by admin on July 15, 2010
In Portfolio there is a short but interesting interview with a Jewish egg donor who donated her eggs six times. She started out when she was in college, and then repeated the process several times. She said that she did not just do it for the money, but because it was such an easy way to make such a big difference in another person’s life.
About her compensation, her first donation got her $5000, and then with each successive donation she got more, until her last donation earned her $9500, which is a more appropriate number for Jewish egg donors (they are in high demand).
And she made a really good point at the end of the interview, I am just going to quote her here:
Do not just do it for the money. Sure, the money is great for college, but it is a lifelong decision. When those children turn 18, they have every right to search me out. The actions I take right now will affect my future. It’s not a decision you make today—it’s a life-altering decision.
by admin on July 13, 2010
Freezing eggs is becoming a more and more popular treatment option among American women. Despite the relatively high costs of around $10,000, there are a lot of women that seem to feel it is worth the money, even though the success rates are not overwhelmingly positive. Using frozen eggs only results in a successful pregnancy in 39% of the time, according to a recent study by Fertility and Sterility journal.
You can read more about this story here.
There is an interesting article in the BBS about a couple that conceived a baby with the help of an egg donor and a surrogate:
After having breast cancer three times, Claire Horner was told not to try for any more children in case her cancer returned.
Desperate for a brother or sister for her son Jack, Claire turned to her husband, Dennis for his sperm, an egg donor and a woman who agreed to be a surrogate mother in order to fulfil her dream.
What is interesting is that the surrogates where not paid. A lot of people say surrogacy and egg donation is a dirty business, because people get paid for it, but I really think it is not. It is a service that is provided, and as cases like these prove, some women even do this completely unselfishly and without any kind of expectation for a financial reward, which is very admirable.
You can read the whole BBC story here.
by admin on June 28, 2010
I just found a good overview about what’s involved in the egg donation process. The author explains the most common reasons why people chose an egg donor, and different ways to go about it (for example anonymous vs. direct donation).
You will also find out more information about the qualifications of an egg donor (e.g. being between 21-32 years of age, etc.), being drug free, and free of STDs and so on.
The actual collection of the eggs is performed under anesthesia. The unfertilized eggs are collected by a needle inserted through the vagina to the ovaries, and then transferred for fertilization and implantation or intrauterine insemination in the recipient.
A lot of women are concerned about whether this will be painful. As mentioned here, it us done with anesthesia, so you don’t feel it. However, it should be noted that some of the medications that you have to take when you become an egg donor can make life unpleasant for a couple of weeks. Some women suffer from these effects, while others have no problems at all, but you should know about it.
"I was devastated and so was my husband after being told by my fertility specialist at age 38 that I had no option but to consider adoption or donor eggs (according to my doctor I was out of eggs and gave me 4% chance of getting pregnant and a 2% chance of carrying a baby to full term). After much research and dozens of hours reading infertility related articles and posts online, I have found your book! [...] After one month of trying I became pregnant and had a beautiful healthy boy. Nine months after that I did everything in your book again and after 2 months of trying I got pregnant again and gave birth to another perfect little boy."
