After Egg Donation

An egg donor should be aware of potential medical complications and preventative after-care options following egg retrieval surgery.   Having a thorough understanding of the recovery process and of how her eggs may be used will help a donor to adjust smoothly after egg donation.

Donor Aftercare

With proper aftercare, most donors will not experience surgical complications or negative effects on their ability to become pregnant in the future.  Aftercare generally includes:

• Prescription of antibiotics
• Post-operative check-ups
• Psychological counseling
• Instructions on what to do if a donor needs medical attention

Possible Risks and Complications

Although complications of egg retrieval surgery are extremely rare, donors should be aware of the risks associated with the procedure.  Risks can include:

• Injury to the ovaries, bladder, bowel, blood vessels, uterus, and other pelvic structures
• Infection
• Vaginal bleeding and lacerations
• Infertility
• Adverse reactions to anesthetic
• Ovarian hyperstimulation

Returning to Normal

A donor can expect to have a menstrual period about 10 days after surgery, and she will be more fertile for about a month.  As her hormone levels even out, donors may experience mood swings, bloating, weight fluctuation, cramping, and spotting.  Within about a month, the donor's menstrual cycle, hormones, and fertility return to normal.

How Donated Eggs are Used

There are many possible uses for a donor's eggs, all of which are entirely up to the recipient.  Some possible outcomes include:

• No embryo is formed.
• Eggs may go to more than one recipient. 
• The recipient may become pregnant.
• If a recipient becomes pregnant with more than one fetus, she and her doctor may choose how many fetuses to develop.
• Embryos may be frozen indefinitely or for future use.
• Unfertilized or immature eggs may be discarded or used in research.

Find an Egg Donation Expert in Your Area

Women considering or recovering from egg donation need the guidance and support of skilled infertility experts.  To learn more about what to expect after egg donation, locate an experienced infertility specialist in your area who can answer your questions.