We’re two years on from when COVID-19 first appeared and there is still much uncertainty around how this dreaded virus impacts egg donation and IVF treatments. One study, published in September 2020, has shed some light on whether COVID-19 positive women can safely donate their oocytes to non-infected recipients. So, let’s answer the question: can I donate eggs after having COVID-19?
ARTICLE: 5 do’s and three don’ts of egg donation
COVID-19 infection and egg donation
The above study was commissioned by Oxford University, where researchers wanted to know if COVID-positive women undertaking egg donation could transfer the virus via their eggs.
Researchers measured viral RNA in the preserved eggs of two women who had tested positive for COVID-19 during the egg donation process.
The study found zero detectable traces of SARS-CoV-2 in any of the 16 eggs tested. While this study is limited in scope, preliminary results show that COVID-19 cannot be transferred via oocytes.
Researchers reveal that the donated eggs from COVID-19 positive donors “lack the biochemical machinery to allow for virus entry …”
But that’s not the long and short of it.
As an egg donor, your health and well-being impacts the egg donation process.
While you certainly can donate eggs after having COVID-19, you should ideally wait until you have recovered fully before committing to an egg donation programme.
Egg donation after getting the COVID-19 vaccine
Another study carried out by Instituto Bernabeu in February 2022 wanted to determine whether getting the COVID-19 vaccine impacted egg donation treatments.
Researchers compared outcomes before and after egg donors got their COVID-19 jabs. No clinically relevant differences in ovarian stimulation were found.
Other parameters assessed in this study were fertilisation rate, rate of embryos reaching blastocyst stage, and embryo quality.
No differences were observed in any of the above before and after vaccination.
The study concludes that “[COVID-19] vaccination does not affect the outcome of assisted reproduction treatments in egg donation programmes.”
In other words, you can safely get vaccinated against COVID-19 before or during the egg donation process.
Final verdict: can I donate eggs after having COVID-19?
Yes you can.
There is no evidence to suggest that egg donors or intended parents are at risk when egg donation takes place after the donor has contracted COVID-19.
There is also zero evidence to suggest that having a COVID-19 vaccine before or during the egg donation programme will impact its outcomes.
ARTICLE: how on earth do recipients choose an egg donor?
Work with South Africa’s leading egg donation agency
Egg donation is safe, painless, and more rewarding than you could imagine.
Nurture is SA’s leading and longest running egg donation agency. We also work closely with international fertility professionals in both Australia and the United States of America.
We want to hear from both women who would like to become egg donors, and from parents-to-be looking for egg donors. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with Nurture today.
Think you have what it takes to become a Nurture donor? Apply here.
