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Shabar09
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Egg donation, any one with an experience to share?
So, for the past few months, I've been throwing around the idea of putting myself in an egg donation database. I feel like I'd be a really good candidate for it just because of my health and background. I definitely haven't made any serious steps other than printing out application paperwork and doing some online research. I was wondering if any of you ladies have been a part of this from either side, donor or donee? I'd love to get some opinions from those who have been through it or also considered it.
As further background, I'm 21 (which is generally the minimum age), in good health, non-smoker, lead a healthy lifestyle, and am of sound mind (I have never been diagnosed with any mental illness or complications and have never been on medication for anything non-physical, thus my personal opinion is that I'm sane). I don't have any hard leaning one way or another about adoption, fertility treatments, abortion, or anything of that nature. I believe it's all the choice of the individual what they do with their body/life/genetic material. I also am unsure if I ever want children of my own. I will admit that my main motivation is financial. I have aquaintances that put a significant dent in their student loans this way. I'd like to make an effort to begin paying mine off before I graduate, which is hard to do without a large influx of money.
Also, thanks for your patience with my questions. I know I ask a lot more than I answer.
Edit: Any inexperienced opinions are welcome as well! I'd like to think I've looked at this from all sides but hey! I could totally be overlooking a game-changing detail.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Egg donation, any one with an experience to share?
Not judging at all, but I personally wouldn't be able to do it, to me those eggs are potential children. The mother in me is a little put off by thinking of it in financial terms. But I can see how someone without children wouldn't view it that way.
Egg retrieval can be pretty painful, btw.
Unfortunately, as my mother keeps reminding me, I have a genetic defect that causes my celiac. And no one wants a gluten free kid.
BFP#2 12/18/12- EDD 8/31/13 First U/S- 6w4d HB 124! Second U/S- 10w2d HB 178!! Grow baby, grow! NT Scan Scheduled for 2/20/13.
I also think you need to be very thin/athletic, with a family free of major diseases (not just you...your mom, dad, grandparents, uncles/aunts, siblings, etc.), very pretty, etc. Not saying your aren't (I don't know you) but just putting that out there.
Also, they make 21 the minimum age for a reason...you may be very mature but you may not know how you will feel about this issue in a few years, when you start thinking about having kids of your own and/or how a future spouse might feel about it (I know I would be weirded out if my SO had a genetic kid out there whose life he wasn't involved in). Again, not trying to judge...you may have thought through this already.
[QUOTE]Are you tall, thin, and gorgeous? A clean bill of health isn't the only thing that potential parents look for in a donor. Yeah, it's enough to get you accepted by an agency, but you're unlikely to be accepted if you're a new donor and don't look like a supermodel.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]
<div>I don't think that's true. I went through premature ovarian failure at 24, so when the time comes I will either be using an egg donor or adopting. I go back and forth on it, but if I do decide to use an egg donor I hope to find someone who looks like me (similar height, coloring, etc), and I am certainly not a supermodel haha.</div><div>
</div><div>OP, I think it is a very personal decision. If you do decide to do it, I think you would be giving someone an amazing gift. I think the hardest part (on both sides) is that it is hard to separate the idea of the egg from the idea of the baby. Yes, it is my egg, but another woman carried it for 9 months and gave birth to it. Is it mine? Is it hers? Do I have a baby out there? It's just weird to try to wrap your head around it.</div><div>
</div><div>As far as egg retrieval goes, it is not an easy process, but I think it is a lot better than it used to be. By the time we caught my infertility, it would have been a waste of money to even try IVF, but I was told that that it is just uncomfortable for most people, often followed by bad menstrual cramps. </div><div>
</div><div>If you are seriously considering it, there are infertility boards on the nest, and I'm sure the bump, as well as some other ones on the internet. There are a lot of people who have been through this that are happy to talk about it. Good luck!</div>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_donation#The_egg_donor.27s_process_in_detail
[QUOTE]Ok, guys. I don't mean that you LITERALLY need to look like a supermodel, but you do need to be<strong> taller, thinner, and prettier</strong> than most. Potential donors under 5'7" aren't accepted nearly as frequently as taller girls. ...and, yes, I do know this from experience.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]
My neighbor was none of those!!!! Exception to the rule, I guess, lol
That's surprising, but I guess there are always exceptions. Was your neighbor a particular ethnicity? That can affect it. Couples do, as a PP mentioned, generally try to choose a donor who resembles them. Donors from certain parts of Asia are in high demand.
[QUOTE]I've honestly considered it. You hear on the radio around here all the time how one cycle will pay $6000. And every time I hear that, I think about how if it worked for me for a year, I could pay off all of my student loans. Unfortunately, as my mother keeps reminding me, I have a genetic defect that causes my celiac. <strong>And no one wants a gluten free kid.</strong>
Posted by peekaboo2011[/QUOTE]
<div>Same here... but I'm as small as a biscuit, so I'd come up a bit <em>short. </em></div>
[QUOTE]Ok, guys. I don't mean that you LITERALLY need to look like a supermodel, but you do need to be taller, thinner, and prettier than most. Potential donors under 5'7" aren't accepted nearly as frequently as taller girls. ...and, yes, I do know this from experience.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]
<div>I definitely agree that you are more likely to be selected if you are better looking. As shallow as I feel saying this, if two donors were the same in all of the other aspects that are important to me, I would probably go for the one I thought was better looking. However, I think less likely is more accurate than unlikely to be selected as you initially said. The people looking for eggs are all so different and looking for different things, that I think it is pretty much a crapshoot whether you are a good match for someone. Sorry, this is not as cohesive as I had hoped. I guess what I'm trying to say is that good looks do help boost your odds, but they are by no means a make it or break it type thing.</div>
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Egg donation, any one with an experience to share?: That's surprising, but I guess there are always exceptions. Was your neighbor a particular ethnicity? That can affect it. Couples do, as a PP mentioned, generally try to choose a donor who resembles them. Donors from certain parts of Asia are in high demand.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]
No, just a 20 something, slightly overweight, plain looking brunette.
I haz a planning bio
THANK YOU. I saw this post this morning on my phone, and intended to come back and comment on that totally offensive definition of "sanity", but then I fell back asleep and forgot about it.
OP, from what I understand, the process can be very tough physically, not to mention the potential emotional issues. It's something I would give a lot of thought to. Don't be blinded by the potential compensation. It's that high for a reason.