Thousands of hopeful parents have been given a second chance to become parents because of generous, strong young women like you! We think egg donation is the purest form of giving, and, as a bonus, it has some positive rewards for you! However, life is a balancing act, and you might wonder if any risks are involved when you donate eggs. Let’s have a frank discussion about the benefits and potential drawbacks of becoming an egg donor.
Drawbacks
- Hormones
To ensure your body releases enough mature eggs for retrieval, egg donors take hormone treatment designed to stimulate egg maturation. In very rare occasions (less than 1%), this medication can cause Ovarian Hyper-Stimulation Syndrome (OHSS). OHSS occurs when the ovaries are stimulated too much and become enlarged. Fluid may then collect in the abdominal cavity, causing bloating and pelvic pain. Luckily, OHSS among egg donors is extremely rare. If side effects do appear, our dedicated team of doctors will be on hand with expert help. Side effects usually stop when you stop taking the medication.
- Needles
Speaking of medication – those helpful hormones need to get into your bloodstream, and there is no better way than using injections. Fortunately, you don’t need to visit the doctor’s room for this part of the egg donation process. The medication is self-administered, which means you can give yourself the injections. The needle is tiny, so it feels more like a pinch than a sharp pain, but if you’re a bit skittish of needles, you’ll probably need someone to help you or give you the shot while you’re thinking happy thoughts about growing big, beautiful eggs for your recipient couple.
- Recovery
Egg donation has become a routine treatment at fertility clinics around the country, and the procedure is very safe. However, it’s still a medical procedure, and you’ll need to be gentle with yourself for a few days afterwards. Although the egg retrieval process requires no cutting, stitches or scarring, some donors have some discomfort similar to that experienced with their period. So you might feel a bit crampy or bloated for a day or two. You’ll need to take the day off work on the day of the procedure and reschedule any strenuous activities for the next 24 hours. After giving the gift you have given, we think you deserve to take the day off!
Benefits
- Giving the gift of life
When you start the journey of egg donation, you are giving something that money cannot buy…philanthropy, empathy and love. Many studies show that giving is linked to better physical and psychological well-being. Being generous activates the same reward pathway that is activated by intimacy and food. Giving and helping just naturally make us feel good! The University of Berkeley even found that generosity has its roots not just in our individual development but also in our very biology and evolutionary history. Your brain is wired to help your fellow man (or woman).
- All costs are covered
We know that your gift of egg donation is precisely that: a gift! Although egg donors aren’t paid for their eggs, we don’t expect you to cover any costs associated with the process either. The National Guidelines from the South African Society for Reproductive Medicine (SASREG) allow us to compensate you for your time and effort in going through the donation process. You will also be compensated for reasonable expenses, like travelling to and from the clinic for medical appointments and the egg donation procedure. If you’ll be donating at a clinic not close to home and you need to travel to another city, Nurture will cover all travelling and associated costs for you. We will also handle all the necessary travel arrangements, including flights, transport, and accommodation.
- Medical checks
A glorious advantage of being an egg donor is getting access to the best medical and gynaecological care. Egg donors benefit from numerous medical checks, including assessing the quality and quantity of their eggs and the assurance that they have ample eggs to donate a few. Medical tests also include screening for infectious diseases and markers, which automatically form part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Our egg donors get access to world-class doctors and state-of-the-art technology like internal vaginal ultrasound, similar to those performed during a gynaecological check-up.
We understand that the egg donation process can be physically and emotionally demanding; that’s why we provide our donors with comprehensive medical and psychological support throughout the process. At Nurture, we’re committed to making your egg donation journey as smooth and stress-free as possible. Our experienced team is on hand to guide you through every step of the process. If you believe egg donation is a noble and rewarding choice, we’re honoured to be a part of your decision. Let’s start the journey together!
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