The process of egg donation requires precise timing and coordination. It is crucial to ensure that the donor’s eggs are matured and ready for retrieval when the intended parent’s womb is ready to receive the embryos. This synchronization of two women’s bodies is a delicate process that requires careful preparation to achieve the best results. The timing of the preparation is of utmost importance to ensure the success of the donation process.
Selection
After being selected to donate, a Gift ov life support person will be assigned to the donor and will available to her throughout the entire donation process to answer any questions and provide guidance.
Once the donor has been chosen by the intended parent, Gift ov life will send an email to inform the donor of their selection. At this stage, Gift ov life will check that the donor is still willing, ready, and able to donate. It is important to for the donor to check emails and messages regularly and respond promptly, as the intended parents will be anxiously waiting to hear if their chosen donor is willing to donate to them. The support and guidance provided by Gift ov life during this time can help ease any anxieties the donor may have and ensure a smooth donation process.
First Screening
Before proceeding with the donation process, Gift ov life ensures that the donor is medically and mentally fit to donate. The medical assessment will take place at the fertility clinic where the donor has been chosen to donate.
The medical assessment will include a gynaecological check-up, where the doctor will conduct an internal ultrasound to examine the donor’s ovaries. This is to ensure that they are healthy and that the donor has enough eggs to be a suitable egg donor. The doctor will also conduct a general health check-up, a medical questionnaire, and some blood tests to check for infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.
Once the donor has been declared medically fit to donate, a session with a psychologist or social worker (either in person or online) will be scheduled to ensure that the donor is mentally healthy enough to donate. This process provides an opportunity for the donor to discuss any concerns or questions they may have about the egg donation process. The therapist will also take a family mental health history, as hereditary diseases such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia in the donor’s immediate family may disqualify them from becoming an egg donor.
All these tests and appointments are completely free of charge. The donor will not be required to pay for any tests, appointments, or medication. The only expense the donor will incur is getting themselves to the clinic on time.
Planning
After you have passed the medical and mental screening, Gift ov life will begin the planning phase for your donation. Timing is crucial, as your menstrual cycle and the intended parent’s cycle need to be synchronized perfectly.
It usually takes 2 to 3 months from the time you are chosen as a donor for the actual donation to take place. During the planning process, it is essential to inform the fertility clinic of any dates when you cannot donate. For example, if you have an upcoming vacation or exams, let the clinic know so that they can avoid scheduling appointments or the egg retrieval on those dates.
Once your treatment plan has been finalized and the dates have been confirmed with you and the intended parent, Gift ov life will provide you with your medication and detailed instructions on how and when to take them. This medication will help grow and mature your eggs for the egg retrieval procedure.
Treatment Plan
Once you and the mom-to-be have synchronized your cycles using the oral contraceptive, it’s time for the egg donation process to move forward. You will now begin taking medication to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The medication used is follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which is administered by injection.
During this phase of the process, you will need to visit the fertility clinic every two to three days for monitoring appointments. These appointments involve transvaginal ultrasounds and blood tests to monitor your body’s response to the medication and ensure that your eggs are developing as they should. The doctor may adjust your medication dosage based on the results of these tests.
While you are taking the medication to stimulate egg growth, the intended parent will also be taking medication to prepare her uterus for implantation of the embryos. This medication is typically administered as a series of injections.
Once the eggs have reached maturity, the final step of the donation process is egg retrieval. The retrieval process is typically done under sedation and involves using a needle to remove the mature eggs from your ovaries. The eggs are then given to the intended parent’s fertility specialist, who will fertilize them with the intended father’s sperm and transfer the resulting embryos to the intended mother’s uterus.
Fertility Medication
After completing the initial screening, you will have to wait for a few weeks before the busy phase of the egg donation process begins. This is when you will start taking fertility medication to prepare your body for egg retrieval. The medication contains a hormone called Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), which naturally occurs in the body to grow and mature the eggs.
The fertility medication is given in the form of injections, and you will need to administer them to yourself for around ten days. Don’t worry; the nurse at the fertility clinic will show you how to inject yourself and where to inject it. The tummy area is usually the easiest and least painful area to inject, and most of us have some padding there.
If you feel uncomfortable injecting yourself, don’t hesitate to ask your partner, friend, or relative to help you with it. They might even enjoy the opportunity to give you a helping hand!
Appointments
After starting the fertility injections, you will need to attend regular appointments with the doctor at the fertility clinic every second or third day. These appointments are crucial for monitoring your body’s response to the fertility medication, which can vary from person to person. The doctor will check the growth of your eggs and adjust the medication dosage accordingly.
During the 10-day period of fertility medication, you will need to attend between three and four appointments. It is extremely important that you attend each appointment on the exact date and time given to you. Gift ov life will provide you with the appointment schedule well in advance, so you can plan accordingly.
It’s important to keep in mind that these appointments will occur during normal office hours, usually Monday to Friday. If you are working or attending classes, it’s crucial to factor in the appointments when agreeing to donate. However, the check-up appointments are usually fairly quick and should not take more than an hour of your time.
The Egg Retrieval
The egg retrieval process is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that does not require surgery, scarring, or stitches. Once the date of the procedure is confirmed, you will need to take one day off work. The retrieval date will be communicated to you well in advance so you can make arrangements. If you need a doctor’s note for work, the fertility doctor can provide one.
On the day of egg retrieval, you will be given a specific time to arrive at the clinic. You may be asked to refrain from eating or drinking anything beforehand. Upon arrival, a nurse will take you to the retrieval room where you will be given twilight anaesthesia through an IV. This mild sedative will put you into a deep sleep, but you will still be able to breathe on your own.
The doctor will then use a fine needle inserted through the vaginal wall to extract the fluid and eggs from each ovarian follicle. The fluid will be collected in a test tube and given to the embryologist, who will retrieve the eggs from it. The procedure is quick and painless.
After about 30 minutes, you will wake up and be given a small snack and something to drink. You will need someone to accompany you home as you will still be groggy from the sedation. It is important to note that you cannot drive yourself home. An Uber or taxi ride is also an option.
