If you're thinking about donating your eggs, I get it. Depending on where you live and what program you use, you can make over $10K per donation cycle, which is a lot of money to a lot of people.
I myself have done it seven times — the maximum amount of times a single person can — so I've gained a fair bit of insight into the process, and wanted to share it with those who might be considering donating their eggs.
Here are some things to know about egg donation:
1.You're looking at about a month-and-a-half long time commitment.
2.Your physical and mental health will be screened.
3.You'll have to inject yourself with the hormones they give you.
4.You'll be provided with all the necessary supplies.
5.You have to hold off on exercising.
6.Your sex life might be affected.
7.You can't drink or do recreational drugs.
8.You can start doing all these things again once your period starts back up.
9.You'll need an adult to pick you up once your retrieval is over.
10.You'll experience anything from mild to significant discomfort for at least a day or two following the retrieval.
11.There's a chance you'll eventually be contacted by one or more of the resulting children.
12.You'll need to think long and hard about whether this is something you'll be comfortable with.
13.Your family may find out that you've donated, even if you don't tell them.
14.Regardless of anonymity now basically being moot, you still might not be told anything by the donation agency about how the egg recipients fared.
15.On that note, not all donation agencies are the same.
16.Once your eggs are out, you'll be paid no matter what happens after.
17.How much money you make per cycle depends on the clinic.
18.Your eggs will be taxed.
19.You can donate up to six (or possibly seven) times.
20.If you're interested in donating, start with a cursory Google search.
Keep in mind this is in no way a definitive guide to egg donation — it's simply meant to give you an idea of whether you might want to go ahead with your application.
