In years past, egg donation was not a topic that was generally spoken about. Although egg donation is extremely important, specifically for families who wish to have children but are unable to do so on their own, most egg donors do not openly talk about their experience. Due to the lack of available information, women who are considering donating their eggs may enter the process without a complete understanding of the egg donation process. Therefore, before you begin your internet search for “what I wish I knew before I donated my eggs,” keep reading.

  1. The shots can hurt. Okay, so this may not exactly be a secret because we all know that shots are not the most pleasant. However, for women who are donating their eggs, daily injections are required in the days leading up to egg retrieval. These shots are to be injected into fat tissue. Many women chose to inject them into the stomach, below the belly button. However, the injection sites can bruise and become sore after a few days of injections.
  2. Recovery can take time. Egg retrieval may sound simple enough, but it is a surgical procedure. Many donors will feel sore in the days following the surgery. Don’t plan to return to work and your normal activities for a few days to give your body time to recover.
  3. There are risks associated with egg donation. Topping the list of “what I wish I knew before I donated my eggs” is that there are potential medical risks involved. As with any procedure, there can be side effects that accompany egg donation, such as Ovarian Hyper-stimulation Syndrome (OHSS). OHSS is a condition that occurs when the ovaries become swollen and painful due to the increase in hormones. Although there is a risk for OHSS to occur, this is not a likely outcome for most patients.
  4. You may change someone’s life. There are so many women in the world who are struggling with infertility. Egg donation is a selfless act which may make the wishes of a deserving family come true. Knowing that you contributed to someone’s deepest desires and helped to complete a missing void in their life is enough to make the entire process completely worth it for most donors.

If you ask an egg donor what they wish they knew about the egg donation process, you are likely to hear that the process is not easy, but it is worth it.

Learn More

If you are interested in learning more about the process to become an egg donor, we invite you to contact Carolinas Fertility Institute (CFI) for more information. At Carolinas Fertility Institute, we are dedicated to providing our egg donors with thorough information so that they are not left reflecting on “what I wish I knew before coming an egg donor.”