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Egg donation - for donors |
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What sort of women become donors?
There are no personality traits that women have to have to become donors! The main characteristics that are required are physical health. Clinics usually look for donors who:
- are relatively young. Most clinics stipulate that donors should be between the ages of 18 and 35, although it is possible to become a donor if you are older than this
- are fit and well. Ideally donors are a healthy weight (being overweight can make ultrasound scans more difficult to perform) and non-smokers (smoking can affect fertility). Women undergoing IVF (ie who are having the same treatment but using their own eggs) are advised to take folic acid tablets before treatment starts to reduce the risk of spina bifida, and it is sensible if potential donors do the same
- have no history of hereditary disease or congenital abnormality. A high risk would rule a woman out as a potential donor.
- have no history of a serious medical disorder
- are not in need of regular medication
Donors are matched to the physical characteristics of the recipient parents as far as possible.
This link, from Midlife Mommies, gives one recipient's story about why she chose egg donation and how she felt about the donor.
April 2000
