Does Egg Donation Affect My Fertility?
This is a common (and valid!) question that donors asks frequently.
Donating eggs does not appear to hurt a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant in the years after the procedure, a small study from Belgium found.
Few other studies have looked at the effects of egg-harvesting procedures on the future reproductive health of women who donate eggs.
Some experts question whether hormonally stimulating the ovaries – which makes them produce extra eggs – and removing those eggs from a healthy, young woman could later increase her chance of infertility, but others contend there are no serious long-term risks.
“Egg donation has been offered to patients in Belgium since the 1980s. We were not surprised by the good reproductive outcomes in ex-egg donors,” Dr. Dominic Stoop, medical director at the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Brussels, Belgium, and lead author of the study, wrote in an email to Reuters Health.
The researchers gave a telephone questionnaire to 194 women who had donated eggs at the Belgian center between 1999 and 2010. The surveys have been conducted an average of four to five years after those procedures.
At the time of donation, women averaged 30 years old.
Sixty past egg donors reported trying to get pregnant since the procedure. Of those, 57 women conceived without help. The other three women required fertility treatment, though two of them sought treatment because of their partner’s infertility.
Sixteen percent of donors had changes in their menstrual cycle after donation. However, none of the women reporting these changes had fertility problems.
“Menstrual pattern could be disrupted temporarily by hormonal changes due to ovarian stimulation, much like how menstrual changes also appear after stopping an oral contraceptive,” said Stoop, whose study is published in Fertility and Sterility.
“In the short term, egg donation appears to have no effect on fertility,” said Dr. Orhan Bukulmez, an infertility specialist at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas who wasn’t involved in the new research. But longer-term studies of egg donors are needed, he told Reuters Health.
Although some researchers argue that the extra hormones women are given before the procedure and possible trauma to the ovaries during it could lead to early menopause in egg donors, studies haven’t found reasons to be concerned so far.
Egg donation is a well-established form of fertility treatment. In the United States, roughly 12 percent of all treatment cycles in 2009 used donor eggs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Future research is needed to also consider possible fertility risks for women who have their eggs harvested and frozen for their own future personal use, according to Stoop.
Originally explored as a way for women undergoing cancer treatment to preserve their fertility, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine still considers that type of egg freezing experimental.
Bukulmez cautioned that the results of the current study cannot be generalized to include women seeking to freeze their own eggs.
Egg donors are a very select group of patients that are chosen for their healthy ovaries, according to Bukulmez. “They may not be representative of the fertile female population as a whole,” he said.
Want to learn more about Egg Donation? Check out our Blog for helpful information!
Ready to get started? Take our quick 2-minute prescreen questionnaire to see if you qualify!
Does Egg Donation Affect My Fertility
Does Egg Donation Affect My Fertility?
This is a common (and valid!) question that donors asks frequently.
Donating eggs does not appear to hurt a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant in the years after the procedure, a small study from Belgium found.
Few other studies have looked at the effects of egg-harvesting procedures on the future reproductive health of women who donate eggs.
Some experts question whether hormonally stimulating the ovaries – which makes them produce extra eggs – and removing those eggs from a healthy, young woman could later increase her chance of infertility, but others contend there are no serious long-term risks.
“Egg donation has been offered to patients in Belgium since the 1980s. We were not surprised by the good reproductive outcomes in ex-egg donors,” Dr. Dominic Stoop, medical director at the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Brussels, Belgium, and lead author of the study, wrote in an email to Reuters Health.
The researchers gave a telephone questionnaire to 194 women who had donated eggs at the Belgian center between 1999 and 2010. The surveys have been conducted an average of four to five years after those procedures.
At the time of donation, women averaged 30 years old.
Sixty past egg donors reported trying to get pregnant since the procedure. Of those, 57 women conceived without help. The other three women required fertility treatment, though two of them sought treatment because of their partner’s infertility.
Sixteen percent of donors had changes in their menstrual cycle after donation. However, none of the women reporting these changes had fertility problems.
“Menstrual pattern could be disrupted temporarily by hormonal changes due to ovarian stimulation, much like how menstrual changes also appear after stopping an oral contraceptive,” said Stoop, whose study is published in Fertility and Sterility.
“In the short term, egg donation appears to have no effect on fertility,” said Dr. Orhan Bukulmez, an infertility specialist at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas who wasn’t involved in the new research. But longer-term studies of egg donors are needed, he told Reuters Health.
Although some researchers argue that the extra hormones women are given before the procedure and possible trauma to the ovaries during it could lead to early menopause in egg donors, studies haven’t found reasons to be concerned so far.
Egg donation is a well-established form of fertility treatment. In the United States, roughly 12 percent of all treatment cycles in 2009 used donor eggs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Future research is needed to also consider possible fertility risks for women who have their eggs harvested and frozen for their own future personal use, according to Stoop.
Originally explored as a way for women undergoing cancer treatment to preserve their fertility, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine still considers that type of egg freezing experimental.
Bukulmez cautioned that the results of the current study cannot be generalized to include women seeking to freeze their own eggs.
Egg donors are a very select group of patients that are chosen for their healthy ovaries, according to Bukulmez. “They may not be representative of the fertile female population as a whole,” he said.
Want to learn more about Egg Donation? Check out our Blog for helpful information!
Ready to get started? Take our quick 2-minute prescreen questionnaire to see if you qualify!
How do I know if being a surrogate is right for me?
Deciding whether to become a surrogate is a personal decision that requires careful consideration! Many Surrogates say that once they started to seriously consider being a surrogate for another family, they couldn’t get the thought out of their head. It was a calling- one they felt they had to answer.
We’d love to provide you with additional information on what it means to be a Surrogate, so that you can make an informed decision if Surrogacy is right for you.
Here are a few things to consider when making your decision:
It’s also important to talk with your partner, friends, and family members before making a decision. It’s also important to keep in mind that you should never feel pressured to be a surrogate!
What to look for in a Gestational Surrogate
It can be overwhelming to try to figure out what to look for in a Gestational Surrogate. Here are some key factors you’ll want to consider to ensure a smooth and positive experience. Here are some essentials to remember with a warm and caring touch!
Health and Medical History
First and foremost, your surrogate should be healthy, with no medical conditions that could complicate the pregnancy. Complete medical records from her previous deliveries and pregnancies will help demonstrate she’s a good candidate.
Age and Pregnancy Experience
We look for surrogates between the ages of 21 and 40. This age range helps keep the risks of complications lower. Also, your surrogate should have had no more than five prior deliveries, and no more than 2 of those were c-sections. She should be done having children of her own.
Emotional and Mental Stability
Emotional stability is crucial. Your surrogate should be mentally stable, with no history of severe mental health issues. She should be comfortable with the surrogacy process and excited to help you on this journey.
Relationship Status
While considering your surrogate’s relationship status, remember it doesn’t directly correlate to a stable home environment. What matters most is that she has a supportive network around her.
Financial Stability
Your surrogate should be financially stable and not currently receiving government assistance. This ensures she is undertaking surrogacy for the right reasons and not out of financial necessity.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Ensure your surrogate knows all the legal and ethical considerations involved. She should be willing to follow all necessary procedures and agreements.
Location
Please consider the logistics of your surrogate’s location when choosing. You’ll need to travel to where she is for the birth.
Relationship with Intended Parents
You’ll want a surrogate who is comfortable with you and willing to have an open and ongoing relationship throughout the pregnancy. Good communication and a positive relationship are essential.
Ultimately, the most important thing is finding a gestational surrogate you feel comfortable with and trust. We’re here to help guide you through this journey with care and support every step of the way!
Want to learn more about Surrogacy? Check out our Blog for helpful information about your surrogacy search!
Ready to get started? Register today to gain access to our Surrogate Database, where you can expect to begin seeing profiles in as little as 2-3 weeks.