Duration
Egg donation involves not only the actual procedure itself, but also other steps. These include hormonal stimulation of the recipient. Depending on the reproductive clinic, the patient may have to go through a trial cycle, i.e. a hormonally-supported menstrual cycle (28 days), to see how well the lining of the uterus is able to build up.
After the trial cycle, a further 14 days of hormonal stimulation are required before the fertilized eggs can be transferred. After the donor’s eggs have been retrieved and fertilized with the semen, 5 days of cultivation follow. The embryos are then transferred into the recipient’s uterus in a procedure that usually takes a few minutes.
Risks
As with all medical procedures, egg donation and the resulting pregnancy carries risks. Hormone treatment prior to egg donation often causes unwanted side effects such as nausea and vomiting. In addition, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome may develop.This serious complication is rare, but in its severe form it can lead to ovarian cysts, dropsy (ascites), shortness of breath (dyspnea), and coagulation disorders.
The surgical procedure also carries the usual risks of bleeding, infection and anaesthetic complications. The possibility of not getting pregnant is particularly high if the egg recipient is getting older. Since the donated egg is equipped with a different genetic material, there is a risk that the embryo in the uterus will be rejected and a miscarriage will occur.
In addition, fetal malformations and other complications may occur during pregnancy. These include the increased likelihood of developing so-called gestational hypertension, i.e. increased blood pressure during pregnancy, after egg donation. This can lead to life-threatening HELLP syndrome with associated seizures and risks for the child.
Many patients want to hide the nature of their pregnancy. However, this can lead to the egg recipient not being classified as a high-risk patient with an increased need for medical checks. Honesty towards one’s own gynecologist is therefore indispensable and essential for adequate medical care. Furthermore, egg donation increases the likelihood of multiple pregnancy, which is always more complicated than a single-child pregnancy. Not to be neglected are also the late effects, such as psychosocial problems, which can arise when the child is informed about the nature of its development and must become aware of the anonymity of its mother.