Many American couples long for a close maternal bond with their child, yet are unable to become
pregnant on their own. In generations past, these couples had few alternatives other than adoption.
Now, however, advances in medicine have made it possible for an infertile woman to conceive a child via
the egg donation process. It may sound trite, but it is quite literally true: Women who choose to become
egg donors are giving the gift of life.
Egg donor screening
Becoming a donor means first going through a detailed screening process that includes both medical
and psychological factors. Donors are tested for infectious and genetic diseases that could potentially
be passed along to a child. Psychological screening is just as important; the egg donation process is
intended to be a positive experience for all parties involved. Donors must therefore be able to accept all
the implications of a decision to donate their eggs.
The egg donation procedure
In order to streamline the process and inconvenience donors as little as possible, the goal of the donation
procedure is to retrieve up to 20 eggs at the same time. Most women, of course, produce only a single
egg per menstrual cycle. Donors therefore go on a course of fertility medications intended to stimulate
the production of multiple eggs. When ready, these eggs are then removed directly from the ovaries of
the donor.
This involves a procedure officially termed a “transvaginal ultrasound aspiration.” Although classed as a
surgery, no cutting is involved. Instead, a long, flexible needle is inserted into the vagina and threaded up
to reach the ovarian follicle. The egg retrieval itself is accomplished with suction.
Egg donation is a safe procedure for most women, but there are some risks associated with it. There
may be some bleeding during egg collection; in addition, the drugs used to stimulate egg production may
have adverse effects. In most instances these are limited to discomfort involving nausea, diarrhea, and in
some cases a small amount of weight gain.
Compensation rates for egg donation
Many women choose to donate eggs out of a desire to help infertile couples. Because the full procedure
requires a commitment of about 60 hours for medical appointments, testing, and screening, however, it’s
appropriate for them to receive compensation. Egg donors receive payments intended to compensate
them not only for their time but also for the discomfort and inconvenience that may be associated with
various phases of the donation process.
In the United States, egg donation agencies must cap these payments at $10,000 per donation cycle in
order to qualify as following the ethical code of the ASRM, or American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
Typical compensation rates tend to vary from $5,000 to $10,000, depending on a variety of factors.
While this money can come in handy for meeting a variety of needs from college tuition to funding a
down payment on a house, may donors find that the emotional reward they receive is even greater.
Approximately 10-15% of American couples suffer from infertility. Enabling some of these needy couples
to conceive a child can be satisfying beyond measure.
Those looking for a more complete answer to the question, “How do you donate eggs?” should
investigate ways to become an egg donor with myeggbank.com.
