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Why I chose to become an egg donor
(part two)

egg donation process

Once I made the decision to become an egg donor, I was very eager to start the egg donation process.

The First Step:

My first step in the egg donation process was completing a donor application online. The application was interesting because I got to answer all of the questions about myself; my hobbies, job, education, religious beliefs, social history, family background and history. There was even a question about my favorite color and travel wishes. What I wanted the receiving couple to know about myself; as well as what I wished to say to them. I also included photos of myself!

A few days later I received a call from the egg donor coordinator and was told that there were potential couples interested in me. I was on my way to change someone’s life!

The Screening Process:

Phase One

Next I was scheduled for a consultation with the physician. The consultation and first appointment consisted of:

  • an internal transvaginal exam, where they checked my ovaries
  • an external physical exam, where they detailed all of my physical marking characteristics (like birth marks)
  • and some blood work, to test for any infectious diseases.

I completed consent forms with the egg donor coordinator and told that once my results came in she would contact me and schedule me for the second phase.

Although I was donating my eggs because my own family was complete, I found it completely fascinating that a woman’s chances of conceiving, for her own family, would not be ruined by egg donation! The way they explained it was that every month I have a period anyway. That cycle can either be wasted on a pad or utilized for an egg retrieval . . . that’s amazing!

Phase Two

The second phase was about two weeks later. This time I was scheduled to come in for genetic blood work (to determine my carrier traits). This is the main tool they use in matching me with a recipient couple. To be honest, I could not wait to get a copy of these results.I was so curious, especially about my genetic carrier screen! The coordinator said that this last result would take 3-4 weeks to come back because the screening panel was so long!

That same day I also completed my psychological screening. I met with a psychologist and was asked questions about my family history and my life (past and present). It was a pleasant experience because I got to share things about myself and made to feel special. They got to see who I really was and how happy I was to be able to give such a little part of myself (literally a cell) to permanently change someone’s life. It was an exciting time.

About a month later I received a call from the egg donor coordinator and was told that my screens were all good and that she would call me once a match was made. The wait could be a few months, but that was fine with me. I knew that I was out there, being offered to various couples. It would just be a matter of time before the right match was made.

She then sent me copies of my screens. I was amazed with my carrier traits. It was all so interesting.

The Cycle Phase:

About two months later, the egg donor coordinator called me to say that a match was made! She asked me for my period dates (my last one, when I would be expecting the next and how long in between were my cycles). She said that she would call me back after she spoke with the physician to see when I should begin my treatment cycle.

A couple of days later, I found out that I would be moving forward with my next period (which was only a couple of weeks away)! She scheduled me to come in a third time, to meet with the nurses.

My meeting with the nurses was awesome. We went over all of the medications I would need and when I would be starting. They showed me how to do self-injections (a bit scary, but thankfully the needle is so tiny).

I needed to call them when my period came and come in on the second day of my period for blood work and a sonogram. They would give me my medications that day and complete a second round of infectious disease screening (to ensure everything was still okay).  Those results would come back while I was moving forward in the process, so there was no waiting period here.

The second night of my period I would start my self-injections of Lupron hormones. This continued every day for the next two weeks.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) injections followed immediately for another 10 days, along with daily monitoring.

Lastly I received a Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) injection (aka “the trigger shot”), to prepare my ovaries to release the eggs. Thirty-six hours from that injection, I would have my eggs retrieved.

The Egg Retrieval:

The egg-retrieval is a quick thirty minute procedure. I needed to be accompanied by someone, so that they can take me home afterwards.  At the clinic I was given a light IV sedation to make me comfortable. The doctor passed a needle through my vaginal wall into my ovaries and sucked out the follicle fluid containing my eggs.

After I rested for about 90 minutes, to recover from the anesthesia, my husband took me home and stayed with me throughout the day, as the doctor recommended. I returned to my normal routine 48 hours later, fully recovered!

I had a post-retrieval sonogram at the clinic a few days after the egg retrieval. As I had hoped, everything went well.

The Duration of the Entire Process:

The entire egg donation process, from the beginning of my treatment to my egg retrieval, just took a couple of weeks. But passing this type of blessing on to others is TRULY a permanent and ongoing miracle.

Click to read part one: Why I chose to become an egg donor.

If you would like to learn more about GENESIS Fertility New York or are ready to schedule an appointment, please speak with one of our representatives at 929-605-5467.

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