Thinking of becoming an egg donor? As you begin the journey of becoming an egg donor, you are probably filled with questions and concerns. There are a lot of misconceptions floating around about egg donation being restrictive and self-sacrificing, but at Love and Kindness Surrogacy, we’d like to put a lot of these myths to bed.
The truth of the matter is, egg donation is a wonderful gift that you can provide to intended parents. Couples who are ready to start their families but need a little help. Egg donation does not require that you alter your own goals to donate. Furthermore, you’ll only have a few modifications to your lifestyle, and only for a brief period of time.
Myth 1: You can not take oral contraceptives when donating eggs.
Truth: You can still take most oral contraceptives while donating because they only contain the hormones that prevent the release of your eggs, they do not affect the tissue of the eggs. If you are utilizing other forms of birth control like implants or injections, it might be recommended that you switch to either an oral contraceptive or an IUD. Once you’ve done that and had three menstrual cycles, you’re all set to apply.
Myth 2: You can’t have your own children after being an egg donor
Truth: You are still able to procreate to build your own family, egg donation does not have any effect on that. By the time you reached puberty, your body had a reserve of approximately 400,000 eggs! Through your childbearing years, you’ll ovulate approximately 400 of these as mature eggs. When you decide to become an egg donor, you will undergo ovarian stimulation which harvests from the remaining 399,000+ eggs! You are still able to utilize all the mature eggs that your body produces for your own children, as long as there are no other underlying fertility issues.
Myth 3: You can not donate eggs if you’ve had a tubal ligation.
Truth: Although it seems logical that you couldn’t donate eggs after having your tubes tied, your eggs are actually retrieved by aspiration. You will work with a fertility specialist who will retrieve the eggs with a very thin needle directly from the source. So if your tubes are tied, it is no problem at all!
Myth 4: Egg donation is risky.
Truth: Before the egg donation cycle, you will undergo a medical exam to determine if you are a viable donor. Once you begin the donation process, the primary risk would be ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is caused by the medication that stimulates ovulation. Also, if you notice signs of bloating or weight gain, you would reach out to your physician immediately. Beyond that, there are very few risks of egg donation.
We encourage you to take the time to continue your research and determine if egg donation is the right decision for your personal journey. Furthermore, if you feel lead to give this beautiful donation and have additional questions, please contact our specialists. We will be happy to help provide insight and guidance to help you find clarity if this is the right option for you.