dh's sperm will be far superior and lead to more beautiful children'. In fact I felt a teeny bit indignant. This made me think some more about it, and ultimately I probably would have supported dh in helping his brother. But I probably would have wanted openness about it all within the family.

Sorry to be so rambling. Just wanted to give you an insight into being on the other side. Ultimately I think what you and my dh were/are prepared to do is genorosity in the absolute extreme and to be applauded. (I just feel uncomfortable with the 'my dh is fathering somebody else's child' thing.) Running away now, cos I know I'm a selfish cow.

MrsPuddleduck · 28/02/2008 16:48

I thought that was a really good post tempid.

lotsofchoc · 04/03/2008 21:25

Wow didn't expect to see any more messages here that is great!

madcows - thanks, its so lovely to hear a happy story! I have now posted a message fertilityfriends and found it really useful, will be good too if it all goes ahead ok and i want somewhere to moan about injections etc, thanks!

tempid - that's brilliant, great insight into what my dh might be thinking/feeling. Really appreciate you being so honest!

OP posts:
xxhunnyxx · 04/03/2008 21:39

Hey lotsofchoc only just seen this forum. Let us know what happens as egg donation is something I've thought about at times. I'm just affraid that one day I would see it as a child and not just an egg. It is a very tricky subject, but I think it is an amazing thing to do, as long as everyone involved is happy with it.

avocadobaby · 09/03/2008 15:12

Hey, new here. Can I just jump on this thread. My sister has asked me whether I'd consider donating and I initially responded positively - I know she'd be a fantastic mum. But, similar to lotsofchoc, my dh is v anti because of the effects on family dynamics. Is there anyone out there who has donated to their sister, and how did they find it?

avocadobaby · 09/03/2008 16:46

bump!

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 09/03/2008 16:49

Have only read the OP but I couldn't do something like that without my husband's 100% support.

lotsofchoc · 11/03/2008 22:05

Hi xxhunnyxx, the way I feel about it, I imagine it as a child, but not MY child. Perhaps easier with a known donation as I can so imagine my sister as a great mum (and I love being an auntie). But it isn't a trivial thing to go through physically/mentally.

Avacadobaby - its worth looking at fertilityfriends - there's a whole forum for egg/sperm donation, lots of interesting stuff. On the thread I started there's a really good post by a lady whose husband was asked to donate sperm - gives a real insight into the other side of the story.

Will keep you all posted, feel clearer having talked about it x

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