AP News, February 18th, 2007
The first pregnancy achieved with egg donation was reported in 1984. Since then, demand for donor eggs has quickly increased.
If you are considering donating eggs, fertility doctors say there are a number of things to remember, including the fact that it can be a time-consuming and physically taxing process. There also are medical risks involved.
Donors can generally be as young as 21 and as old as 34, though that age range varies by agency.
Potential donors must provide extensive family and medical histories and go through psychological screening. They are required to have genetic screening and are tested for such things as sexually transmitted diseases. Among other things, they're also asked about their sexual and substance abuse histories _ and may be required to take a drug test.
Once a donor is approved, she may be asked to take birth control pills to regulate her cycle. She then injects herself with hormones, which causes multiple eggs to grow in one cycle.
During this time, the donor is asked not to have sexual intercourse to avoid the risk of pregnancy.
Egg growth is monitored by ultrasound and with blood tests. Once the eggs are ready, the donor undergoes a 20-minute outpatient procedure under anesthesia. A needle _ guided by ultrasound _ is inserted through the upper vaginal wall and into the ovary to retrieve the eggs.
Risks include unpleasant reactions to the hormones and a potential for infection after the egg retrieval. So far, researchers have found few adverse long-term effects from egg donation _ but that is still being evaluated.
Doctors also recommend doing egg donation through a clinic approved by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Though most donors remain anonymous, a few egg clinics allow women to sign a form agreeing to be contacted by any resulting children, once they turn 18.
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Sources: American Society for Reproductive Medicine; Dr. Joel Brasch, Chicago IVF
