Former Egg Donor Undergoing IVF

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Saturday, August 23, 2014

Egg Donation for Dummies

So you want to be an egg donor, huh?

The top 9 BASIC things you should know:

1. If you faint at the sight of needles, then egg donation is not for you. For a few weeks, you will be screwing with your natural hormone cycle, by taking approximately 4-6 injections daily in your stomach, quadriceps, and buttocks. In addition, you must get your blood drawn everyday. For the first time during my fourth cycle, my veins got so bruised, it swelled up to the size of a grape. Your friends and family might question if you're a drug addict with all the needle inject sites in random places of your body. My stomach had so many injections, it turned 50 shades of gray, black and blue during that time.

2. You're concerned about your fertility, and not sure how egg donation affects it. When I began donating, I was reassured by every IVF doctor that it did not affect my fertility. Funny you should say that doc, because years later, I'm in the business of medicine, and there's no sufficient data in favor of egg donation and fertility risks. In fact, why on earth would I believe anything the IVF doc is saying, especially when I am the reason behind their fat paycheck from parents at the end of day. Whose side are those IVF docs on? I can guarantee you, it's not the egg donors. 

                                                   Biofeedback baby... don't mess with it.


Oh you don't understand positive and negative feedback of the endocrine system, and the mechanisms behind it? Yeah, I thought I understood it after receiving my undergrad degree in pre-med, but learning about it in detail in medical school really changed my perspective. If you have no desire to conceive, then egg donation is for you.


3. If you are late to most or all of your nail appointments, hair appointments and/or school classes, then egg donation is not for you. Each morning of your donation cycle, you must go into the IVF clinic, to get your blood drawn and do a transvaginal ultrasound... which bring me to number 5. 

4. A transvaginal ultrasound is done nearly everyday. Yep, it's more uncomfortable than what's depicted in the picture too. 


5. If go "insane in the membrane" when you can't fit in a daily work out, then egg donation is not for you. As an egg donor, undergoing injections, you should not work out. In fact, do not do any form of cardio even after the surgery- don't even fast walk! You must wait until your ovaries return to their normal size (so, after your next period). In laymen's terms, the injections stimulate more follicles to grow, causing your ovaries to swell up like a large fruit. Your normal ovaries are 3 to 5 cm! The fallopian tubes (aka: the arm looking things holding onto your ovary) can't deal with the weight, and twists on itself (torsion). When this happens, your blood supply to the ovary is cut off, and it starts to "die" (no blood to organ = organ death). This is what we called ovarian torsion and it is a medical emergency! It's a risk you sign up for when you agree to be an egg donor! Which brings me to number 7...


6. I have donated 4 times, and I suffered from ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS). It's no fun people! I had to go the ER, and emergency room visits are not a day in the park, Due to lack of time (I have 4 exams next week), I am copying and pasting just a few of the adverse effects from OHSS from the Mayo Clinic:

  • Rapid weight gain I gained 10 lbs in one day
  • Severe abdominal pain - more like excruciating pain
  • Severe, persistent nausea and vomiting - story of my life for 2 weeks after surgery
  • Decreased urination - you retain water
  • Dark urine - you retain water
  • Shortness of breath - can't breathe because your visceral organs are so cramped from your super big and super pissed off ovaries. 
  • Tight or enlarged abdomen - this is an understatement. 
  • Dizziness - Oh, one thing, I didn't have
7. Never ever sign a contract without reading it in detail. Get it checked out by a lawyer even. Even if the agency hires one on your behalf, be cautious. 

8. If you believe the eggs you are donating, are really your offspring, then donation is not for you, period. 

9. If you are donating for the money, then donation may or may not be for you. Many alumni donors regret their decision of donating because they did it solely for the cash. 

I'm sure there are more things that could go onto this list, and I will continue to add on as I get more time! :)

Peace and Love 
- the anonymous egg donor

Disclaimer: As always, all opinions are my own