The Donor Egg Retrieval Process

Once a candidate is chosen for egg donation, she undergoes a process to synchronize her menstrual cycle with that of the recipient. Next, she is given hormones to stimulate her ovaries so they produce several eggs at once, and finally, those eggs are  retrieved.  The process, which can take several months, should be performed by a qualified infertility specialist. 

Synchronization

To synchronize the menstrual cycles of the donor and recipient, the donor takes hormones, often birth control pills, and suppresses her natural cycle through daily injections. After a few weeks, the donor stops taking the birth control pills and has a menstrual period that is synched with the recipient's cycle. During synchronization, donors may experience menopausal-like symptoms, including hot flashes, fatigue, breast tenderness, bloating, and mood swings.

Donor Stimulation

Once the cycles are synchronized, the donor is given high doses of follicle-stimulating hormones that cause her ovaries to produce several eggs at once.  The donor must inject the hormones under the skin or into a muscle once a day for about ten days.  Donors are carefully monitored to follow their progress and prevent over-stimulation of the ovaries.  Symptoms during stimulation may be similar to those during synchronization.  Donors experiencing abdominal pain, pressure, and swelling should contact their infertility specialist immediately, as these may be symptoms of a more severe complication (ovarian hyperstimulation).

Egg Retrieval

When the eggs are ready for harvesting, they are removed from the ovaries in a minor outpatient surgical procedure that takes about 30 minutes.  The donor is first given anesthesia for the surgery.  Once the anesthetic has taken full effect, a thin probe is inserted into the cervix, through which a tiny needle is inserted into each follicle.  The eggs are removed from the follicles using gentle suction.  After the surgery, donors should relax for the rest of the day, and sometimes for several days afterward.  The same day, the eggs are combined with sperm during the IVF process.

Locate an Egg Donation Specialist

The egg donation process is a complex one requiring guidance by experienced, skilled experts.  A woman considering egg donation should locate a talented infertility specialist to obtain information specific to their unique case.