At the 75th Annual Scientific Congress of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, researchers shared that most egg donors surveyed reported positive feelings about their donation experience and continuing good health years after their donation. Dr. Jennifer Blackmore and her colleagues analyzed responses to an anonymous survey completed by 36 egg donors who donated between 2008 and 2019 at New York University’s Langone Fertility Center.
Most egg donors were 25 to 30 years old at the time of their first donation (54%). Forty percent donated once; 17% donated twice; another 17% donated three times; and 26% donated four or more times. Most reported minor post-operative symptoms (51%) or no post-operative complications (34%).
Eighty-one percent of egg donors surveyed said that they would make the same decision to donate again and a similar number were interested in maintaining contact with the program for future updates. Fifty-eight percent said they would recommend egg donation to others and 63% reported that they would have been willing to donate in an open donation or ID disclosure program, had it been available.
Twenty percent of donors had updates to their medical histories, collectively reporting two new allergies and one instance each of epilepsy, anemia, collagenous colitis, fibrocystic breasts, benign skin cancer removal, ovulatory dysfunction, blocked fallopian tubes, unexplained infertility, and fibroids. More than half of the donors reported being treated for depression or anxiety. Sixty-three percent reported no updates to their family medical history.
Of the 31% of egg donors reporting pregnancies, none required the use of assisted reproductive technology, but 13% experienced more than two pregnancy losses.
All of those who knew that children had been born from their donated oocytes (31%) reported positive feelings about that knowledge.
ASRM Vice-President Hugh Taylor, MD commented, “Although the number of respondents is small, this study provides a framework for, and indicates the advantages to be gained by greater long-term follow-up of egg donors. While it’s reassuring that the majority of donors who responded to the survey have continued in good physical health, the fact that half of them have sought psychological care is concerning. Whether the program is anonymous or open to ID disclosure, clinics should do what is practicable to facilitate an appropriate exchange of information about donation outcomes as well as donors’ continuing medical history. This will be to the benefit of all concerned: the egg donors themselves, egg recipients, and children born from the donations.”
Becoming an egg donor is a serious commitment when you choose to participate in an egg donor cycle, yet the results are gratifying. At Egg Donation, Inc., we understand the importance in this decision and acknowledge all egg donors for choosing to be a contribution to the lives of others.
ASRM is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of reproductive medicine. The Society accomplishes its mission through the pursuit of excellence in education and research and through advocacy on behalf of patients, physicians, and affiliated health care providers. The Society is committed to facilitating and sponsoring educational activities for the lay public and continuing medical education activities for professionals who are engaged in the practice of and research in reproductive medicine. www.asrm.org