Does Egg Donation Affect My Future Fertility?

Q: If I donate my eggs, does it affect my future fertility? 

( I get this question so many times in my email, that I decided to publicly post my response for all to view. If you are a skim-reader, at least read the wording in red). 

A: Truth is, there are no long term studies showing the after effects of egg donation. So don't accept their guarantees that there are no consequences to your fertility.  Per my previous four donations, I was always told by my  agency and IVF doctors that there was absolutely no risk to my own fertility. After befriending many other egg donors, and completing my first year in medical school, I have come to the devastating realization that it is very possible that my previous  four donations have put me at increased risk of cancer and reducing my ovarian reserve. Some of my egg donor friends have actually gone into early menopause before the age of 30, likely caused by egg donation. 

For a long time, I couldn't wrap my head around my agency and IVF doctors constantly reassuring me that I was not putting my body in any sort of danger. Since then, I have realized that I was a very trusting and naive individual. I also was not a medical student back then either. Of course I shouldn't put all my faith into those people who are using my body as an egg vending machine. I was merely another check in the bank! I want to believe that my original agency whom I had done 3 cycles with, really did not know that it did in fact take a major toll on their donors. Recently, I was asked by them to do a fifth donation. However, I denied the offer. I am no longer willing to donate. Partially because of what I have learned in medical school, partially because of my nightmare experience with another agency I worked with on my fourth cycle, and partially because of I am on new medications that disallows me to be a donor anymore. I hope potential donors reading this takes consideration of the serious health risks you take on as an egg donor. 

When girls ask me about whether I would recommend egg donation, I am unable to really give a straight answer. Instead, I like to tell them what I know medically behind the process, and the possible consequences. I also tell them about my first 3 donations, and how wonderful my agency treated me. In 2 of those 3 donations with them, I was put in the best hotels, and taken care of very well by them. During one of the donations, one of the hotels was pretty bad, and in a sketchy part of town. I was not sure if it was because the cost of living was higher in this area... or what, but that was my last donation with that agency.  

If you have any more questions as a potential donor, donor, or intended parent, please tweet or email me! The best way to contact me is on Twitter. 

Q&A: Can I Have Sex During the Donation Process?

Not that the whole world wants to know this, but I started my first menstrual cycle post donation today. TMI? Sorry, but this blog is all about my journey through the process, so take it or leave it.

This means that after menses, I can begin birth control, and return to normal sex life with my husband. As you know, going through the egg donation process and post-retrieval, it is required that the donor abstain from intercourse. Well, at least until the donor's next menstrual cycle.

It is so important, if you are married or are in a committed relationship, that your significant other understands that the donor must abstain from intercourse for 4-6 weeks. Sounds like a long time, eh? Well, that's because it is. So before signing that contract, talk it over with your spouse or boyfriend! :)

Future Egg Donation

When my phone rang today and the caller ID read that it was egg donor agency, I quickly picked up the phone. I anticipated good news about the couple I just donated to, or with my new couple that wanted me after this donation. My agency told me that the couple looking to use me after my 3rd cycle, had found someone else a couple of weeks ago. I guess they could not wait for me to finish off this last cycle. I am disappointed that it didn't work out, but I am fairly confident that another couple will pick me. Hopefully soon! 

-Your Egg Donor-

Trigger Shot: Ovidrel

What Today Looks Like: 

Last Day of Lupron Injection

Ovidrel Trigger Shot at 11:15PM

No more Follistim or Menopur

This morning, I had my last ultrasound and blood work done. Thank goodness, because ultrasounds are not my favorite thing to do when I first wake up in the morning. According to the doctor's office, everything is looking perfect and they will be retrieving my eggs on Thursday at 11:15AM. When the retrieval date is set, the time and date of the trigger shot is also scheduled. This must be taken at a specific time. My trigger shot was scheduled tonight at 11:15PM. I took Ovidrel tonight. Though I have previously donated two other times, I have never taken this brand. I looked it up online, and most girls claimed that their Ovidrel shot was pre-made. Mine was not premade, and I had to mix it myself. 

I hate mixing things myself. All my other trigger shots were always pre-made, so I was a little nervous mixing such an important medication myself. 

The procedure they informed me to do consisted of 1cc of bacteriostatic fluid mixed with 10,000units of Ovidrel in a 3cc syringe. According to many websites, this medication can be taken subcutaneously (SQ) or intramuscularly. My clinic wanted me to take it SQ, as well as my last injection of Lupron.

After taking Ovidrel, I noticed an immediate sting afterwards. I felt sick and wanted to topple over with stomach pain. This was really unusual for me, considering the trigger has never hurt me before. However, I need to remember, I have never taken Ovidrel before. 

Besides the awful sting I experienced with Ovidrel, I felt so bloated today, that even my PJ's felt a little snug! I woke up this morning, and my husband said there was definitely a difference in the appearance of my stomach. These symptoms for me are normal though. I tend to bloat a lot, whereas, other donor friends of mine barely bloat at all. I guess I'm just one of the lucky ones... 

I'm not sure what my current hormone level, but whatever it is, I was extremely fatigued today. I slept for hours. The only reason I woke up, was because I had my an appointment with the clinic's doctors. There will be two physicians performing my surgery on Thursday. I met one of the physicians on Monday. Today, I met Dr. ______. He kind of reminded me on an elderly Santa Clause. He seemed sweet and genuine. During our meeting, he asked me what my future plans were and when I planned to have children myself. I told him that I had just applied to medical school and received some interviews at their schools. I also said that I would be ready to have my own kids after schooling. He advised me to hurry and have kids, because if I wait too long, I will need a donor myself. Let me assure you, that I am well below the age of 30!!! It was an awkward topic, that's for sure. Luckily, I changed the topic of my egg count and how many he thought he would retrieve. He estimated the number of eggs to be about six. Now, this number probably does not sound impressive, but let me remind you that my eggs are GREAT! In my previous cycles, all of my eggs are viable and have succeeded in getting my intended mother preggers. A nurse once told me that during IVF, it's all about "QUALITY not QUANTITY." I can only hope my proven streak can help another couple out! 

My Fat Pants Aren't Fitting Me

What today looks like: 

Lupron: Day 11

Receive my Stim Meds Tomorrow

Begin Stim Meds August 6th

Target Day Retrieval: August 17th

This morning I hopped onto the weight scale to see how severe the damage was since I've been taking Lupron. The damage was pretty bad. Lupron definitely facilitated the rapid weight gain. I have to keep telling myself that the weight will come off.... eventually. I am going to try not to give in to any of my irrational food cravings. 

The apothecary (a specialty pharmacy) is having my stimulation medications delivered to my home tomorrow. These stimulation medications will be a combination of hormones that will stimulate my ovaries to produce eggs. After a couple of days of injecting these hormones, I will inject hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) to force me to ovulate (release the eggs)-- just in time for the retrieval on August 17th. 

I am crossing my fingers this couple will have a successful outcome like I had the previous two donations! 

Retrieval Day

Retrieval went well. Especially, now that I was "put under" with anesthetics. They retrieved 15 eggs. After the procedure, I was able to get dressed myself, and I left only being a little sore.

The next day: I felt something that felt like menstrual cramps begin.

2 days post-retrieval: My menstrual cramps begin to feel something like menstrual cramps on steroids. I called the clinic and asked if they would prescribe me pain killers. I had been so uncomfortable with the cramps, I didn't sleep the night before at all. My last clinic sent me home with a bottle of Vicadin, which helped immensely with the pain. I told the doctor that I had difficulty sleeping, and was extremely sore. She told me to just take Motrin. I was really angry, but I dealt with the pain.

3 to 4 days post retrieval: The pain is gone... finally!

Still on Birth Control and blood test results

Nothing really egg-citing going on around here... I am still on their specified birth control. The new birth control, Desogen, is making me have the craziest mood swings, and I swear has affected my eating habits. I am ALWAYS hungry now. I am always so hungry, that I am afraid my Zumba video won't be able to eliminate my excess calories. I have noticed weight gain... but, for $5,000 compensation, I am alright with it. Normally, I am a 5'8 female that weighed about 140'ishlbs. I am now a whopping 155lbs.

Despite my obvious weight gain, I do have good news! My blood test results came back successful! The next step for a first-time donor is a psychological evaluation (to make sure I'm not some crazy girl). I found out the evaluation itself is over $400 for the intended parents to pay! The test itself is a 500 questionnaire (um, wow). I am a college graduate, so I am fairly familiar with ridiculously long exams, so I'm sure I won't develop carpal tunnel or anything after taking the long evaluation. I know I am a mentally sound person, and I wish the couple did not have to shell out anymore than they need to.

My agency has told me that the couple has chosen August as an egg retrieval month. I am a little disappointed, because I wanted an earlier retrieval (to get off the birth control faster). Oh well. I am happy for the intended parents future, (whatever, the month), unborn children that will hopefully come out of the procedure :)

1st Appointment

Today was day 3 of my menstrual cycle. I got my blood work and vaginal ultrasound completed...

I took my husband to the appointment with me because I was a little nervous for my first appointment. It was completely pointless that I took him though... He was way too fascinated at the screen visible to us, from the doctor's jelly'd probe inside his wife's va-jay-jay. I was a little uncomfortable with the feet--in-the-stirrup setup (on my period, no less) in front of a complete stranger. They counted 16 follicles total (8 follicles each) on each ovary. To be a potential donor, I am told you must have at least 12 follicles. I was hoping for more follicles, but as I take the required meds, follicle numbers increase. A fellow donor friend (the same friend who recruited me as a donor), actually has 30 or more follicles! Who knew I would be someday jealous of someone else's follicles?

*****************************************************************************

Tonight, I started taking the specified birth control: Desogen. I saw online that it has horrible side effects (nausea, bloating, weight gain, mood swings...).... I hope I am an exception to one or more of these effects.

I'm not really sure what happens next... I think I need to take my 500 question psychological exam. next... so I will wait to hear from my agency to see who I call to make an appointment.

(Side note: Did you know that intended parents pay over $400 for this exam? This could be the most expensive exam you ever take!)

Other than that... I am waiting for further instructions from my donor agency.

PMS

My egg donation agency informed me last month to call them when I began menstruating so we can begin the process. On day three of my period, I am supposed to go in for blood work, and a vaginal ultrasound. They retrieve blood work from me, to check if I have normal/good hormone levels to be a donor.

For the first time in my life, I was eggcited to start my period today! I am SO ready to get this egg rollin'!

Egg Donation

Less than a year ago, I signed up to be an egg donor. With a bachelors in Biology, I thought the whole process was pretty fascinating... though, my family did not think so. When I tried to bring up the idea of donating my eggs to another family, my mother about had a stroke. She strongly discouraged my "idea" of donating, saying it would effect my fertility in the future, and how much I would regret it. To quiet her concerns, I told her I would not go through with the donation process.... yet...

My profile became available for intended parents soon after documents were signed, and I was disappointed when I wasn't picked the next day. I found out later, it usually takes 1-3 years to get picked out of an agency! I got even more discouraged when my agency coordinator would call me excitedly when a couple had asked to look at my profile and pictures. Disappointedly, intended parents were always too nervous to take a risk with a first time donor... I wasn't proven, and I didn't have children. It was for these reasons, I was eggstatic to hear that a couple was in the midst of choosing between myself and another proven donor. After what felt like centuries (only a week), I found out they had chosen me! I felt so lucky that these intended parents thought I was worth taking the risk. I promised myself when I found out the news, that I would do my absolute best to take care of myself, for these wonderful people. So, after signing 30 pages in contract with my agency, I am ready to roll!

I am told, the next step is a 500 question psychology exam (to make sure I am mentally well, I guess?), birth control pills, blood work, and a vaginal ultrasound (yay...). All this will begin on day three of my next period. I just had my menstrual cycle, so we'll have to wait another month.... I will update the blog then!