Has anyone been a volunteer egg donor? I'm seriously thinking about it.

[basilbrush]

Hello ladies - having completed my family last year and being relatively young and healthy, I am seriously considering "giving somthing back" as it were and donating some eggs to my local clinic.

Does anyone have any advice? I've read all the bumpf they sent me and am aware of the physical risks which seem to be possible increased risk of ovarian cancer longterm and damage to bowel / bladder / other organs during egg retreival as well as your body overeacting to the ovualuation stimulating drugs.

DH is mainly concerned about these factors but I think these risks are all pretty small and I wouldn't have to be having cycles and cycles of egg retrevial like women who are trying to get pregnant.

My concerns are more concerned with an 18 year old turning up on my doorstep one day as you can no longer donate anonymously. Obviously you are not their parent in a legal or emotional sense but gentically you still are and that is complicated. I think I could deal with it but would my DC or DH be able to?

Anyway, I suppose it's pretty unlikely as the chances of your eggs actually being successfully fertilised and then transferred are quite slim - isn't only about 25%?

I would love any advice from ladies who have donated or to hear from people whose lives were changed by receiving an egg, it might be the final push I need to sign up

BB xx

bump for basil

Hi there! I've not received an egg yet, but am on the waiting list. I was told the chances of success were 40%!

You cant donate anyway until you've had counselling from the clinic. It should be useful in helping you decide. You should also ask for some more details about the risks if you are worried. If you decide against it you shouldn't feel bad, you should do whats best for you.

Basil, I wasn't able to be an egg donor as I was too old in the end, but I've had 3 cycles of IVF so know about the procedure.

I read a recent study that said they have now found that the risk of ovarian cancer is no higher after IVF than it is for those women who have not had this procedure so hopefully that should put your mind at rest on that point.

I know many, many women who have had IVF (through internet forums) and I know of no one who has had bowel/organ perforation, but I do know of a few who've had ovarian hyper-stimulation, which is something that's worth exploring with your clinic. They should monitor you closely to reduce the risks.

Having said all that, I think it is a wonderful thing to do and hope that you explore it further. I know several women who have children from donor eggs and the joy they have brought them is immeasurable.

Hi Basil,

I donated eggs last year. To be honest I was surprised at how easy the injections and everything were. Physically the only side effects for me were a seriously bloated tummy and I put on a few pounds (which I haven't lost but that may be due to my eating habits )

I had the counselling which for me personally wasn't particularly helpful as I knew in my mind that I wanted to do it. But I think they can raise issues you may not have thought of.

I just tried to imagine how I would feel if I was in the position of needing donor eggs and hope that someone would do the same for me if that makes sense.

It wasn't successful for the couple I donated for, they are hoping to have FET next week so fingers crossed.

Any other questions then let me know, I'll see if I can help. I am really glad I did it and may do it again in the future. There are a couple of others on here who have donated who may be able to help you too.

muffins x

Hi there,
I was an egg donor late 2007 to my sister, and my niece is now about 7 months old! It was a great thing to do, and I'm really glad I was able to. I found it very easy, and like Muffins had few side effects. I wrote a diary (under the name of c l u c k c l u c k) on fertilityfriends - you might want to look at the DOnors thread there. (I did it partly because I found very little on line from the perspective of donors).
I was on the old side (38 when I donated) which was okay as I was a known donor.
I think it is a fantastic thing to do altrusitically, and so wish you all the very best of luck with it.
madcows

Thanks, girls, this is all very useful, esp the 40% success rate bit!

Is there any way you can find out / meet the couple you donate to and know if the donation is successful or does this only happen if you donate to a relative etc?

Maybe different clinics have different policies? I seem to get the impression that up here at my local hospital they don't even tell you if you are eggs are successfully fertilised, you just give them and that's the last you ever hear which is a shame. After making the decision to donate, it would be lovely to hear if it had gone well and sad, but very useful, to know if it hadn't so you wouldn't spend the rest of your life wondering...

You are definitely entitled to know whether there has been a live birth, and possibly sex I can't remember. Try looking at the website, national gamete association or something along those lines.

I completely understand where you are coming from with regards to knowing the recipient and outcome. I actually met the couple I donated for through the internet and met them in person first so we presented to their clinic as 'known donor'. Obviously this doesn't suit everyone. We have actually become quite good friends, hence I know what is happening with the frozen ones and we would all be happy if I met any children they may have as a result in the future. I think it just really depends on the recipient and the situation. Depending on the outcome of their frozen cycle I may donate to a clinic like you are considering, or perhaps to an individual couple again.

As Spongebrain mentioned I think the risk of OHSS is more common and I did worry about this but as I'm considered 'normal' in fertility terms I was on the lowest dose and that produced a fair number of eggs with minimal side effects.

Hope that helps
muffins x

Sorry for the hijack.

muffins would you be able to email me on waterchestnuts at googlemail dot com please? I tried to CAT but it says you don't receive the,. It's about living at home with parents.

Have e-mailed you Nappyaddict

HI ladies

I think your all really wonderful, me and my husband are looking for an egg donor and it is not a easy thing to do so the more willing donors like yourselves the better. Your should all be really proud of yourselves.

Bagpuss50 xxxx