Chats: What was your biggest concern about coming forward as a possible donor?

[Hayley Newman]

What was your biggest concern about coming forward as a possible donor?

 

Mine was features, health and lifestyle. I thought that i would have to have perfect features, height, weight etc. I was worried about my health history in case anything that would put Altrui off considering me as a donor ie ear operations, medical termination and c-sections. My busy lifestyle (at times and back then) fitting around what commitment was need from me.

One call to Alison and concerns gone. Then the clinic health check done and i was more laid back and relax about it all than the sofa reclining section SCS.

[Kriss]

Yes, one of my big concerns was actually getting to the clinic when I needed to, whether I’d be able to cover the expenses (and when they would be paid back to me - I was working part time), worries about what the treatment involved as well. I wasn’t an Altrui donor and didn’t know any other donors to talk to, how I wish there had been something like this as it was initially quite a scary prospect and it would have been great to have someone to talk to.

Strangely enough I didn’t worry too much about the self-administered injections till the actual day I had to pick the drugs up - I think I was going la, la, la, in my head about that. But actually it turned out to be fine and after some initial hiccups it was so much easier than I’d thought.

[Hayley Newman]

Hi Kris

Sorry just giggled about the injections as when i first did mine it took me a while as i was back then a total wimp.

I hadn’t either thought about the injections and over coming my fear of needles. My husband offered to do it for me which was sweet (or maybe getting his own back for how much i moaned at him when i was pregnant). It took me 20 mins to get my head focused, had a hard boiled sweet and concentrated on the flavor of that rather than what i was doing. Silly i know but it worked (and a chocolate bar waiting for me after) then from then on the following ones were a doodle. Looking back i can’t believe how much i worked myself up. I was never not going to do it but for me that was my wall and i smashed it x

[Liz]

Hello Ladies,

My biggest concern really was telling people, I’m not sure why but just never know what reaction you may get! One of my friends was a bit skeptical and felt too attached to her eggs, yet my stepmum was very supportive and thought I was amazing for donating mine.

I am very excited about beginning the process, I have my first counselling session next week and my stepmum is actually coming with me for support. The only thing I am worried about is the self injections - aaarghhh!!! (wimp!)

x

[Kriss]

You’re not a wimp, Liz The injections are scary if you haven’t done them before.

I thought (and I’m not sure how) that they were intravenous and I’d have to shoot up like a heroin junkie. Yes, that is just how ignorant I was despite getting to nearly the end of the testing! But it’s intramuscular, which is a lot less painful and much easier to do yourself.

I wouldn’t say it’s a doddle, because there’s still the yuck factor, but when you think of what a massive difference this makes to a couple’s life, really it’s just a little prick and over in a few seconds. Deep breaths

Kriss

[mel]

Hi,
I’m new and just registered and i think my main worry is london itself.

I’ve been before and done surrogacy so i’m ok with needles but i worry about getting there with the underground and buses. Knowing me i will end up at the wrong end of london. he he

mel

[alison]

Don’t worry Mel, Fiona will rescue you from the arches of Paddington and will get you there:) She’s brilliant for this and I think Hayley might help as well. We won’t just leave you wandering - however I guess you might think Oxford Street’s the wrong end of London!! In which case this might interfere with your plans…..

[LauraParticipant]

My biggest concern was that it would affect me being able to have children of my own, I looked into Egg Donation when i was probably about 17-18, at this point i also became interested in surrogacy but this is something i would definitely need to wait until having my own before i seriously consider it. But I’m sure i read somewhere that you shouldn’t do it if you’ve not completed your family yet so i left it.

Then i looked into it again and read up on it a bit more, now i’m donating, collection is Thursday.

Will i donate again? I spoke to my boyfriend because i would quite happily donate again, he expressed the following concern:-
“when it comes to us having children, If we can’t conceive for any reason it would be gutting to know that you’ve given someone else the opportunity to have children yet we can’t have our own”

and for this reason, i’m going to wait until i’ve have my own children before i donate again. But - I have said I want to have children before i’m 30. I’ve got 6 years.

[BugglesParticipant]

My biggest concern was that it wouldn’t work out - that they wouldn’t be able to collect any eggs from me and my body would let the recipient down… but they do all of the tests upfront, so you know quickly if you’re a good candidate. They got a good haul of eggs from me and all but one of them fertilised. Sadly the cycle didn’t work out for my recipient which is really sad but I know they have some embryos on ice, so you never know, they may be able to have another go at some point.

[Claire86Participant]

Hi Buggles

That is my concern now and that I am already thinking about donating again if I need to, i am not sure I would want the recipients to go back on a waiting list as they waited long enough for me. I just hope it doesn’t get round to that and in a few weeks we have a success story

[BugglesParticipant]

It’s such an emotional process Claire! I had the same thought when I found out that they had a negative result, that I would happily donate again. But they don’t need me to because they have some eggs frozen and its much cheaper to go through a frozen cycle than it is a fresh one… But in the great scheme of things, a couple of weeks of injections and a day off work for the collection really isn’t that much to go through and I’d happily do it for them again if they need me to.

[HayleyParticipant]

Hi all

I donated twice and not that far apart from each other. Mine was to 2 different couples and sadly the first couple were not successful and there were no eggs put on ice. The second couple also didn’t work on first try but they did have some frozen and i have no idea where they are in the process in trying again and to be honest i am more content that i gave both couples a chance where as 10 years or so ago egg donating was something that was heard off (i am purely guessing here).

Since i donated (this time last year i was going through my first donation and that has flown past) i have had more friends and family come to light with fertility problems and it does bring to home how fortune enough it is that i have my children and am able to help someone/couples with fertility problems by donating.
I am so glad that egg donating is getting more press interest and getting more donors (i hope) through the door to speak so hopefully those couples on the waiting list wont be waiting as long x

[Claire86Participant]

Hi Buggles

That is exactly my thought on the whole process to be honest and Hayley yes you are right you gave them a chance but it must also be up heart breaking for them. I know it is a fact of life but i have grown lightly attached to my couple although I don’t know them and fingers crossed they get the news we all want.xx

[HayleyParticipant]

I totally understand that and after the news that my first couple had not been successful i was gutted for them. It was also not long before my wedding and i had egg collection the weekend before my hen do so the dates i found out are near other memorable dates. I had a picture in my head of what they may look and how upset they must have been after find out they had a match and then the wait of was i able to help donate. I also got a few gifts from them and in the card they thanked me for the chance and hope i had given them. I took that as strength not to feel as bad it sadly is no ones fault.
When i got asked to donate again my husband did ask me how i would feel if this couple also weren’t successful and i will be honest that it did stump me for a while but again it came down to that given someone a chance, hope and maybe be baby.
My donation sadly didn’t produce a pregnancy but when they try again then who knows.
I think it is hard not to get attached as every time you time you make that journey to the clinic you do it with them in mind and for no other reason. You are donating because you want to help someone and in that help you hope they have a baby.
I know different but same lines as long organ donors who are alive and donate a kidney for example. You want the body to accept it and make it work as so it can change someones quality of life for the better.

I ramble on sorry x

[Claire86Participant]

Don’t be sorry, its nice to hear your story. I feel so passionate to do this again regardless of the outcome my partner want me to have a baby first and i am still only 26 so another 10 years of donating left in me yet. Its such a rewarding thing to do and although a massive roller coaster very rewarding to know I am helping create a family.

[Author]

Posts