Donor Eggs / Sperm
Men and women who are unable to conceive a child of their own will turn to alternative methods to fulfill their dreams of becoming a parent. Once such alternative method is to seek and obtain donor eggs or donor sperm. Donor eggs and sperm are basically mature eggs and live sperm that have been donated by an anonymous donor, relative, or friend. The majority of donors are anonymous. Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion about donor eggs and sperm, what purpose they serve, how they are donated, who should utilize them, the risks of using donor eggs or sperm, and the success rates associated with them.
Donor Eggs:
For some couples, egg donation is the only viable option they have for conceiving a child. A woman who experiences early menopause, premature ovarian failure, poor egg quality, repeat failed attempts at IVF treatments, genetic diseases that can be passed onto the child, or are over a certain age (35+) should seriously consider using an egg donor.
Donor eggs are mature eggs that have been donated by a third party to a fertility clinic and frozen until utilized. Although any woman can apply to donate eggs, not every woman will be accepted. Typically, women will donate their eggs via an advertisement placed by a fertility clinic. Egg donors must pass a rigorous medical examination and screening. One of the major requirements is age; a woman must be between the ages of 21 and 32 in order to be considered for egg donation. Women who have had sexually transmitted diseases, a history of birth defects or hereditary diseases, or psychological problems will likely be denied the opportunity to donate their eggs.
However, for those women who do pass the screening they will undergo ovary stimulation similar to the process used during an IVF cycle. Fertility drugs are administered and once the follicles are ready, they will be retrieved using a procedure called transvaginal ovarian aspiration. This is a surgical procedure in which a hollow needle inserted into the vagina and using suction, eggs and the fluid located inside each follicle will be removed. The healthy eggs will then be inspected, fertilized with the male sperm (either the intended father or a donor), and a few days later injected into the intended mother’s uterus.
Even though this is an extremely safe procedure, there are always risks associated with any form of surgery, regardless of how small. For the egg donor some of the risks include nausea, vomiting, vaginal dryness, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, bleeding, and in the most severe instances, infertility. Many of these risks are a direct result of the fertility drugs prescribed or as a result of a faulty transvaginal ovarian aspiration procedure. For the woman receiving the donated eggs, the only true risk is that a pregnancy will not result or that the baby will be born with some form of congenital defect. However, there is only a 3 – 5% chance that a baby born from a donor egg will be born with a birth defect as opposed to babies born “naturally”.
Many people will ask why a woman would voluntarily choose to put her body through this just so someone they have never met can have a child. The reasons vary, just as the women who choose to do this are, but for many women, it is an altruistic reward—it makes them feel good to do something for someone else. However, a majority of women who donate their eggs are very well compensated for their time. The average payment for egg donation ranges between $4,000 and $5,000.
Sperm Donation:
For some couples, the problem with infertility lies with the man and his sperm. Almost 40% of infertility cases are attributed to the man and like women; men can also donate sperm and receive donated sperm to aid in the conception process. Men who suffer from low or no sperm, poor sperm motility, genetic diseases that can be passed on to the baby or other fertility issues should consider using donated sperm.
The process to donate sperm is very similar to women who want to donate eggs in that the potential donor must pass a rigorous physical exam in order to be allowed to make the donation. A potential donor must undergo time consuming interviews about their sexual behavior, family history, reasons for wanting to donate sperm; a semen analysis is conducted to ensure the health of the sperm, and other testing for things such as cystic fibrosis and hepatitis. Homosexual men, bisexual men, men who have certain genetic predispositions, intravenous drug users, or men who have been exposed to AIDS are not eligible to donate sperm. In fact, only a mere 5% of men who apply to donate sperm are actually permitted to do so. The entire screening process can take anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months to complete.
The method of sperm collection is much easier than for that of a woman. A man enters a private room stocked with pornography, located in the sperm bank that he has applied to. The man will then masturbate into a sterile container. Once the specimen has been collected, it will be divided into various containers, mixed with a cryoperservative solution, and frozen with liquid nitrogen. When the sperm is chosen it will be thawed and used to fertilize an egg.
The reasons for donating sperm are equal to those for a woman – altruistic and monetary. However, for a man the primary motivation for sperm donation is money. Compensation can range from $40 to $100 per semen sample with the potential for a man to earn upwards of $6,000 annually.
Although egg and sperm donation can make a couple’s dreams of parenthood a reality, it is important to recognize that there are some risks. The primary risk is that a pregnancy will not occur, that the child will be born with birth defects, and multiple births can result. Some other risks that are rather rare yet very problematic include the donor wanting to establish a parental relationship with the child. However, this can be avoided by using the eggs or sperm of an anonymous donor who has no desire to form a relationship.