Egg Donation 101
There’s nothing like holding your child for the first time. Sadly, thousands of Americans long for this opportunity but face the obstacle of infertility or the inability to have a child. The good news? Egg donation makes it possible for those people to have or grow their families. Thanks to egg donors throughout the United States, these individuals and couples can achieve their dreams of parenthood.
The question is, what do egg donors do to make this happen? In this article, Family Creations explores some of the history of egg donation in this country and how egg donation works for donors and recipients. If you have questions about the egg donation process or our various programs for donor recipients, please reach out. We’re here to help you through every step of our journey.
The History of Egg Donation
This forty-year history of egg donation is fascinating, and thanks to scientific and technological advancements, it has become more accessible, safer, and exceptionally effective. The initial concept of egg donation was developed in the 1980s. The University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center was the first hospital to announce that it had begun the egg donation process, which was first successfully performed in the United States in 1983. This breakthrough understanding of how egg donation works paved the way for modern fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF), which now help thousands of couples conceive annually.
In the early history of egg donation, before IVF was used, doctors used a method called lavage. This process involved waiting for an egg to be released from an egg donor and then using the sperm from a male intended recipient to inseminate the egg. Afterward, the newly fertilized egg would be washed out with a specialized syringe before the egg could implant itself in the uterine lining. Once IVF was developed, however, it replaced this method because it had a higher success rate.
Another change that has occurred throughout egg donation’s history is how egg donation works. In the early days, donors were typically anonymous, and the process had less regulation in place to protect against health risks and ethical issues. Nowadays, egg donation has many layers of regulation to ensure the health and well-being of donors, recipients, and the child who will be born. For example, today, donors are usually known to the recipients, and both parties undergo extensive medical and psychological screening before the donation occurs. This requirement helps ensure that everyone involved is comfortable with the arrangement and that there are no ethical or health risks.
If you are considering egg donation, working with a reputable fertility clinic with experience in this area is important. Please get in touch with Family Creations to learn more about our donor application requirements and how we work with donors to ensure a positive experience.
How Does Egg Donation Work for Donors?
An egg donor plays a vital part in the process of in vitro fertilization, or IVF, which involves fertilizing eggs in a laboratory setting. Egg donors contribute eggs to those who need them. The eggs can then be fertilized by either donated sperm or the sperm of a male intended parent. A fertilized egg can then be implanted into the womb of a female intended parent or a surrogate.
How Does Egg Donation Work for Surrogacy?
Egg donation is often used in surrogacy arrangements, where the gestational surrogate carries the pregnancy for the intended parents. A gestational surrogate is a woman who carries and delivers a baby for another couple or individual. The gestational surrogate does not have any genetic connection to the child, as the embryo is created using the donor’s or intended mother’s eggs and the donor’s or intended father’s sperm. Gestational surrogacy is often used when the intended mother is unable to carry a pregnancy herself, for same-sex male couples, or for single men wanting to become a father.
Partner with Family Creations and Play a Part in the History of Egg Donation
At Family Creations, we take pride in being a leading egg donation and surrogacy agency. We are based in Woodland Hills, California, with an additional office in San Francisco, and we also have offices in Des Moines, Iowa; Atlanta, Georgia; Seattle, Washington; and Austin, Texas.
We are passionate about providing the best possible experience for every egg donor and the intended recipient. It is free to register with us and for egg donors to apply.
When you have questions about how egg donation works and if it’s right for you, get in touch with us! We can help you achieve your dream of starting a family or help others in achieving this dream.