Egg Donors

[Funda]

My sister at this moment is trying for a baby but with no luck. She will be trying IVF shortly and fingers crossed it works.

If not I am thinking of donating my egg. I really feel for her. And it is very hard on the family as well, watching her go through all this treatment. I want to have another baby next year and if she doesnt fall pregnant by that time I will strongly consider giving her my egg.

I don't know much about egg donating and what it involves, so if anyone out there has gone through it, please let me know.

Are there any risks involved?, what needs to be done?

I know my sister would be a great mum and would not hesitate donating my egg. Though I haven't discussed this with my partner, I am 99% sure he would be all for it.

[PetiteMum]

I think it is a wonderful and self less act to do for someone but I personally could not go through with it for a complete stranger. I would always be wondering how my son/daughter was out there in the world and no knowing would kill me. I wouldnt be worried about mistreatment because i am sure that someone who has gone to the lengths of accepting a donor egg must REALLY want a baby. Just as it takes lots of courage to give a donor egg, i think it takes a lot to ACCEPT one as well.

I would only do it for my sister. I would also gladly be a surrogate for my sister. Slightly off topic but did you know that only a relative can be a surrogate in Australia?

I know two couples who cant have kids, one couple have been trying for 10 years but they wont accept donors or adopt, they just cant deal with having a child that is genetically not theirs. The other couple have had many failed IVF attempts and a still born and they are continuing on through IVF. My heart breaks for both of these couples. I am glad that there are so many ladies out there ready to donate for couples that really want a baby.

[chargrgirl]

Funda, I think it is wonderful what you are thinking of doing. I can't personally give you any advice but I know for a fact that I would do exactly the same thing in your situation. I wouldn't hesitate to donate my eggs for my sister or another close relative. I would probably have to think about it a bit more if it was going to be as an anonomys(sp) donor.

It took my husband and I 20 months to conceive and I know that at the time I was willing to try just about anything. We were lucky enough to fall pregnant naturally but I think it has made me really appreciate what some couples go through.

I hope you find the information you require.

Cheers Mel

[Eliza]

Hi There,

I would very much like to doante my eggs too but unlike most, I don't think I would want to know who they went to. I don't want to know if someone had a succesful pg with my egg because I would feel guilty if it didn't. Also, I wouldn't want to see the child growing up becuase I know I'd probably try and interfere and would be as worried for them as I awould be for my own kids. However, if the child wanted to know who his/her egg donor mother is, I'd be more than happy to meet up when they were of age and they had already developed into they what they had become.

Like Jules said in her post, I believe that a couple going through the agaony of TTC the conventional way and then splashing out for treatment really want a child and will bring the child up in the way which suits their lifestyle and make decisions in their childs' best interest.

With regards to adoption, well, I really want a third child but I'm thinking we should adopt. I've mentioned it a few times to hubby but I think he thinks I'm joking or just caught up with the whole Desperate Housewives plot at the moment. He supports me in my decision to donate eggs so there's a plus! It'll be happening within the next five years I guess as I turn 30 this year !!

Well, there you have it

Eliza

[sansha]

Unlike most, I would happily donate my eggs and extra embryos (if I had any).
I have a very "unbiological" feeling about parenting however. To me, parents are those who raise and love you - biology, to me, is nothing.

I'd be happy to speak to any children born as a result of my donation, but I would never consider myself their parent. I also wouldn't consider a child born of an embryo created for my parents as my brother or sister.

I think your perception is what makes this something you can or can't do. For me, it is the same as donating blood, organs or bone marrow. For many others it is much more personal issue and they cannot simply view it any other way.

[jacstar]

PetiteMum

Slightly off topic but did you know that only a relative can be a surrogate in Australia?

This is not actually true, there are legal issues with it state by state. But you do not have to be a relative of the person your a surrogate for!

For those interested I've actually been the recipicent of egg donor cycles (4), 3 of which reach EPU (egg pick up) as one of my donors had a poor response to IVF meds. We ended up with 7 transfers out of the 3 donors that got to EPU. All resulted in a neg.
Not all women need egg donors because they waited to long. Some suffer from early ovarian failure (like me) or chomosonal issues with eggs. Good luck to anyone traveling down this path either as a recipicent or donor.

I'm now in the process of inter-country adoption and personally this offers me more hope that IVF/ED even did (no offence donors) just ICA your pretty much garuatnneed a child once you make it through aproval.

Jacinta