I saw an ad in my local newspaper... (egg donation)

[Glamourcide]

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

[HOPRAH]

It's great that you are considering this. As am I.
I can't imagine anyone not being able to have the love of a child!

[MsPink]

Hi Ladies,

It's a pretty amazing thing your are both considering..

There are so many of us filled with so much love and want that for some reason or another are unable to conceive.

May I suggest you both join:
Aussie Egg Doners - Welcome!

and you will find so many ladies full of info and help. It is a site for both donors and people looking for a donor..

All the best ladies - you both just may make somebody the happiest person in the world..

[Pretty Butterfly]

I would also love to donate, after watching my sister go through IVF.. (she used her own eggs though) and had always planned to when I was finished.

But now, since having Kane, I no doubt wont be a suitable candidate, even though it wasn't heriditary.... And it does make me sad... I would love everyone who wants a baby to have what I have, and would of loved to have helped....

[dusty]

Hey that is great you ladies are considering or at least thinking about egg donation!

I did a post about what it entails a couple of months back HERE.

But feel free to ask me and other LTers questions if you would like.

Pretty Butterfly, why don't you think you would be a suitable candidate to donate?

Donna a few more answers to your questions.

- 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?)

Once your donated eggs are fertilised with sperm (either the intended father or donated sperm) the embryos legally belong to the intended parents. In Vic they keep a register of EDs so any resulting children once they turn 18 can find out who their biological parents are (if they don't already know, which is common these days).


- Does a donor do repeated cycles of donation, or can I do one or however many I feel like and then stop?
Its up to you. Normally they aim to pick up a handful of eggs (10-12) so there is a chance of having multiple embryos. Ultimately it is completely up to you how many times you want to donate.

- 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)

In my linked post

- 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?
Should be in the linked post/thread.

[Pretty Butterfly]

Bubba #5, Kane, was born with a cleft lip, gum and palate.

Although his was marked as Non heriditory, I just didn't think that having a cleft in the mix would allow for egg donation? In case it was from me, and then passed it to a new mum's bubba via egg??

Although I'm not 100% on that....

[dusty]

Pretty Butterfly, I remember Kane's and your family journey with this well.
I wouldn't rule yourself out as a potential ED at all hun. Genetic history information is collected of potential EDs and would also be discussed through councelling sessions. I don't know what the final result would be, but I reckon it would still be worth exploring if you were interested. I know that other more serious family conditions do not immediately rule out potential donors.

HTH!

[Xers]

Hi GothMum,
First off, good on you for considering going through the egg-donation process; to go to those lengths simply to help another woman conceive is an example of the finest things humanity has to offer. I'm just starting the sperm donation process, but the donation of my gametes is a much simpler procedure, and I'm a little awed by the generosity of egg donors.

One thing that strikes me that you might want to think about if you haven't already, though...

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.

Bear in mind that while the donation may or may not have a emotional link for you, it's almost guaranteed that the child won't see it in nearly the same light - it's the basis for their entire existence, after all. There's a fairly decent chance that they may want to meet you some time in the future, and you do need to be emotionally prepared to deal with that.

I was entirely comfortable with the idea of helping a family-to-be have a child, but researching the experience of donor offspring required much more investigation and thought - we may be helping create children, but in doing so we're also eventually helping create adults, who frequently aren't satisfied with having a donor parent in theory and need to meet and have some connection with their donor parent to complete their sense of identity. It was getting comfortable with that idea and the fact that it does come with responsibilities owed to the people who result from my donations that took me by far the most time, thought and research before I was ready to put my hand up to volunteer.

[HotI]

Bubba #5, Kane, was born with a cleft lip, gum and palate.

Although his was marked as Non heriditory, I just didn't think that having a cleft in the mix would allow for egg donation? In case it was from me, and then passed it to a new mum's bubba via egg??

Although I'm not 100% on that....

Have you seen a genetic counsellor? Were they able to find a non-genetic 'cause' for the cleft?

I ask about the genetic counsellor not for you to have testing or anything like that, but maybe explain how clefts happen and the input of genes and environment, if you were interested.

They are still trying to work out all the contributors to clefts (and other variations in the developing bub) but there are some things known and a GC could help fill the gaps in what you have been told.

Most of the hospitals have a genetics unit.

take care,

Kate