What is egg donation?

Some women can't have what they want most.

For whatever reason – age, early menopause, genetic defects or illness – some women's bodies cannot produce eggs that can be successfully fertilized. They may be completely healthy and perfectly capable of being parents. But without fertile eggs, they can never give birth.

That's where egg donors come in. Women can make upwards of $10,000 by donating their eggs to would-be mothers. Egg donors are screened for medical conditions and potentially harmful hereditary traits, and then eggs are retrieved through a medical procedure. The eggs are fertilized via in vitro fertilization – a lab procedure in which sperm fertilizes the egg in a container – and then transferred into the patient's uterus. If the egg transfer is successful, then patient can carry out a normal pregnancy and child birth.

The procedure sounds simple, but the endeavor requires a significant commitment by egg donors and recipients. Women who do not have healthy eggs are encouraged to try other types of infertility treatments before considering egg donation as an option. Meanwhile, women who want to become egg donors must be submit to thorough background checks; these include medical histories, sexual histories, educational background, personality profiles, family histories and other information.

Donors and recipients alike must carefully consider whether they truly want to take part in this procedure. There are obvious psychological impacts, and potentially long-term ramifications, for giving or receiving an egg that will eventually become a child. Counseling is strongly recommended for anyone who is considering egg donation as an option. This is not a decision to be taken lightly.

With so much to learn about egg donation, we have gathered information from all over the Internet to help teach you about this complex subject. Read on for more information, or check out the useful links we have gathered for the site.

Why turn to egg donation?

Many women grow up dreaming about motherhood. However, when they reach that stage of their lives, some come to the painful realization that their bodies are incapable of producing children. Some women are fine with not having children. Others can't imagine life without becoming a mother. Egg donations allow these women to live the lives they always dreamed of. There are several ways to treat infertility, but sometimes egg donation is the only viable option.

Several factors can render a woman's body incapable of producing eggs. Sometimes, women aren't mentally or emotionally ready to have children until their bodies have advanced in age, beyond the point when they can produce functioning eggs. Most women go through menopause – the natural shutting down of the reproductive system – between the ages of 45 and 55.

Other factors include:

• Early menopause: Some women go through menopause while still in their 20s, meaning they can no longer produce fertile eggs. When this happens, women must receive donated, fertilized eggs if they wish to become pregnant.
• Genetic defects: Women are sometimes born without ovaries or other organs necessary in the reproductive system.
• Damage from illness: Some diseases or disorders can damage or destroy the reproductive system. When this happens, the body may be left incapable of producing healthy eggs. This kind of damage can also prevent a woman from successfully carrying a child to term.
• Surgical procedures: Women who have needed corrective surgical procedures may have had crucial reproductive organs removed.

What is infertility?

Infertility is described as an inability by the couple to not conceive after one year of contraceptive-free intercourse, if the woman is younger than 34 years old. If the woman is over the age of 35, then infertility is suspected after six months of contraceptive-free intercourse.

Some couples who seek egg donations may also face the obstacle of secondary infertility – that is, they are able to conceive, but with great difficulty. Women with secondary infertility may become pregnant and carry out a healthy pregnancy, only to then go more than a year without being able to become pregnant again. Disorders such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome can contribute to secondary infertility.

Egg donations on the rise

Fueled by economic concerns, fertility clinics are fielding unprecedented numbers of phone calls from women who are interested in donating their eggs. Many health officials believe the inquiries are a direct result of rising food and gas prices, couples with stagnant wages and rising unemployment. Still, they are happy. The more women who are interested, the better. Roughly 90 percent of women who apply to become donors are disqualified by the rigorous screening process.

The rewards to donating eggs are attractive – there's the money, and the satisfaction of helping fulfill a woman's dreams – but there are risks, too.

Risks to the donor

• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: Women who are about to donate eggs are given a stream of powerful hormones to ramp of their bodies' productions of eggs. If the ovaries become over-stimulated, the donor could experience several complications including bloating, darkening or ceased urination, blood clots, abdominal pain or respiratory distress.
• Abnormal bleeding: Donors may suffer from abnormal bleeding following the procedure to remove the eggs from their bodies.
• Liver failure: Although this rarely happens, the egg donation process can result in complications to the liver or even liver failure. Liver failure is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical care.
• Long-term effects: Studies have shown that egg donors might be more at risk of early menopause or ovarian cancer.
• Risks to recipient: The recipient is always at risk of contracting diseases from the egg donor. Although donors are put through a rigorous screening process, it's always possible that something may slip through, or that a donor might contract a disease after her tests were conducted.

There's also the risk of the donor lying about her personal or medical history. Many women become donors because they have a genuine desire to help others, but several enter the donor program simply as a way to make money. It's impossible to know what a person's true intentions are.