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The Basics and Benefits of Donor Eggs
Starting a family should happen when you decide the time is right.
Unfortunately, our reproductive systems continue to age as we do.
If you decide to have children in your late thirties or early forties, you may experience fertility issues. If you’re currently struggling with infertility and pursuing fertility treatment, it isn’t too late to discover the benefits of donor eggs and how they can help you conceive.
What are donor eggs?
It’s a well-known fact women are born with a finite number of eggs, and as their ovaries — the organs housing their eggs— mature over time, the quality and quantity of those eggs begin to diminish. Fortunately, donor eggs are eggs retrieved from young, heathy women. Who have passed a series of physical and mental health assessments before donating.
While donor eggs aren’t the only option to consider when starting or growing your family, using donor eggs is the only avenue which provides the opportunity to experience pregnancy and childbirth if your own eggs are no longer viable for pregnancy. Additionally, donor eggs are a means for any hopeful parent to conceive a child. Whether they are choosing to be a single parent by choice, are part of a couple, or part of the LGBTQI community.
Who is a good candidate to receive donor eggs?
If you’ve struggled to conceive after one year of trying, or six months if you’re 35 or older, it’s time to discuss your fertility options with your doctor.
Many people are potential candidates for using donor eggs and age isn’t always the determining factor.
Candidates can be someone who:
- is experiencing early menopause
- has poor egg quality
- suffers from a genetic disease
- has an imbalance of hormones
- hasn’t had success responding to ovary stimulation
Determining whether using donor eggs is right for you is just the beginning of your journey.
But what a beautiful journey it can be!
Whether you already have a child or children or are in the beginning stages of starting your family, donor eggs can be right for anyone depending on their circumstances. Fertility issues may happen at any age. But the reality is age can significantly impact your ability to conceive a child naturally.
How many donor eggs can I receive?
If you choose to undergo a fresh donor egg cycle, there’s no guarantee how many eggs you’ll receive from your donor. In comparison, frozen donor eggs typically come in a lot of approximately 5-8 eggs. This means you can elect to purchase eggs to save for future use, allowing for the possibility of biological siblings.
Do I contribute anything to my donor-conceived baby?
Epigenetic studies have shown biological mothers carrying donor-conceived babies can influence their children’s gene expression while in utero via microRNAs. While this doesn’t mean you’ll share maternal genetics with your baby, it does mean you can have a significant impact on his or her development in your womb, including which genes are ‘turned on and off’ during their lifetime – and during the lifetimes of their children and grandchildren!
The truth about using donor eggs
The truth is it doesn’t matter how your child was conceived or where their genetics came from. What matters is that your child should be brought into this world because of your love and desire for a family. This love is the thread woven into the fabric of any family.
While there’s a plethora of information on the internet regarding the donor egg process, it’s imperative to research and identify reputable clinics and specialists before moving forward with your donor egg cycle. Finally, it’s important to remember the reason why you’re considering using donor eggs. You want to love and nurture a child and watch them grow.
*Disclosure – ‘The Basics and Benefits of Donor Eggs’ is a collaborative post – for more details see my Disclosure Policy