Are You Sure You Want These Eggs?

I struggle with mixed feelings about the egg donation process. While I am overwhelmed by the amazing technology and generosity involved in egg donation, and I know many happy families created as a result, I have a few concerns that are hard to shake.

To be completely honest, I haven’t used egg donation, though I did offer to be an egg donor for a friend, who later conceived on her own. My big concerns are these: serial egg donors who put themselves at risk, as well as women who receive donated eggs where the donors haven’t been screened as thoroughly as they should have.

Today my focus is on the screening of egg donors. I was surprised the question wasn’t raised a bit louder when octomom entered the picture last year. From all accounts, it appeared she was given fertility treatment in exchange for donating some of her eggs. Now it seems pretty clear psychological testing wasn’t done and there have to be a few SoCal moms wondering if their babies are a result of octomom’s donations.

A friend sent me this announcement from a South African egg donation company, which proudly proclaims that “Smokers can be egg donors.” Yikes – every fertility doctor I know requires that egg donors be smoke-free for at least three months before donating.

Please, please, please…if you are interested in receiving donating eggs, do your homework and make sure the company is reputable and upholds extremely strict standards.