The egg is chosen based on the physical characteristics of the donor and the recipient[/caption]

When pregnancy becomes a goal and a dream to be fulfilled, for some couples the task is simple. But in some cases, not so much… Some women face limitations imposed by their bodies or by life itself. In some cases, the alternative for female infertility can come from a simple, loving act: egg donation.

Egg donation is nothing more than the donation of eggs from healthy women to the egg bank, where these gametes are stored and then provided to women who are waiting to become pregnant via egg donation. The process of donating is simple and only requires the donor to make a small sacrifice: ovarian stimulation. On the other hand, for those receiving donated eggs, life gets better, since the chances of conceiving become real.

Women who need egg donation are those who have suffered some trauma, such as ovarian cancer, or other diseases that prevent them from ovulating and therefore from getting pregnant. Normally, this procedure is authorized in Brazil as long as the process follows certain precautions and rules, such as:

  • Donor anonymity
  • No type of commercialization or trade for the eggs
  • The clinic has autonomy to choose the donor
  • The recipient must be at most 50 years old and the donor 35

How Is Egg Donation Done?

Egg donation is performed through ovarian stimulation, whether as part of the donor’s own treatment or exclusively for egg donation. The doctor will perform the stimulation similar to the procedure for artificial insemination and timed intercourse. This way, the woman will produce good and sufficient eggs for donation. Egg donation is carried out in fertility clinics or hospitals that perform ICSI or IVF procedures.

Medications such as injectable ovulation inducers are provided by the clinic, and the donor does not incur any costs. After ovarian stimulation, she undergoes egg retrieval as soon as they reach the ideal size and maturity. The procedure is relatively simple and requires only light sedation to prevent any potential pain. For the recipient, the procedure is different: her uterus is prepared to receive the embryo formed in the laboratory. Usually, the donated egg is combined with her partner’s sperm, if he does not have significant issues. The medication used by the woman is the same as that used by women undergoing in vitro fertilization. The difference is that the ovarian stimulation step is skipped, going straight to the final step – the transfer of embryos.

Usually, two or three embryos that have developed well by the 5th day of cellular development are transferred. The risk for those undergoing this procedure is multiple pregnancy, and for the donor, just the discomfort during the stimulation process. For a compatible egg donation, the recipient’s profile is considered, and eggs from a donor with similar physical characteristics are selected – such as skin color, eyes, and even hair. I should note that ICSI or IVF may not be successful on the first try, with the risk being the same as for other women undergoing the full procedure of egg retrieval and uterine transfer. The success rate is 45% in women with a receptive endometrium. Knowing that the procedure may not work, the doctor may keep more fertilized eggs in reserve for a second stage. The procedure costs around R$ 14,000 for the recipient and nothing for the donor.

Donating eggs means donating life to others; donating a dream, and certainly the reward is seeing someone achieve full happiness and helping another woman fulfill her wish to give birth!

See also: In Vitro Fertilization – How It’s Done with Dr Felipe Lazar Junior

Photo: Prescott Pym