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What Happens in an Egg Donation Cycle?

Fertility Drugs

Fertility Drugs

Once a woman is selected as a donor, she must first go on oral contraceptives in order to sync her cycle with the recipient of her eggs. When she is ready to start her cycle, she is given several different medications and hormones in order to stimulate egg production. Some common medications used include: menopur, fertinax, gonal. Some common side effects from these drugs include: bloating, irritability, migraines, hot flashes, nausea, swelling, weight gain. (Photo courtesy of Feal Rue).

Self-Injections

Self-Injections

Egg donors must self-inject a variety of hormones to increase egg production for about 3 weeks. This is a Gonal pen injection.

Lupron

Lupron

Lupron is a drug that is used in two phases of the egg donation process: first to shut down the ovaries so the doctor can control the cycle, and then as a "trigger shot" 36 hours before retrieval to release the eggs so they can be collected. Lupron is shown to reduce risk for OHSS, compared to HCG trigger, but does have other potential risks. See Lupron Information Sheet.

Ovarian Ultrasound

Ovarian Ultrasound

This is an ultrasound image of a woman's ovaries that have been stimulated by fertility drugs to produce enough follicles for egg donation. Each dark hole is another follicle. Here you can see over 15 in one ovary. In a regular cycle it is normal to produce one or two eggs that will mature.

Awaiting Surgery

Awaiting Surgery

On the day of the egg retrieval surgery, the patient/donor reports to the clinic and receives IV fluids before the procedure.

Operating Room

Operating Room

A typical operating room where egg retrieval surgery, or embryo transfer to the recipient, may occur.

Surgical Procedure

Surgical Procedure

Before surgery, the donor usually receives general anesthesia; although, sometimes only a local anesthetic is administered. The egg retrieval surgery usually takes about 35 to 45 minutes.

Egg Collection

Egg Collection

During the surgery a needle, attached to the suction tube, pierces through the vaginal wall to reach the ovary and suction out each individual egg. The process is then repeated on the other side.

IVF Laboratory

IVF Laboratory

The eggs are then taken to a laboratory where they will be fertilized with sperm to create embryos. Several days later, when the embryos are developed, one or two will be implanted into the intended mother or the surrogate. Leftover embryos may be frozen and preserved for later use.

After Retrieval

After Retrieval

Kristina is resting after her retrieval procedure. It is extremely important that a donor not engage in any kind of vigorous physical activity for some time following surgery. After retrieval, there is still a chance of increased fluid in the abdomen, as fluid fills in the empty sacs after the eggs are retrieved, which can lead to Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. It's best to avoid exercise until the ovaries have returned to normal size and your cycle has returned to normal.

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Photo courtesy of Fela Rue.

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