Egg donation

Egg donation gives new hope to women who believed they would never have children.

A woman who receives donated eggs is called the recipient and the one doing the donating is called the donor.   The donated eggs are generally fertilized in vitro by sperm from the recipient’s partner. An embryo is then transferred to the recipient’s uterus.

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Where do the eggs come from?

From an egg bank. Donated eggs often cost an enormous amount of money. It can cost from $10,000 to $20,000 for 12 eggs. For this reason, we strongly suggest you find a donor yourself. If this task seems to be difficult, we can direct you to a group of women who have been through the same experience.

In Canada, donating eggs is an altruist gesture; the law prohibits selling eggs or sperm. Only the expenses associated with the donation are reimbursed.

What are the implications of being an egg donor?

An egg donor should ideally be less than 35 years old. In addition to giving her written consent, the donor must commit to 5-6 visits to the clinic. Egg donation involves the following steps:

  1. A general check-up (blood work, ovarian reserve test, etc.).
  2. An interview with the psychologist.
  3. Taking medication for 10 to 12 days to stimulate egg production.
  4. About 3 to 5 ovarian ultrasound exams to assess the response to treatment.
  5. The retrieval of the eggs.

Although it cannot be entirely eliminated, the risk of complications associated with ovarian stimulation or follicle function is very low and addressed by the medical team. Don’t hesitate to ask questions.