Introduction

Fertility is something that most take for granted, for some however fertility issues can mean that having a child is difficult or impossible without the help from a donor.

Choosing to donate your eggs to someone is an amazing, selfless act that gives hope to the thousands of woman who are unable to conceive naturally.  Egg donation offers many people the chance to experience the joy of becoming a parent. 

There are many reasons why egg donors are needed, some women are unable to produce their own eggs due to the following reasons:

• Ovarian failure or premature menopause
• Cancer treatments - ovaries that can no longer produce eggs due to the effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
• Genetically hereditary disease / chromosomal abnormalities
• Previous failed IVF treatment

For some, using donated eggs is the only way to allow others the opportunity of experiencing pregnancy and having their own beloved baby. 

Egg donation can be for someone you know, such as a family member who may be unable to use their own eggs or donated anonymously simply to help someone they don’t know start a much wanted family.

Criteria

In order to become an egg donor you must:

• be under 36 years of age on the day of egg collection
• be within a healthy weight range with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 30 
• be a non-smoker
• have no personal or family history of inherited illness or disability
• screen negative for certain infections or genetic disorders
• have a good ovarian reserve (assessed by a diagnostic scan and blood tests)

What is involved?

Before being accepted as a donor

You will be sent a questionnaire to complete which informs us about your current health, lifestyle and your family medical history up to grandparents on both paternal and maternal sides of your family.

If your questionnaire is satisfactory, an appointment will be arranged for consultation, screening tests and meeting with our independent counsellor. The screening tests results can take up to 10 weeks. Following acceptable test results, you can become a donor and will then be asked to complete a number of consent forms to allow the use of your donated eggs. If the results are normal and you are willing to proceed, the treatment cycle is organised on the dates that are convenient for you. 

Donation process

Similar to an IVF treatment cycle, you will follow a schedule of daily injections for two to three weeks to stimulate your ovaries to produce eggs. Over this time you will be required to attend the unit on two to three occasions for blood tests and scans to check how the eggs are developing.

Following ovarian stimulation you will have a short procedure to retrieve your eggs. This is done under sedation which will last approximately 30 minutes. You will be in the unit for approximately 2 - 3 hours. You must arranged for someone to collect from the unit as you are not advised to drive for 24 hours following the procedure.

You will then be required to return for a further blood test 3 months after egg collection to comply with the HFEA post-quarantine screening requirements.

Contact Us

Throughout Scotland there remains a huge shortage of egg donors with more and more recipients requiring the help of an egg donor, for many, egg donation is their only hope of having a baby.

The donor team are here to support and guide you through the process every step of the way, they are happy to answer any queries you may have. 

If you think you could help by becoming an egg donor please contact our donor team at gram.afcdonation@nhs.scot or visit the Fertility Scotland website.

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