EGG DONATION, ANYONE KNOW WHAT IT INVOLVES?

[Rhiannon]

I was thinking about becoming an Egg Donor, but know absolutely nothing about what it involves. I presume it can't be a nice experience otherwise I'm sure more of us would do it. Anyone got any gory details? R.

Hi Rhiannon
I had IVF so know what egg donation involves as they use the saem procedure to collect the eggs. You inject and sniff hormones for a few weeks and go for a series of scans to check that the eggs are developing ok. On the night before the collection you have a final injection and then go into hospital. The procedure is done under general or local anaesthetic depending on the hospital. Feel a bit sore afterwards but nothing too bad. I think the major things to consider are:

• hormones can potentially affect your moods (although only short term may make it difficult if looking after children)
• Are you fully happy for your eggs to be used to produce a child that you will never see?
• General Anaesthetic is very safe these days but not particularly pleasant.

I wouldn't want to put you off in anyway because egg donors do a wonderful thing but I think you really need to think carefully before you go ahead.

From what I've gathered from watching TV etc. I think it's a similar procedure to how they gather eggs for use in IVF. You are given drugs to stimulate and ripen your eggs and then they are collected by a needle - how exactly I'm not sure. Have I confused things more for you? I don't know anyone who has done it, but I think people who do are very brave. I know that there is a real need for egg donors unlike sperm donors (strange that!).

Message withdrawn

Oh dear, I'm 34 and 35 next year. I'm also on Depo Provera which I presume I'd have to come off to have any egg production. Thanks for the advice. R.

I did read an article a while ago that seemed to suggest some link with the hormones used to stimulate egg production and certain forms of cancer (breast and ovarian I think) - it might be worth talking to someone who knows about that angle.

can anyone tell me all about wot it involes ?
and does it cost anything?
do i get payed for doing it?
etc