Egg Donor Hopes To Help
A Childless Couple Conceive
When Janice* saw an advertisement seeking egg donors for
the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science of Saint
Barnabas, she did not hesitate to answer. The very same day,
she called The Institute and soon began the screening process.
"I always knew that one day I would do it," says the 27-year-old. "Everyone
has a path in life and this is part of mine."
Janice waited to donate until she had finished having children
of her own. Now the mother of two young boys, Janice decided
that the time was right to become a donor. Her husband was
very supportive of the idea and that made the choice easier.
"People often wonder why a woman would become an egg donor," says
Serena Chen, M.D., Medical Director of the Ovum Donation
Program at The Institute. "These are very special women who
devote a tremendous amount of time to helping our patients
have a family. We compensate them fairly for their time and
effort, but what they are giving is truly priceless."
Egg donation involves obtaining eggs from a donor, then
fertilizing and transferring them into the uterus of a matched
recipient. Egg donation is one form of in vitro fertilization
("test tube baby"), and it is a highly successful infertility
treatment for women with a variety of conditions. Egg donation
is used for those with premature ovarian failure, women with
diminished ovarian reserve, and women who have repeatedly
failed to conceive with their own eggs. Other patients may
be unable to produce eggs or have chromosomal defects that
make natural conception dangerous or undesirable.
The Egg Donor Process
Like all egg donors at The Institute, Janice underwent an
extensive screening process that included both a psychological
evaluation and a medical exam. Janice describes the experience
as "very impressive and thorough."
"We are very stringent with our screening criteria, whether
the donor is recruited by us or an agency," says Dr. Chen. "These
women have to pass multiple, rigorous screening criteria
and we complete the screening ourselves. For every 100 prospective
donors, we reject well over 90 percent. It is this screening,
the cutting-edge embryology laboratory and the high success
rates that draw the patients here."
To maximize egg donation, the egg donor undergoes stimulation
of her ovaries. The normal menstrual cycle is enhanced through
the use of various medications that are injected at home
by the egg donor.
"The first time I gave myself an injection, I was a little
hesitant," recalls Janice. "After the first one, it was no
trouble at all."
In addition to the injections, Janice came to The Institute
every one to three days to be evaluated through blood tests
and ultrasounds for follicle maturation. The early hours,
between 6 and 7:30 a.m., allowed Janice to return home before
her husband left for work and her children awoke.
On the day of the egg donation, Janice came to The Institute's
Same Day Surgery Center. She describes the process as "very
quick and professional," and she was able to go home the
same day. The egg retrieval, performed with the patient under
intravenous anesthesia, is done using ultrasound guidance
and does not require an incision.
Janice was so pleased with the donation process that she
decided to donate again. According to Dr. Chen, the demand
for donors far exceeds the supply. At most programs, couples
must wait at least three to six months for a donor. Couples
seeking donors of Asian, African American or Jewish descent
must wait much longer as there are very few donors with these
backgrounds.
Overall, Janice feels very comfortable with the idea of
egg donation and recommends that women consider donating
only if "it feels right" for them and not just for financial
gain. "It is a piece of you out there in the world," she
relates. "You need to give some thought to egg donation and
not just do it on a lark."
Although donors do not find out whether or not the donation
of their eggs results in a pregnancy, Janice hopes that she
has been able to help a deserving couple to experience the
joy of a child.
You can help an infertile couple and receive compensation.
For information on becoming an egg donor, please call
(973)
322-5862.
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