If you’re considering egg donation, it’s important to go in with both eyes open. It’s essential to know what to expect every step along the way. Gaining a full understanding of any risks you should be aware of in the testing, preparation, retrieval, and recovery stages can help you begin your surrogacy journey with confidence.
Here’s what you need to know:
There are a few possible health risks you should be aware of, most of them minor.
Short-term risks
Medical testing. Egg donation requires quite a lot of testing before you even begin. There shouldn’t be more than minor discomfort from the physical exam, pelvic ultrasound, blood work, and any other testing required.
Fertility drugs. These powerful drugs can cause some unpleasant side effects. The level of discomfort can vary from woman to woman, but common side effects include weight gain, mood changes, headaches, and allergic reactions. Ask your physician if there are any other symptoms you can expect, based on your current medical status.
You are also at risk of an unplanned pregnancy at this time, so your egg donation agency may recommend that you abstain from intercourse.
Egg retrieval. You can expect mild to moderate discomfort after the procedure. Potential complications include bleeding, infection, and injury to the bowel or blood vessels. The procedure will be performed under anesthesia which can bring its own complications, which will be addressed by your anesthesiologist.
Long-term risks
Egg donation is relatively new from a research perspective. There are no significant long-term health problems that have been established by any definitive studies.
Your surrogacy agency can tell you more about what to expect during your egg donation procedure from preparation to procedure to recovery. If you’d like to learn more about what to expect before, during, and after the procedure or what your egg donor agreement should cover, see our related posts:
Think egg donation may be for you?
Contact the experts at Surrogate Solutions or Egg Donor Solutions to learn more. Gayle and her team will be happy to walk you through every step of the process. To discuss the surrogacy or egg donation process in more detail or simply receive a more personal consultation, please do not hesitate to contact Surrogate Solutions or Egg Donor Solutions today!
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