Question:
Has anyone donated eggs for infertile couples AFTER surgery?
I am 8 months out, and I have the opportunity to annonymously help a family in my city...it's 30 days of hormone injections and you get a pretty hefty sum of money for doing it...is it safe for post ops? I haven't had childer, but am assured by the doctor that I have more than enough eggs to populate the city and still have my own kids...wow, is that scary or what?! LOL Anyone done this??? Is it safe??? — Paula Prichard (posted on September 26, 2002)
September 25, 2002
I meant CHILDREN, not childer...LOL Great genes to pass on eh? ;)
— Paula Prichard
September 26, 2002
I have not done it but please let me know as I would love to be able to
give such an amazing gift someday! God Bless you for being so giving!
— Stephanie B.
September 26, 2002
I'm so glad you asked this question. I have been thinking about doing the
sam thing but was concerned about WLS interfering! I am NOT infertile but
we chose to adopt instead. I doubt I will ever give birth myself--one is
totally enough--but I would love to assist a family who longs for a child.
Keep me posted, I'd be interested in this, too!
— jenn2002
September 26, 2002
Actually I looked into this in 1997 before I started having major PCOS
sysmptoms (such as no period) how ironic, eh? Anyhow, the companies in CA
would not consider me as I had NOT had children yet. So, I think it is
interesting that they would consider you (as terrible as it sounds, they
need to know that your eggs are "healthy" and what-not) The only
way to "prove" that would mean you successfully using them
yourself (i.e. having children)! Needless to say, after 1997- I stopped
having my period and gained 70lbs- so I wasn't a candidate twice-over!
Still, I would gladly give an egg to whomever wanted one.
— Karen R.
September 26, 2002
Hi. This is a very good question. I've never considered it, but a friend of
mine has looked into it. Please don't be offended by my comments; I'm only
sharing what I've heard about it. When a family shells out big bucks for
eggs, they are looking for eggs that are not only likely to fertilize, but
will also produce a healthy child. Now, I'm not saying that someone who was
or is obese cannot have a healthy child. We all know that simply isn't
true. But you will have to give that family a complete medical history.
Certain things on the medical history may discourage a family to pay for
your eggs. It could be a number of things like a history of heart disease,
diabetes, obesity, etc.. When my friend looked into it, the family wanted
to know everything about her from her hight and hair color to her SAT
scores. As wrong as this may sound, most of the families where looking for
"designer" babies. They wanted to know if she ever had a weight
problem, if she was depressed, if she was good at sports. There may well be
a family who isn't so picky; I hope there is. But from what I've heard, a
family won't pay for genes that carry obesity or any other gene that they
don't consider "normal". As sad as that sound, I'm afraid it's
true in many cases. One family was looking for a girl who was tall with red
hair and green or blue eyes. What, where they looking to raise a family of
super models or something? Good luck to you and God bless.
— Sarah K.
September 26, 2002
Sarah, thaats a excellent point. The red hair with green or blue eyes is
really reasonable and understandable. This will likely make the child look
like a parent. The family might not tell anyone what they did or that it
involved donated eggs. Much fertility treatment isnt covered by insurance.
If someone is paying big bucks then they should get exactly what they
desire.
— bob-haller
September 26, 2002
Paula, I just wanted to say, I commend you for being a strong enough person
to donate your eggs so that a family can have a baby to love and adore. I'm
sure there is lengthly paperwork involved and as long as you list Obesity
as a possible health risk on your forms than I feel you are hurting no one.
Fat or skinny that baby will be loved :)
Again it takes a special kind of person to be able to donate their eggs, so
I commend you!
— Lynda T.
September 26, 2002
ORIGINAL POSTER HERE: Such great responses, but I do want to put your mind
at ease. My obesity is caused by me over-eating. No one else in my family
is obese, in fact most of my family is quite thin. I have no health
problems and my family has no health problems. My maternal grandma did die
of cancer...but it was smoking related...which is NOT genetic. I have a
"superior" IQ (just took the completed WAIII version after I took
the partial one for part of my pre-op testing). I scored well above average
on the SAT and ACT, and my major for the past 3 years has been genetics and
photographic arts. I have never smoked, done drugs (ok, everyone has tried
pot once) and I rarely if ever drink. I swam competitively for 7 years so I
would think I qualify as athletic and I can play 4 instruments. As far as
letting them know I have obesity in my "past"...I did, the first
time I called...and they were still interested. I did have to fill out
quite a long form, but the bottom line is this: different families look for
different things. If they want a child who doesn't have my qualities then
they don't have to pick my eggs. The important thing is that they have a
choice. As far as I'm concerned, I have darn good eggs! lol Other than
having an obesity problem (which I am glad to say is almost resolved), I am
a gem! lol Can we say toot your own horn?! haha Anyway, I get paid for
donating (and having the satisfaction to know that I did donate) wether or
not my eggs get picked or they get freezer burn. :) I also have a very dear
friend who is having a lot of trouble ovulating her own eggs and we have
already discussed me donating for her. So if I'm good enough for a dear
friend, I would think I'm good enough for anyone else. Oh, and I did ask my
OB/GYN and she said it doesn't matter if you have had kids or not. Each egg
is already made. If one has a genetic defect, it doesn't mean another
would- so me already having a child (which I don't) has no bearing on the
fact that another might or might not have a defect. Luck of the draw! :)
I'll let you all know how it goes if I decide to do it...I would start the
injections at the end of this month.
— Paula Prichard
September 26, 2002
Paula, I think your head is on straight(and it is a rather good head to say
the least!)- I say go for it! Youhave a lot to offer...
— Karen R.
September 26, 2002
Having gone through several rounds of fertility treatments very similar to
what an egg donor would go through I can tell you it is safe. There is
always a small risk involved during harvesting but it is very very small.
The other risks of hyperstimulation would not apply to you since you would
not become pregnant from the procedure. I commend you on doing this
because you will be giving an infertile couple something they cannot
achieve on their own. By the time a couple has reached the point of
utilizing donor eggs it has become an exceptionally emotional trial. Most
couples exhaust all other options before going that route. I'm speaking
from experience here, we would love to have more children at some point and
will have to use donor eggs. If you have any questions don't hesitate to
email me.
— Sherrie V.
October 2, 2002
Hi there Paula! I have not been online lately and I saw your question and
just had to respond. I chose to be an egg donor prior to and after my
surgery. Unfortunately what several of the previous posters have mentioned
is true. People are shelling out big bucks for these eggs, they want the
best. Unfortunately they eventually find out you were fat once (me, i'm an
overeater too but they didn't care, all they could see was MORBID
OBESITY)and the move on to the next donor. Believe it or not, there are
many women out there who are willing to donate eggs and most are not obese
like us. Yes, you may be chosen but please take heart, most places won't
even put you out to be a donor once they find out about your surgery. It
is a sad world we live in but the truth is: people still judge us as being
fat and lazy and stupid. If you saw me now you would never guess I once
weighed 273 lbs. I even went so far as to offer to be a surrogate mother,
but again no one wanted a 'morbidly' obese woman carrying there child. In
the world's eyes we will always be obese, like it is some horrible disease.
It breaks my heart to know that I can't help someone because I was obese
but I know that I tried and if a friend came to me tomorrow and asked me to
donate eggs or carry a baby for them I would step up to the plate. I think
what you want to do is noble and commendable, just don't go down the road
of denial and disapointment that I went through. Good luck and let me know
how it goes!
— purdue_1993
Click Here to Return