Anyone ever been an egg donor? Is it safe?

[bandit]

(I inadvertantly posted this in General, hopefully somone here can answer it instead...)

My friend and her husband are unable to conceive and she has asked me to donate my eggs so they can have a baby. She said she wouldnt feel comfortable doing it with someone she didn't know, and that if I wasn't comfortable with it she will start the adoption process.

Well of course I want to help her!

But then I start to read about the fertility drugs and hormones I will have to take and start to think a little more about it. I am only 22, I don't want to create a hormonal imbalance this soon in my life and I certainly don't want to increase my risks of cancer. Of course the doctors assure me that studies have been done and the long term effects are non-existant, but the medical industry isn't exactally at the top of my "trust" list anymore.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Amanda

"A word to the wise is infuriating."
Hunter S. Thompson

http://fitness.meetup.com/151

[chpwife]

WOW to even consider this is such an amazing gift, honestly....
I suffer from infertility and have just completed an IVF cycle - still waiting to find out my outcome.

I can tell you about the drugs, and the side effects and the procedure.
There are usually (tho keep in mind every clinic is different with their protocols) ovarian depressants give that turn off your ovaries, so the follicle stimmulating drugs can be given and the doc can control them instead. They are subcutaneous shots (just under the skin usually give in the abs) once or twice a day for about 7-10 days ultra sounds are done to monitor the progression of the follicles, if they grow to fast drugs are decreased, growing to slow drugs are increased....sometimes a second stimulant is also given the last couple of days...then and HCG shot IM, intramuscularly In the behind, is given and the ovarian suppresant is stopped. The eggs are harvested 24-36 hours later. They use a ultrasound and needle to aspirate them thru the vagina wall - this is uncomfortable - most women experience cramping afterwards, It is done with a conscious sedation...meaning you are gorked out of your mind and not really there to care what they are doing. I got sick afterwards due to the drugs, but many women go to work the next day. Then you are done, all drugs are stopped. The eggs then will be fertilized with your friends DH's sperm and either 3 or 5 days later placed into her uterus....and 2 weeks later a pregnancy test is done.
A woman can produce from 2 to 30 eggs! hyperstimulation is common and involves swelling and cramping...lots of water, and gatorade is what they recommend and it goes away in a few days once the eggs are retreived. I can say that it has been 10 days since my Egg Retrival and I am completely recovered.
To be a donor, for a friend, might be hard tho....I mean genetically that egg is yours - are you willing to see this baby grow knowing it was your egg? I suggest a visit with a counsler, most IVF clinics have them - before making a decision. Insurance doesn't always cover IVF so I would think she would be willing to pay for you to do this...the drugs can easily be over 3000. dollars.
If you decide to do it also, you should decide how many times you are willing to do an egg retrieval....it doens't always work on the first or second or third or 4th time. Its not a 'sure thing'
I have other issues that also are a factor for me....so I have now spent over 25K and am awaiting my results - my hopes are low as I started bleeding last week just 3 days after embryo transfer - I have 5 embryo's frozen and not sure when I would consider another cycle.

Side effects of the drugs - well they are hormones, so with lupron, the ovary suppressant, night sweats - uh, pretty much things like menapause...
Follicle stim....nothing except the tenderness to the ovaries/abd area

you won't have to take the progesterone so no worries there!

again, this is such a precious gift, but really think about each issue.

I wish you all the best! Email me if you would like to discuss more or if you have specific questions
Di

[bandit]

Wow, I am so lucky to get such a knowledgable and deatailed answer! Thank you.

I have already considered the emotional aspects of it and I am comfortable with it. I feel in order for a child to be yours you have to raise it, my genes are just to make life possible.

Sure sounds like a lot of poking and prodding, and a lot of time! I am glad to hear there is no estrogen involved and that you returned to normal whithin a few weeks. I really hope it works out for you, it sounds like a very difficult process.

Did you experience weight gain? Food cravings? Mood swings? I know it sounds tright but I am very vulnerable to those things anyway. I think I have made up my mind to do it, I just need to talk to DH about it now.

Amanda

"A word to the wise is infuriating."
Hunter S. Thompson

http://fitness.meetup.com/151

[chpwife]

ok trying this one more time. LOL I have typed this reply 3 times now LOL

They are homones, so yes weight gain not much, more water than anything, mood swings. No cravings.....

Time? not really in the whole grand scheme of things. 3-4 weeks is all with 2-3 trips to the lab for bloodwork, 3 or so ultrasounds and then the day of Egg retrival..thats it.

I wish you and your friend the best!!!!
Di