Is Donating Risky?
As with any medical procedure, there are risks involved in egg donation. Our staff will discuss with you potential risks during your screening process. However, the overall risk of egg donation is low since the fertility technology used are well established and significantly improved. Moreover, donors are usually young, healthy women with no history of serious medical problems. Donors are carefully screened for any conditions that could interfere with the procedure. That said, there is still some risk of potential adverse reactions to the hormones used in this process, please consider the following risks:

  • Infection: The risk of infection from egg retrieval is less than 1%. To further minimize the risk of potential infection, donors are typically instructed to take an antibiotic at the retrieval.
  • Pregnancy: It is possible that not all of the eggs will be retrieved and therefore, donors are at a high risk for pregnancy for a period of time after the egg retrieval. We ask that donors practice abstinence during this time. Further, donors should always use protection if having intercourse at any time during participation.
  • Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): Occasionally excess fluid from the ovaries may build up in the abdominal cavity causing moderate to severe bloating. If a significant amount of fluid is present, it will be removed in a procedure very similar to the egg retrieval and IV fluids are given in replacement. In mild to moderate cases of OHSS, the fluid is slowly reabsorbed over the course of several days. About 1-3% of women may experience significant OHSS. In order to reduce such risks, donors may be given different medications or a change in protocol to avoid or significantly decrease the risk of donors having OHSS.
  • Ovarian Torsion: Very rarely the ovary can twist on itself causing a sudden onset of severe pain on one or both sides. The risk of ovarian torsion is less than 1%. For a period of time, donors are asked to discontinue activities such as running, moderate to high impact aerobic activity, horseback riding and strenuous lifting to further decrease this risk.

Would donating deplete my eggs and affect my future fertility?
No. Think of egg donation as an “egg rescuing” process. In a typical ovulation cycle, several egg follicles (15-20) begin to develop. One egg becomes dominant and matures for fertilization. The other follicles die off. During the donation process, an egg donor receives hormone injections to stimulate multiple egg follicles to mature at one time. This means only the eggs that would normally be lost during a menstrual period are “rescued” in a follicle stimulation cycle for egg donation. This does not reduce the number of eggs available for future menstrual cycles nor affect your future fertility. Many donors go on to becoming mothers or have more children after they donate.

What are the side effects of hormone injections?
The hormone injections used for follicle stimulation may have a wide range of side effects including:

  • Bloating
  • Mood Swings
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Hot flashes

How many times can I donate?
Six. Our agency follows the guidelines set by ASRM, the governing body of reproductive medicine. Occasionally, more donation cycles may be permitted for having more siblings for the resulting offspring.

What if complications occur and I need medical treatment?
Our agency or the fertility clinic will purchase donor insurance for you paid by the recipient. Your health is paramount to us, and this insurance will cover the medical costs for up to 180 days should the rare event happen where you experience complications as a result of being an egg donor.

How much can I earn?
Typically about $10,000 for the first time donor. Compensation differs depending on your past donation and other factors such as education background etc.

What is the egg donor referral program?
If you become an accepted donor at MYRHS, you will become eligible to participate in our referral program. We will offer rewards of up to $5,00 for each new egg donor you refer. There is no limit to the number of referrals you can make!

Just pass this link along to your friends and ask them to complete the form on the bottom. If your referred egg donor is accepted into our egg donor program, you’ll receive $50. Then, you’ll receive a $450 referral bonus after she completes her first egg retrieval.