Thinking about Becoming an Egg Donor? Five Common Concerns

November 10th, 2010

There are lots of women in the UK who could have the baby they long for with the help of an egg donor but there are too few women coming forward to help them. The shortage of egg donors is leaving many couples with a long and anxious wait and some may never become parents because that wait will be too long.

So why are so few women becoming egg donors? One reason is that they don’t know they can. Many people we’ve met hadn’t realised it was something they could do and were unaware of the need for more donors. Others know about it but have concerns.

Here are five of the most common questions people ask us:

1. Will I be anonymous?

Women who decide to become Altrui donors know that we will only disclose the information they want us to. Sometimes both sides like to know who the other is but this information is only given with the consent and agreement of everyone involved.

2. Will donating my eggs affect my own fertility?

It is very unlikely that becoming an egg donor will affect your future plans for your own family or your health. Altrui donors are given the best information and care every step of the way and any concerns specific to you can be discussed with our fertility experts before and during treatment.

3. How will my eggs be used?

Altrui is unique because your eggs will be used exclusively by one recipient. They will not be shared between several women. Altrui’s service is extremely personal and individual. You will be matched with someone very similar to you and the fact that your eggs are going to one recipient gives them the best chance of success.

4. Isn’t IVF a stressful procedure to undergo?

Women who go through IVF treatment because they have had problems conceiving are already under enormous emotional pressure and much of the stress involved is a result of the desire to have a successful outcome. This will not be the case for you.

5. Wouldn’t I be giving away my baby?

IVF is a process and your eggs, instead of being naturally lost each month, become part of this fertility process. Any baby that results from the IVF will have been fertilised by dad and grown by mum. The donor is an amazing, essential and yet temporary part of this process.

To find out more or to discuss your own concerns call Alison on 0844 745 3033

Thinking about Becoming an Egg Donor? Five Common Concerns

Posted by Alison

Why Do Women Need Egg Donors?

November 1st, 2010

Many women can’t conceive without the help of an egg donor. Understanding the reasons for this can help people understand why raising awareness of the need for more egg donors is so important.

Some women are born without ovaries, or with ovaries that do not function properly and cannot produce eggs. Others have had their ovaries damaged either by cancer treatment or disease.

The menopause can strike some women in their late teens and early 20s and when this happens they stop producing eggs. Fertility treatments such as IVF are not an option for these women and if they want a family of their own they need to use donor eggs.

Women who have suffered repeated miscarriages or who carry certain genetic conditions that will affect the health or survival of a biological child also need the help of an egg donor to become mothers themselves.

IVF works for lots of women but some undergo a string of failed treatments before realising that they need donor eggs. In need of support and encouragement, these women have already been through the turmoil of several failed IVF attempts and are often emotionally drained. To be told that there is a waiting list of several years for an egg donor is devastating news.

That’s why Altrui was founded – to raise awareness of the need for egg donors and to cut down that waiting time for women in desperate need of donor eggs to help them have a family of their own.

If you think you could help one of these women please get in touch with us. Our service is personal, ethical and strives for the very best outcome for both donor and recipient.

0844 745 3033

www.altrui.co.uk

[email protected]

Posted by Alison

Should Egg Donors be Paid? The Great Debate

October 26th, 2010

It is illegal in the UK for egg donors to receive payment other than compensation for expenses but the shortage of donors has prompted many to call for payment to encourage more women to come forward. The issue was debated this month by the Progress Educational Trust in partnership with the Royal Society of Medicine, supported by the National Gamete Donation Trust and the British Fertility Society (BFS).

The debate heard that participation in eggsharing schemes - where eggs are exchanged in return for IVF treatment - dropped when NHS-funded IVF became available, supporting the case that women were more likely to donate eggs if there was something in it for them.

The main debate centres around the difference between compensation, payment and exploitation and the dangers of encouraging women to come forward as donors purely for financial gain, even if doing so is not in their best interests.

Egg donors should be well-informed and well cared for. This is why Altrui exists, to seek women who want to donate not for any financial gain but because they want to help someone else become a mother. We inform them, answer their questions and take care of them through every step of the process. We never pressurise them and make sure they are donating because they want to make a difference.

Altruistic egg donors may be rare, but they do exist. There are women in the UK who donate their time and eggs without even claiming the compensation to which they are entitled. Some would be offended to be offered payment. Perhaps our energies and resources should be spent recruiting women to egg donation programs who see making a difference to others lives as payment enough.

Read the full article:

http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_73536.asp?dinfo=ZwyJoyv5vrXS0twYplzEpF5h

Posted by Alison

Jilly’s Journey - Becoming an egg donor: Drugs

October 20th, 2010

I’ve just received a call from one of the nurses at Guys. Unfortunately the nasal spray has been
taken off the market so in its place I have to take the same drugs in an injection form. This is slightly
daunting news. I know that there are some drugs to be injected later in the process but this is a
lot sooner and more responsibility on my part to administer them correctly. Luckily I have a friend
who is a nurse and one that it an insulin dependent diabetic, both of whom are very familiar with
injections. I feel confident I will be fine – it’s just a bit of a shock! I was offered full support from the
clinic even down to an appointment to show me how to inject myself. However I have supportive
friends and a GP who is “in on the process” so feel that I’ll see how I get on first then can always ask
for more help.

The delivery of the drugs went really smoothly. After a phone call from the drugs company to set the
delivery up they were delivered by 9:00am on the day in question all packaged up I a refrigerated
box looking very serious and stylish in the purple zip up case provided! I went through the box
putting in the fridge the important refrigerated goodies and familiarised myself with the drugs to
be injected. I even got a very handy (and probably compulsory) needle disposal box. Obviously this
cleared any worries of using needles in the house with my toddler around. I felt in control and ready
to go …if a little nervous about injecting myself for the first time.

Jilly is sharing her story for people who have asked us:

What’s it like to be an egg donor?

How do I become an egg donor?

What treatment does an egg donor have?

Does being an egg donor hurt?

Can I be an egg donor?

More information is available here on the altrui blog or on www.altrui.co.uk

If you are considering becoming a donor please give us a call for a confidential chat.

Jilly’s Journey - Becoming an egg donor: Drugs

Posted by Jilly

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