Advice About Being an Egg Donor
While a woman can become pregnant until she reaches menopause, science has shown that the quantity and quality of a woman’s available eggs decrease with age. Therefore, as women progress through their later 30s and 40s, it becomes more difficult to become pregnant. Egg donation offers a solution to this problem, and it can be a lifeline to women experiencing medical issues that negatively impact fertility. In this article, we’ll explain what an egg donor is and how they help women create the families they desire.
In addition to helping women in their later 30s and 40s become pregnant, being an egg donor also helps women who have:
- had their ovaries surgically removed
- experienced premature failure of the ovaries
- undergone early menopause
- recurring pregnancy losses
- a history of IVF failures
What an Egg Donor Is — and Isn’t
At Family Creations, we work closely with women who are interested in being egg donors and intended recipients of donor eggs.
During the procedure for egg donation, the donor is administered hormones that produce a state of superovulation. Once the eggs develop, they are retrieved and fertilized. The embryo(s) are then transferred to either the recipient or a surrogate.
At Family Creations, we do everything possible to maximize pregnancy success rates. To ensure this, we have established firm qualifications that an egg donor is required to meet.
Egg Donor Guidelines at Family Creations
- Between the ages of 21 and 29 and in good health
- Be willing to undergo a medical exam and screenings for health concerns such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia, and Tay-Sachs.
- Have a BMI under 28
- No smoking or drug use
- Only light to moderate alcohol use
- No body piercings, permanent tattoos, or blood transfusions in the last year
- A family history free of serious health concerns
- Not currently receiving psychiatric treatment
- Have not needed treatment for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) within the last year
- A history of regular menstrual periods without any abnormalities
Being an Egg Donor Requires Commitment and Availability
Beyond the physical and medical requirements, what an egg donor needs is commitment. Donors should desire to help others achieve their dreams of a family, and they will need a flexible schedule to attend between 12 and 15 medical appointments from the start of the process until the finish.
Work with Family Creations
Contact us today if you want to become an egg donor! If you have any questions about the process or our online application, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to working with you!