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Infertility, or the inability to conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse, affects millions of individuals and couples worldwide. Over 60-80 million couples suffer from infertility globally, and 15-20 million (25%) are in India. This may cause emotional distress, social stigma, and financial burden. Egg donation, a revolutionary assisted reproductive technology (ART), offers hope to those struggling with infertility. By providing eggs from a healthy donor, the egg donation process enables individuals and couples to build their families through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or other fertility treatments. This blog aims to educate, support, and empower individuals and couples considering egg donation as a solution to their infertility challenges.
The egg donation process is a revolutionary assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedure where a healthy, fertile woman (the donor) voluntarily provides her eggs to help another individual or couple (the recipient) conceive through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or other fertility treatments. During this process, the donor undergoes ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and screening to ensure the quality and safety of the donated eggs. The donated eggs are then fertilised with the recipient's partner's sperm or donor sperm, and the resulting embryos are transplanted into the recipient's uterus, offering a chance for pregnancy and parenthood.
There are several types of egg donation, namely:
Egg donation is a comprehensive procedure that involves the following steps:
Prospective donors undergo initial screening, including a medical history review, family medical history assessment, genetic screening, and infectious disease testing. They also undergo physical examinations, hormone testing, and ultrasound evaluations to assess ovarian reserve. Donors are typically between 21 and 35 years old, non-smokers, and of healthy weight.
Egg retrieval involves surgically extracting eggs from a woman's ovaries. Under light anaesthesia and guided by ultrasound, a physician inserts a needle through the vaginal wall to aspirate eggs from follicles. The procedure typically takes 20-30 minutes, and eggs are then fertilised with sperm in the laboratory. The retrieved eggs are evaluated for quality and maturity, and viable embryos are transferred to the uterus or preserved for future use.
After egg retrieval, eggs are mixed with sperm in a laboratory dish, allowing fertilisation. Fertilised eggs (zygotes) develop into embryos over 3-5 days. Once embryos reach optimal development, the healthiest embryo(s) are selected for transfer. A catheter is guided through the cervix during embryo transfer, and the embryo(s) are gently placed in the uterus. This painless procedure typically takes 10-15 minutes, and bed rest is recommended for 24 hours post-transfer.
Here is a list of benefits of egg donation:
Legal and ethical considerations are crucial in egg donation, ensuring the rights and well-being of donors, recipients, and resulting children. Key considerations include informed consent, confidentiality, and anonymity. Donors must provide voluntary consent and an understanding of risks, benefits, and potential emotional implications. Recipients have rights to donor information, while donors may choose anonymity. Ethical concerns surround exploitation, commodification of human eggs, and potential psychological impacts on donors and children.
For egg donation recipients, the process involves confronting infertility, grief, and loss while also experiencing hope, gratitude, and joy. Recipients often struggle with identity issues, feeling a mix of emotions about carrying a child conceived with another woman's eggs. They may worry about disclosing the donation to their child, family, and friends.
Donors often report feelings of altruism, empathy, and fulfilment, knowing they're helping create a family. However, they may also experience emotional attachment to the eggs and potential offspring, leading to feelings of loss, grief, and detachment. They may develop anxiety, a sense of guilt, or an emotional attachment to the recipient's family.
Egg donation success rates are highly encouraging, with advanced reproductive technologies and careful donor selection contributing to optimal outcomes. On average, egg donation cycles result in:
You can expect the following timeline during the egg donation process:
Egg donation offers hope for couples struggling with infertility. This selfless gift from a donor helps overcome egg-related infertility issues, such as poor egg quality, low ovarian reserve, or premature ovarian failure. By using donated eggs, couples can achieve biological parenthood, overcome genetic concerns, and complete their family. Egg donation brings hope and fulfilment to those struggling to conceive, transforming their dream of parenthood into a reality.
Feeling like your dreams of parenthood are slipping away? Consider egg donation, a life-changing solution that has brought joy to countless families. But finding the right guidance is crucial. That's where renowned fertility expert Dr Nandita P. Palshetkar can help. With years of experience and a compassionate approach, she provides personalised care and expertise in egg donation, empowering you to make informed decisions and achieve your family goals. Book an appointment with her and take the first step towards building your family.
