Welcome to Fertility Connections

donor stories

Deanna's Egg Donation Story:

Donating my eggs has been one of the most profound and fulfilling experiences I have had in my entire life. It has not only opened my eyes to the whole world of infertility but has also shown me also how important donating really is to an individual family. I have met truly wonderful people along the way, who have also helped this to be so meaningful. I've donated twice now and can highly recommend that young women who are interested to try it at least once. It wasn't until I experienced this process that I learned what an amazing gift I can give to others.

Before I donated, I wanted to learn as much as possible before jumping head first into the commitment. I spent significant time investigating and reading. I wanted to know if the hormone shots were painful, if I was going to gain weight, and the specifics of the procedure, etc. Fertility Connections helped me to answer all of my questions and to feel comfortable moving ahead.

After filling out the application (about two hours for the written application,) I scheduled a meeting with the two lovely ladies, Beverly and Sherri, at Fertility Connections. From the first time we all met, during the interview process, I knew that they were going to be great people to work with. They are the mediators between the intended mother or intended parents and the egg donor and as well as the guides for moving through this process. These women (who I now call friends) did an excellent job of keeping me informed and abreast of everything that needed to be done.

When I actually got into the three weeks of the actual procedure, naturally, the needles were a little intimidating to think about, but after the first shot I found I quickly adapted to the routine. I gave myself shots in my thighs and in the baby fat of my tummy every day for almost 3 weeks. The worst I experienced us that they stung at first and my skin was a little itchy but it was not anywhere near as hard as I had initially imagined. Putting on relaxing music or drinking chamomile tea definitely helped with the "pre-shot anxiety."

I didn't gain weight but I definitely felt bloated towards the end of the process, before the egg removal procedure. The follicular stimulating hormones made me feel full, like I had many "eggs in my basket." I had around 15 follicles (which contain the eggs) on each ovary. Watching the growth of my follicles during the ultrasounds was completely fascinating! All of the nurses and doctors who helped me throughout both processes were very nurturing and supportive. Everyone helped me feel to comfortable and kept me thoroughly informed throughout both of my egg donations.

One of the doctor's that saw me during one of my appointments kept thanking me while he was counting my follicles. He had just come back from vacation with his family and this helped him realize how important his job was and how happy it made him feel that he was helping people start families of their own. The energy I received from him was contagiously warm and sincere.

Going into the egg retrieval procedure was the most nerve-racking part of the experience for me. I had never been under anesthesia before, even ‘twilight sleep,’ and I didn't like the idea of not being in control. However, the nurses and anesthesiologist were very kind and gentle and assured me that everything was going to be okay. Twenty minutes later, I woke up feeling pleasantly intoxicated from the anesthesia wearing off. I was a little sore but was not in any real pain.

The doctor told me that everything went well and they successfully retrieved 25+ eggs from the follicles! I was highly relieved. A month full of shots and appointments and it was all over in a twenty minute process! My part was done but I knew that the intended mother's life as a mom had just begun. My heart so reaches out to those women and couples who want a child so much and have such difficulty getting pregnant on their own.

I find myself feeling so thankful for this opportunity and experience. Working with such amazing people during both donations has now inspired me to work in the medical field. A year ago, I was still unsure of what I wanted to do for a living. Being a lover of literature, I thought that I thought I wanted to major in English and become a teacher. But this experience has impacted my life so greatly that I have changed paths and am now pursuing a career as a physician's assistant. I now find I want to help people, such as the women I have helped (yes, both became pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I understand that not all of these stories have this positive outcome but it seems like such a great thing to do to try to help. Warm regards! Deanna

Michelle's Story:

The decision to become an egg donor can be one of the most gratifying and life changing experiences a woman can go through. Even so, this decision comes with significant psychological and medical factors to consider. I hope that by sharing my personal journey, others can consider these areas and determine whether becoming a donor is the right choice for them.

Discovering Egg Donation

My introduction to egg donation came while searching health related jobs on the internet. While scrolling down the list of jobs my eyes stopped on an ad that advertised for $6,500 +. Naturally I became curious and opened the listing which then directed me to Fertility Connections website. At the time I was in the process of applying to medical schools and the application fees were quickly adding up. Thus, a quick way to make a significant sum of money was just what I was looking for. After reading more about in vitro fertilization (the process of combining an egg and a sperm in the lab then transferring the embryo into the uterus of the intended mother), I realized this could be my perfect opportunity. I could learn about an intriguing field of medicine, pay off my school fees, and, perhaps most important of all, make a lasting impact on another person’s life. I decided to request more information and researched more on the entire process.

Making the Match

One of the things that most influenced my decision to proceed with the donation process was a particular couple who was in search of my exact interests and ethnic background. I was told that there would be a pretty good chance that if I decided to proceed, the couple would want to work with me immediately. The signs overwhelmingly pointed in one direction and the timing in my life was just right. The agency informed me that she had lost her ability to have a child due to cancer a few years prior but was still fully capable of carrying a baby to term. I knew right then that I was meant to help this couple, and from that moment on I felt confident in my decision to start with the medical treatment.

Screening

To ensure that a potential candidate is mentally and physically suitable to become an egg donor, women must undergo a medical and psychological screening process. Overall, the screening procedures were a piece of cake.

The psychological screening is to ensure that the donors know their role in the process and are willing to make the necessary time commitment. Even though my full time job had a flexible schedule it was difficult to arrange a meeting with the psychologist during the week. Fortunately the agency’s psychologist was so accommodating, that we had the meeting on a Sunday in her own house. The one on one talk was warm and comfortable. We discussed the reasons why I wanted to donate and specifically how I felt about donating a part of myself to another woman. We discussed the boundary of the gift I was giving: I was giving the couple a chance to get pregnant, not the gift of a child. My eggs would have been reabsorbed into my body, and never would have turned into one of my children. I was giving the gift of contributing my genes to help. I was donating the possibility of life just as a blood or organ donors give to help others in need. The psychologist also shared the experiences from previous donors, which helped me feel that I was not alone in my questions and concerns. Overall, the meeting helped me to organize my own thoughts and to confront my feelings with the retrieval and the impact it could have on my life down the road.

Medical Screening

The medical screening involves a visit to the designated physician where the intended parents receive care. They review the details of the process and goes over your family’s medical health history. A nurse also takes a blood sample to test for infectious diseases and specific genetic disorders. Even though I trusted that I was in good health, it was nice to get the confirmation from my blood test. Surprisingly, although I was healthy, my blood test did show that I was a carrier of the trait for a genetic disorder called Cystic Fibrosis. Despite the fact that I had no symptoms of the disorder, there is still a 1 in 4 chance that I could have a baby with the disease if the father was also a carrier. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought to test myself for the disorder since no one in my family exhibited the disorder. I am so grateful that now I know I am a carrier. Going through the medical screening for egg donation might have saved me from having a child with cystic fibrosis in the future.

The Medical Process

My first trip to the fertility clinic after the medical screening was to meet with the nurse to learn about preparing and administering the injections. Initially I was surprised by the number of injections I would have to take over three weeks time, but I was relieved when I saw how small and thin the needles really were. Sitting in the small office of the clinic I realized how vital my commitment and accuracy was in making this process a success. The nurse summarized the potential risks with the medications but assured me that they were small and that other complications were very uncommon.

The first injection took a while to administer. I found it hard to overcome the resistance to giving myself the first injection and had a graphic image of the needle approaching skin. When I finally got the nerve to do it, I laughed at myself for being so scared of nothing. The injections got easier everyday and it actually became fun to play doctor on myself. While the nurse informed me of the possible side effects, I only experienced a strong headache on the second injection day and mild abdominal tenderness during the last couple injections. It is important to mention that one of the medications must be kept in the refrigerator so that travel arrangements must be made accordingly. It is also essential to keep in mind that sex is not permitted for approximately 1 month, during the injections until you get your menses after the retrieval.

Appointments

Making the frequent trips to the women’s clinic takes patience and flexibility. It is important when considering egg donation that your schedule be open for morning ultrasound appointments which take about 30 minutes. During these appointments, blood is frequently drawn to monitor Estrogen levels. Once the blood is collected by the nurse, a doctor does a quick ultrasound to examine the uterus and count number of growing follicles in the ovaries. The ultrasound procedure is very simple and painless. It is similar to a pap smear but with much less pressure and discomfort. It is fascinating to see your follicles, which contain the eggs, on screen and watch them enlarge from the hormone treatment. Once the follicles get to the desired size, the injections stop and the retrieval date is made. The appointments are quite fast, but they do require multiple trips to the clinic during the last week. Ensuring adequate transportation and time management is extremely important to make all required appointments. As the ladies at Fertility Connections reminded me, if I was late, everyone after me was late.

Retrieval

By the time the retrieval date was set, the pressure in my abdomen was getting stronger and for the first time in my life I could actually feel and sense my ovaries. When I arrived at the doctor’s office, a recipient couple was nervously waiting in the lobby for the implantation of their own embryo. The nurse brought both of us back to change into our scrubs and administered an IV. As I sat in the recliner alongside the woman, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for being a donor. As I sensed the woman’s hope and excitement to become pregnant, I imagined how anxious my recipient couple would be after my retrieval.

When I woke up from the anesthesia about 15 minutes after the retrieval I did not experience any pain, but did have significant tenderness and cramping in my abdomen. I was amazed at how quick and simple the procedure was. When I got home I felt quite good. I managed to eat a light lunch and enjoy pampering myself with lots of TV and relaxation. The cramps and aches seemed to increase that night and the following day. Although I decided to go back to work the next day, two full days of recovery is recommended and I would encourage it.

Final Thoughts

Two weeks after the retrieval, I got word that a pregnancy occurred and that the parents were ecstatic with joy and gratitude for all members involved in the fertilization process. I also received a gift from the new parents and a special note to personally thank me for helping them conceive.

In the end, I am so grateful for being offered the chance to help bring a wanted child into the world. The entire process was actually a gift for me- I know I am a carrier for cystic fibrosis, I can completely pay off my application fees for school, and I know that somewhere out there a miracle child was brought into the world and I had a hand in making it possible. Many donors choose to donate more than once. But I am on with my life and going to medical school in the fall.

Best!

Michelle