5 Egg Donation Myths BUSTED

If you’ve had the inspiration to become an egg donor, you’ve probably already done some research. And you might already be a little overwhelmed by what you’ve read!

Yes, the internet is a minefield of information – and not all of it is accurate. Worse, there are a few myths about egg donation that may put you off the idea altogether!

It can be quite difficult to know who to believe. That’s why we’ve highlighted the top five egg donation myths and explained exactly why they’re false. Read on!

Myth #1: You’ll become infertile if you donate eggs

This is the most common myth out there, which is strange because there’s zero evidence that egg donation affects future fertility. 

Let’s go back to high school biology. Your ovaries begin maturing 10-20 eggs in a normal cycle, but only one of these will actually reach ovulation. Your body reabsorbs the remaining eggs.

This is similar to what happens in an egg donation cycle. The only difference is that fertility medications allow all of the eggs to mature at once, rather than just one. In other words, egg donation ‘saves’ the eggs that would have gone unused.

In short? The egg donation cycle simply results in more mature eggs than a natural ovulation cycle would. It doesn’t reduce your ovarian reserve at all and won’t affect your future fertility in any way.

Myth #2: Anyone can become an egg donor

Sorry, but no. Becoming an egg donor with FSC means you’ll have to meet strict criteria. 

Egg donor candidates must: 

• Be aged between 20-30 years
• Have a BMI between 18-28
• Have a minimum of a GED (higher education preferred)
• Be willing to take medications via injection
• Be free from nicotine or illegal drug use
• Be in overall good health
• Know at least one half of your genetic makeup/family medical history
• Have reliable transportation for your appointments
• Not have had a birth control shot for at least eight months
• Not be using a hormonal birth control device

You’ll also have to pass a stringent screening process to ascertain your physical and psychological health. 

Myth #3: Women donate eggs solely for the money

Yes, egg donors get compensation for their time and any expenses along the way, including travel costs, wage compensation, and medical costs. This is because being an egg donor takes a lot of time and commitment – both physically and emotionally. 

At Family Source Consultants, our egg donor screening process will help us determine whether you have a genuine desire to assist a couple or individual in creating or adding to their family. 

Authentic donors aren’t motivated by money but by the prospect of helping someone else start a family. These women may have seen a friend or family member go through the agony of infertility and want to help others in the same position. Or, they may have completed their own family and have a kind and giving heart. Whatever the reason, our chosen donors stand out to us as women who want to help! 

Myth 4: Egg donors have a legal responsibility for any children born from their eggs

Not at all. When you become an egg donor, you will sign the relevant legal documents that relinquish all rights and responsibilities associated with the donated eggs and any children born as a result of them. Family Source Consultants will provide you with an attorney who will draft these documents and guide you through each one. 

Many egg donor arrangements are anonymous, so you’ll never know who receives your eggs. In a closed egg donor arrangement like this, your recipients won’t be given any identifying information about you, so they won’t know who you are or be able to contact you. This ensures that donors have complete privacy and anonymity.

Myth #5: You can donate eggs as many times as you want

Again, no. In the U.S., you can only undergo six ovarian stimulation and egg-retrieval procedures altogether – that is, six egg donations. That’s the limit set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and the guideline by which fertility clinics will go. 

Why? A couple of reasons. While it doesn’t appear that egg donation has any long-term effects on your fertility, it can still have an impact on your physical and emotional health. Six egg donation cycles are a lot for anyone!

The other reason is to limit the number of donor-conceived babies. If egg donation was unlimited, there could be few too many children sharing the same donor’s DNA – and because many egg donation agreements are anonymous, there’s a risk of accidental consanguinity (breeding) between donor offspring. This is also why sperm donation is limited in many countries. 

That said, if all goes well with your first egg donation cycle, FSC would love for you to come back and donate again (up to your limit). And as you will have already gone through the screening process, your next donations are usually much quicker. 

Want to know more?

Contact the friendly team at Family Source Consultants. We’re always on the lookout for egg donors – and you could be just perfect!