Intro: Future Donor

kat8805 · October 2013

Hello all,

Finally dipping my feet into the forum water here. Will be pursuing becoming an egg donor and possibly a surrogate in the next year. Currently carrying our second, so my equipment is occupied

I come from a fairly fertile family on both sides, and am very excited to share my gift. I cannot even begin to comprehend your struggles on the road to motherhood, but I admire your determination and drive. Your children will be, and are so blessed to have you as mothers.

I would love any advice and insight you may have in the donation process. We are currently in MD, but will be relocating to IN in the very near future.

I want to wish all of you the best of luck in your current endeavors, and in the future.

Much love,
Kat

brooklynesque · October 2013

Just want to say thank you for considering this! Your gift will be priceless to someone like me. And congrats on your own children.

The egg donation process is basically like IVF without the transfer. You generally go on BCP to synch with the Intended Mother's cycle, then when it's time go on follicle stimulating hormone to produce lots of eggs. The retrieval is done under anesthesia. There will be some pain and discomfort involved so you need to be okay with that. For most ladies it isn't bad, but in a small minority there could be more severe symptoms (OHSS), so ask the doctor wherever you end up donating to give you a thorough account of those risks in advance.

You can either sign up with an agency or directly through a fertility clinic. If you go to a local clinic you won't be asked to travel, but your comp might be lower. (If you do a traveling donation you would have to be away from home for a week, though you could turn it into a vacation with husband and kids -- just ask for childcare to be paid for on retrieval day.) I'm sure there are other agency versus clinic pros and cons as well; maybe others can chime in.

LittleLady77 · October 2013

Thanks you! I fully consider our egg donor our angel. She literally saved us from a very different life. What you're doing is beyond wonderful.

As far as advice, we liked the pictures of our donor that were honest and real (not just cheesy modeling shots). We liked to hear about her interests and goals. It was also important to us to hear why she chose to donate. Any piece of info that we can tell our furture children that are different or special when they have a burning need to know are helpful.

As far as the actual procedure goes, it take about a month. There are tons of appointments, screenings, legal contracts etc. Then birth control to sync cycles then the injection drugs and finally retrieval. You can go through an agency or a clinic at PP said.

Best of luck!

xmaystarx · October 2013

I'll add my thanks for even considering being an egg donor. It is a great gift to provide to people who want nothing more than to be parents. I don't have any advice as I'm new to the donor game.

kat8805 · October 2013

Thank you so much for the insight. I honestly couldn't care less about any pain or discomfort during the process, its short term and well worth the benefits of knowing families will be made whole. I realize that without donation, some women would never have the chance to experience pregnancy and parenthood. It truely is an experience that anyone who desires so strongly to endure should have every opportunity and possibility to do so. Because becoming a parent is insanity, and working as hard as you all do to obtain it is intense, but I couldn't imagine a child being loved more than those being loved by a family that has struggled so hard.

Now that the second bun is in the oven, after much convincing I might add, I will begin researching more seriously about donation options. I believe I have read a bit into some legal difficulties with surrogacy in the state of IN, so I'm sure I have much to learn on that aspect. How do you suggest I begin the search for the right clinic or agency? What do you find are the major differences between the two? What are your biggest concerns when deciding on a location/team to work with? Do you prefer more information on your donor?

I'm sure there will be plenty more to come in the months to follow:)

ArgyleBride · October 2013

Yay! I am donating for the first time right now. Good luck! As far as legal difficulties, I understand some people arrange for out-of-state delivery?

kat8805 · October 2013

That may be something that needs to be done. IN is a very... Conservative... State. More time and research is needed

scorpgirl1120 · October 2013

You are an angel for your offer to help someone with this process! Welcome to the board and I hope you get all the answers and support you need while here!