#weareeggdonors

[weareeggdonors]

Do Only 1% of Egg Donors Get Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome? (Spoiler: No.)

“Many agencies and clinics emphasize how safe egg donation is -- that the risks are ‘less than 1%’ -- but there is really no evidence to support that claim because there has been virtually no research on egg donors’ short-term or long-term health outcomes,” says medical anthropologist, Dr. Diane Tob

[travelingeggdonor]

Choosing an Egg Donor Agency

As I’ve mentioned previously, I am registered as an egg donor through an agency called Asian Egg Donation. I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll state it again, I think it’s important to recognize the qualities that make you unique and therefore–I hate to make this comparison, but I was a business major so I’m wired to think this way, I hope not to offend–marketable as a donor. Before you throw up your arms in protest, let me explain. 

For a moment, think of yourself as the intended Parent(s) and see egg donation as a dating field. Sure you can go to Match.com and be bombarded with a million options, overwhelmed by the possibilities, wondering if you’ll ever find what it is you’re uniquely looking for, or you can go with say… okay, nothing else comes to mind as being the least bit successful in terms of interest specific dating sites, so I’m using ChristianMingle.com as my example. I’d assume, someone who’d opt for that option would find religion, particularly Christianity to be high on their priority list as a quality in someone they’re looking to date.  

Now, let’s go back to egg donation. I’m Filipino, Asian, (not my most telling and unique qualities, I don’t think, but for examples sake) therefore I went with an agency that specifically works with couples looking for Asian Donors. I stumbled upon AED through luck, and perhaps fate, but I am confident knowing that instead of becoming lost upon the thousands of donors, I’m working with an agency that exposes my profile directly to IPs looking for donors just like what I have to offer. 

I hadn’t explored options of other agencies until I continued my research (actually a lot of it on tumblr) and realized it’s not uncommon to be signed up with multiples to cast a wider net. Since then my interest has been piqued by different agencies, particularly ones that works primarily, or at least mostly with same sex couples, and others based out of New York since I’m soon moving there. 

Nonetheless, I have yet to fully complete, or mentally commit to other agencies because, I’m not really sure to be honest. Somehow I haven’t felt drawn to them and confident in working with them. 

The spark, the interest, the human connection was absent. I remember starting my application for AED and merely hours later receiving a personal email from an actual person, my case manager, welcoming me to the agency and offering her help from her own experiences as an Egg Donor to help me with the process. I have her email address and personal cell phone number to email, text, or call if any questions and concerns came up during my application process, even more so now that I’m in a middle of a cycle. I didn’t realize until now how rare that was.

I’ve done the initial screening, and qualified for 3-4 other agencies since, and an automized welcome email just as I’d receive for any other website is sent,  perhaps a follow up, also generic and automized, that reminded that I still had an application in progress are the best I’ve gotten.

I realized how lucky I was to find an agency I wanted to work with so quickly that suited me well. Because of many reasons I’m sure, primarily the great anonymity surrounding egg donation, there aren’t really ways for prospective egg donors to learn of a clinic’s practices other than through their own experiences and other’s testimony, which takes work to find. There is no Yelp for Egg Donation. Reviews on clinics mostly focused on the IPs experience, which is wonderful, but few have come forward as egg donors to honestly share their experience about the different agencies and clinics. 

The only conglomerate of Egg Donors I’ve found online has been weareeggdonors​, and I have yet to be added to their secret Facebook page so I’m unaware of its contents though I've read through their website and love it. 

I have come across quite a few horror stories during my online browsing, with the common stories of OHSS, clinics maturing far more eggs than the recommended, to donors having to pay their way for out of town consults and donation cylcles and the IP not reimburse them. I can’t imagine how many of these could be prevented if agencies and clinics could be outed for their terrible and possibly unethical treatments of egg donors through legitimate and easier means to actually share these experiences. 

Again, I’ve been lucky. I was chosen by a couple who are doing this procedure through a highly reputable clinic, associated with an Ivy League University. If I’m becoming completely honest, I was quite relieved when I was told who I’d be working with. Through this entire experience, they’ve been open and transparent about the entire procedure. Everything I’ve been warned online was addressed during my consult, and they’ve even released data to show their clinic’s rates in successes not only in their IPs, but the rates of OHSS, ovarian torsions, and other possible complications associated with being an egg donor (all of which are very low). 

While speaking to my nurse practitioner, I had mentioned these concerns with her and she was very frank with me, which I appreciated. She told me that the reality was there are clinics out there who are giving the entire IVF and Egg Donation field a bad name through their bad practices. There is not standard of care for egg donors across the field and therefore it’s difficult to prevent such things for happening. She assured me with a gentle smile that for as long as I’m under her care, I shouldn’t have to worry. 

I think I’ve deviated quite an amount from the initial intention of this post, but I think all that needed to be said. I’m quite new to this whole world of egg donation, and my official entry through the doors is being held up by biopsy results, but even still I recognize the great need for reform within it in terms of standard of care and accountability as well as the need to educate those who partake, are interested, or are merely onlookers. 

Until we are able to organize amongst ourselves to find a means to band together and find ways to hold clinics and agencies accountable for their treatment of egg donors, we can’t truly share our amazing and unique stories as donors while someone, somewhere, some clinics are drawing the attention in their direction to cause doubt and suspicion in what we do. 

[travelingeggdonor]

I love ur story I just decided to embark on egg donation Please keep us updated on ur journey I'm still in the app process awaiting approval

Ah, my first message! I'm feeling rather special! I'm glad you're enjoying reading my journey as I am taking it. If you read my latest posts, it'll tell of how I've hit a bit of a bump in the road, hence the lack of update.If you don't mind me asking, where have you submitted application(s) to?Tumblr is a strange place to do some research on random things, including egg donation, but it hasn't failed me yet. It's a strange but good mix of personal stories, just remember to take everything with a grain of salt. No one person's experience will speak for everyone. Also learn to glaze over all the judgmental posts of those who have never done their research and the "I'm so desperate, I'll just sell my egg (notice they think it involves a singular egg)" posts... Nothing drives me more mad.

[weareeggdonors]

[missydonateseggs]

Hey lady, I hope you get positive news re: the cyst! xo - S

I’m glad it was nothing! Thanks!

[missydonateseggs]

weareeggdonors answered to your post“I got an email from one of the clinics today saying that my medical...”

Mine was immediate as a family was waiting all three times. From start to finish about 3 months this last time. - S

Great! I really wasn't sure what to expect time wise and I realize it can vary because like in your case, there was a family waiting, but this is good to know! Thanks =]