Though our society has come a long way in terms of modernity but childlessness is still a taboo. Childless couple, especially the woman, is subjected to endless questions, jibes about why they can’t have a child.
Childlessness can be caused by many reasons. Some women today are remaining childless by choice and some by fate. Nonetheless, it can cause a lot of strain in one’s relationship. Endless queries from friends as well as from strangers can cause a lot of stress between partners. Moreover, a child can help you in feeling complete – rejuvenating love in a relation. Deciding to have a child through egg donation is a bold decision but it can still give you the feeling of motherhood.
What is egg donation?
Egg donation is when a woman donates an ovum (or several ova) for research or assisted reproduction. Egg donation has been recognized by American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) as a part of ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Thus, it has also passed some instructions for the same.
The socio-psychological effects of egg donation
Egg donation however is not as easy as it sounds. It affects the donor, the recipient and as well as the people around them. Whether you decide to become an egg donor yourself or are preparing to accept one you need to fully understand the implications of the process.
When a lot of egg donors are motivated by altruistic cause a large section is also motivated by monitory factors. If you have plans to receive an egg through egg donation program you need to be aware of the motivational factor of the donor.
What it involves to be an egg donor
Egg donation is a prolonged and grueling process. Every donor undergoes several layers of screening before becoming qualified as an egg donor. The screening process involves both medical and psychological evaluation.
To become an egg donor you need to make more than a few visits to the clinic. Moreover, the medical tests would involve both physical and gynecological. Further tests are conducted for:
- Family history
- Blood test
- Urine tests
- Psychological evaluation
The drugs given to the donor are same as vitro fertilization (IVF) to arouse the ovary to generate as many eggs as possible at a time. While you are under treatment you have to make several visits to the clinic. USG may be performed on you to determine the appropriate time for egg recovery. Retrieving eggs from the ovary would involve a simple surgical process and the donor can go home after two or three hours of recovery time.
Recognition of the egg donor
Egg donors are giving hopes to childless couples. Once the egg is retrieved it is the fertilized in the lab with the sperm of the intended father. When the embryo is formed it is then placed in the uterus of the recipient. The recipient becomes the biological and legal mother. But it is never easy for a woman to give up all legal and biological claims on a child that is genetically hers. Yet many women are donating eggs to bring smile on the lips of childless couples.
