Hi all

Egg donation is something that I never really considered until recently. Now that I have DD and #2 is due very shortly, and since joining BB and interacting with people who are on the AC journey, I quite often think that I would like to be able to help a couple in need achieve their dream of being parents.

It's sort of been a 'one day I'll look into it' kind of thing, but last week I noticed an ad in my local newspaper, from a couple who are looking for an egg donor. I don't know if they live locally or whether they're just putting out requests for help wherever they can, but seeing their ad made me really think that egg donation is something I would like to pursue in future - my family is complete (ie I don't intend on having any more children), I'm well off my 30th birthday, and I have no medical problems that I know of that would make my an unsuitable candidate for donation...
As far as attachment to the eggs (ie considering any children resulting from them being 'mine'), no problem there - I see giving away my eggs as like giving away an old handbag or my tonsils - something that I no longer have any use for, but wouldn't like to see go to waste, kwim? I wouldn't see any successful pregnancies resulting from the donation of my eggs as having anything to do with me - so whether the parents of that child wanted me in the child's life or not would be entirely up to them.

I just have a few questions about egg donation for those of you who are familiar with QLD's laws - I haven't pursued the subject with DH yet because he's the kind of person who won't be interested in hearing about my desire to help others without having the necessary info under my belt. I think he would be supportive of the idea, though, providing it didn't impact too much on his little bubble lol

So, I'm just wondering:
- What kinds of tests would I have to undergo to determine whether I'm a suitable donor, and what do these tests involve?
- Would I have to travel (I'm in regional QLD), and if so, would that mean Brisbane or do some regional centres (which may be closer to me) provide these services?
- What is the actual process of egg harvesting? (ie how do they get the eggs out, will I have to stay in hospital, how long will I be 'out of action' so to speak?)
- What are the legal things regarding children resulting from egg donation? (ie will I be listed on a birth certificate/be in any way responsible for the child etc the way surrogacy works in some states - where the parents must then adopt the child - or is this child considered solely that of the parents in the law's eyes?)
- Does a donor do repeated cycles of donation, or can I do one or however many I feel like and then stop?
- Can someone explain the processes of 'known' and 'anonymous' donation to me, and how I would go about choosing which option I prefer? (again, attachment to the eggs, and children resulting from them, are not an issue for me - I'd just like to know how the process works)
- How long after the birth of a child do you have to wait before pursuing donation? Can I donate while breastfeeding? What is the age cut-off for donors?

And, any other information would be helpful I'd really like to know more about it so I can maybe help somebody in future. I don't think I would be able to help the couple who advertised in the newspaper, as I'm about to give birth and I don't know how long I would have to wait before I can donate, but I really hope that someone else out there is able to help them, and I'd really like to help somebody else experience the joys of being parents