Egg/ova donation is the process whereby a woman donates ova for the purposes of fertility treatment for couples who cannot have a baby using a female partner’s own ova. This process typically involves in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technology, with the ova being fertilised in a laboratory.
There are several reasons why a couple would not be able make use of a female partner’s ova to achieve a pregnancy. These reasons include, but are not limited to; repeated pregnancy loss, premature ovarian failure, cancer, etc. Same-sex couples can also need donor ova for a variety of reasons.
Donating your eggs/ova means that you are part of creating modern families. When you donate, you help people who might not previously have been able to to become parents. You will make a significant contribution to the creation of a modern family – a family that might not have existed were it not for you.
Although the act of becoming a donor is extremely noble, it is a very important decision. Thus, we will answer all the questions you might have and you are free to contact us if you are unsure about anything. To us the most important part of the process is that you are comfortable with your decision and that you are 100% informed of the journey that lies ahead.
Once a potential donor has completed the donor requirements section and qualifies to apply, she can apply online (preferably) or, alternatively, the donor can email the donor bank (eggdonors@wijnlandfertility.co.za) requesting an application form. The application consists of a wide variety of questions that range from personal to medical and social information.
Potential donors, who have met the prerequisites and applied, will be requested to visit the clinic. The fertility counsellor will have an information session with the donor to provide guidance and explain the process of donation and will also invite the donor to ask all the questions she might have regarding the process. The profile of the donor will also be discussed with her to ensure all necessary information is provided. The necessary consent and agreement forms, containing all the legal aspects regarding donation, will be provided to the donor. The information session serves to ensure the donor understands the process and that she has made a well-informed decision.
After the clinic visit, a gynaecological examination will be scheduled for the donor with one of the doctors. The examination will be a standard one and will include all gynaecological and obstetric history, a gynaecological examination and a pap smear. During this examination, an ultrasound will be done to examine the prospective donor’s uterus, ovaries and other pelvic organs.
If the doctor feels the donor is suitable for donation, he/she will request a few blood tests. These blood tests usually consist of screening certain hormone levels and for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Once all the screenings are done, and the doctor is satisfied with all the results, the donor is ready to donate. The doctor will prescribe stimulation medication that will make the follicles, which carry the eggs/ova, grow. This medication will cause more follicles to grow than in a normal cycle. During the stimulation cycle, the follicular growth will be monitored and, once the follicles reach a certain size, the doctor and fertility sister will let you know and instruct you to trigger your ovulation, usually by means of a hormone injection. Once you have injected yourself with the trigger medication – 36 hours later to be exact – your follicles will need to be aspirated to ensure that we retrieve all available oocytes. The egg/ova retrieval is done in our theatre under anaesthesia. The procedure is quick and usually lasts between 10 and 15 minutes.
The donation can be done in two different ways:
Fresh Donation (Synched Donation)
This type of donation occurs when a donor is matched/chosen by a recipient, and the donor and recipient’s cycles are “synched”. Thus, the donor will be required to start the donation-stimulation cycle at a specific time, depending on when the patient is ready for the treatment. Once the ova have been retrieved, the sperm of the recipient’s male partner will be used to fertilise the ova.
Donation to the Ova Bank (Frozen Donation)
The donor will donate to the ova bank, thus synching with a patient will not be necessary. When the donor is ready to donate, the donation-stimulation cycle will commence. Once the ova have been retrieved during follicular aspiration, they will be vitrified (frozen) and stored in the ova bank until the donor’s profile is selected by a recipient. Once the recipient is ready to use the ova, the ova will be warmed/thawed and fertilised with the sperm of the recipient’s male partner. It is important to note that one ova-donation cycle to the bank could result in more than one recipient family, as not all recipients choose to thaw and fertilise all the ova. Some recipients will thaw and fertilise a certain number and, once they have achieved their pregnancy, they donate the remaining ova back to the ova bank.
The donation type will be dependent on the recommendation of the clinic and/or the needs of the donor.
Once the donation is complete, the donor will be compensated/remunerated for her time, travel and any reasonable expenses incurred due to the donation process.
Once a potential donor has completed the donor requirements section and qualifies to apply, she can apply online (preferably) or, alternatively, the donor can email the donor bank (eggdonors@wijnlandfertility.co.za) requesting an application form. The application consists of a wide variety of questions that range from personal to medical and social information.
Potential donors, who have met the prerequisites and applied, will be requested to visit the clinic. The fertility counsellor will have an information session with the donor to provide guidance and explain the process of donation and will also invite the donor to ask all the questions she might have regarding the process. The profile of the donor will also be discussed with her to ensure all necessary information is provided. The necessary consent and agreement forms, containing all the legal aspects regarding donation, will be provided to the donor. The information session serves to ensure the donor understands the process and that she has made a well-informed decision.
After the clinic visit, a gynaecological examination will be scheduled for the donor with one of the doctors. The examination will be a standard one and will include all gynaecological and obstetric history, a gynaecological examination and a pap smear. During this examination, an ultrasound will be done to examine the prospective donor’s uterus, ovaries and other pelvic organs.
If the doctor feels the donor is suitable for donation, he/she will request a few blood tests. These blood tests usually consist of screening certain hormone levels and for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Once all the screenings are done, and the doctor is satisfied with all the results, the donor is ready to donate. The doctor will prescribe stimulation medication that will make the follicles, which carry the eggs/ova, grow. This medication will cause more follicles to grow than in a normal cycle. During the stimulation cycle, the follicular growth will be monitored and, once the follicles reach a certain size, the doctor and fertility sister will let you know and instruct you to trigger your ovulation, usually by means of a hormone injection. Once you have injected yourself with the trigger medication – 36 hours later to be exact – your follicles will need to be aspirated to ensure that we retrieve all available oocytes. The egg/ova retrieval is done in our theatre under anaesthesia. The procedure is quick and usually lasts between 10 and 15 minutes.
The donation can be done in two different ways:
Fresh Donation (Synched Donation)
This type of donation occurs when a donor is matched/chosen by a recipient, and the donor and recipient’s cycles are “synched”. Thus, the donor will be required to start the donation-stimulation cycle at a specific time, depending on when the patient is ready for the treatment. Once the ova have been retrieved, the sperm of the recipient’s male partner will be used to fertilise the ova.
Donation to the Ova Bank (Frozen Donation)
The donor will donate to the ova bank, thus synching with a patient will not be necessary. When the donor is ready to donate, the donation-stimulation cycle will commence. Once the ova have been retrieved during follicular aspiration, they will be vitrified (frozen) and stored in the ova bank until the donor’s profile is selected by a recipient. Once the recipient is ready to use the ova, the ova will be warmed/thawed and fertilised with the sperm of the recipient’s male partner. It is important to note that one ova-donation cycle to the bank could result in more than one recipient family, as not all recipients choose to thaw and fertilise all the ova. Some recipients will thaw and fertilise a certain number and, once they have achieved their pregnancy, they donate the remaining ova back to the ova bank.
The donation type will be dependent on the recommendation of the clinic and/or the needs of the donor.
Once the donation is complete, the donor will be compensated/remunerated for her time, travel and any reasonable expenses incurred due to the donation process.
If at any time during the process you feel uncertain about something, need more information or you just need someone to talk to about the donation, you are very welcome to contact us. The clinic offers counselling support, as we are committed to supporting our donors as best we can before, during or after donation.
It is important to remember that, even though you are a donor, we regard and treat you as an independent patient and your medical needs are treated with the highest priority.
