Gametes donation

What is egg cells donation?

Egg cells (oocytes) donation is a form of voluntary assistance to women whose ovarian reserve is finished or in the case of whom there are other factors affecting the occurrence of abnormalities within the egg cells, e.g. genetic disease or a history of oncological therapy. Such patients are unable to produce egg cells which are capable to be fertilized and thus give birth to a child. Unfortunately, more and more women are struggling with this situation so donating egg cells to them is often the only way that will allow them to become a mother.

Why is it worth becoming an egg donor?

Becoming an egg donor, first of all:

• you help infertile women to make one of their greatest dreams come true – becoming a mother
• you learn a lot about your health at no cost. FertiMedica covers the cost of your diagnostic tests in the amount of approx. PLN 2,200
• you benefit from the care of the best specialists: a gynecologist-obstetrician and a psychologist
• you receive a flat-rate reimbursement of costs related to your accession to the procedure in the amount of PLN 4,900 to PLN 8,600

 Who can become an egg donor?
A woman who wants to become an egg donor must fulfill following conditions:
• healthy, without addictions• age 18-34
• with a normal body weight
• regularly menstruating
• with a negative family history of genetic and mental diseases 

What are the stages of the egg donation procedure?
Step 1: Completing the application form (click here to down load the form) and sending it to …… 

Stage 2: Meeting with the FertiMedica Fertility Center CoordinatorWithin a few days of submitting your application, we will contact you to discuss the process of preparing for the egg donation procedure, which is compliant with Polish law and completely anonymous.At a convenient time, the Coordinator will meet with you, present a diagram of diagnostic tests, discuss the process of ovulation stimulation and egg cells collection, and answer your questions. 

Step 3: Psychological supportA meeting with a psychologist allows you to assess your motivation and emotional readiness to join the oocyte donation program.

Stage 4: Diagnostic tests
By making a conscious decision to anonymously donate oocytes, you will receive referrals for:blood laboratory tests, vaginal biocenosis and cytology. The obtained results will allow you to assess your current state of health and qualify you for the egg donation program.The tests that will be commissioned in the first place are:
• cytology, vaginal cleanliness and Chlamydia trachomatis smear
• blood collection for viral diseases: hepatitis B (HBsAg antigen, anti-HBc antibodies), hepatitis C (anti-HCV antibodies) and HIV (anti-HIV antibodies) and syphilis infection (VDRL or WR), IgM antibody tests and IgG for infection with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondi and cytomegalovirus
• blood group, morphology, electrolytes, coagulation system, liver tests
• Thyroid hormones,
• AMH ovarian reserve test (anti-Mϋllerian hormone)

Tests for donors to be are carried out at the expense of the clinic.

Step 5: Gynecological visitAfter receiving the ordered test results, you will be scheduled for an appointment with a gynecologist, a specialist in infertility treatment. During the visit, the doctor will issue a health certificate, perform a physical, gynecological and ultrasound examination of the reproductive organs, and order additional laboratory tests if necessary.

If the qualification for the oocyte donation program is positive, the doctor will discuss  the process of hormonal stimulation with you. 

Step 6: Hormone StimulationPreparing for egg cells collection requires taking hormonal medicines as prescribed by the doctor.

In addition, this stage will require several visits to the clinic, during which we will monitor ovulation using an ultrasound examination. Only such a test is able to precisely determine the moment of ovulation, during which mature egg cells are collected. On its basis, a puncture date will be set. 

Step 7: Anesthesia consultation to qualify for the procedure under anesthesia
A short visit to the anesthesiologist with the results of the blood tests to discuss anesthesia for the ovarian puncture procedure. 

Step 8: Collecting the egg cells (ovarian puncture)Retrieval of oocytes, i.e. puncture, is a procedure performed under intravenous anesthesia and lasts about 20 minutes. After the procedure you will stay in the clinic for 2 to 4 hours under medical care. 

Step 9: Complete the donation processAfter the oocyte collection procedure, you will receive financial compensation. 

Q&A, what potential donors ask most often:

1. Can ovulation stimulation cause complications or worsen my health? 
Stimulation of ovulation is associated with the administration of medicines in injections under the skin, so there may be an allergic reaction, discomfort associated with hormonal treatment. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) occurs in a small percentage of cases. The procedure of oocyte collection carries a slight risk: vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain, pelvic infection and, in extremely rare cases, bleeding into the abdominal cavity requiring surgery.However, the patient is provided with professional care by specialist doctors who take appropriate measures to limit and reduce the risk of complications. 

2. Will I be able to get pregnant in the future after donating my eggs and will it be easy? 
Donating a few or a dozen or so eggs should not reduce a woman’s fertility, lower the chance of a spontaneous pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child in the future. At reproductive age, women have about 30-40 thousand ovarian follicles. The assessment of ovarian reserve and the process of qualification for the program are aimed at excluding women in whom ovulation stimulation or ovarian puncture could make it difficult to get pregnant in the future. 

3. Can I donate the cells several times? 
According to the directives of the European Parliament and the recommendations of medical societies in Europe and Poland, a woman may take part in the oocyte donation program no more than 6 times. 

4. Can I donate cells at FertiMedica after I started donating egg cells at another clinic? 
According to the directives of the European Parliament and the recommendations of medical societies in Europe and Poland, a woman may take part in the oocyte donation program no more than 6 times. 

5. Who covers the cost of stimulation medicines? 
The cost of stimulation medicines is covered by FertiMedica. 

6. How long does the preparation process for egg cells collection take? 
The whole process takes 4-6 weeks, with the first 2-3 weeks related to the preparation and qualification for the donation procedure.

7. How does the egg cells collection procedure look like? How much time will I have to spend in the clinic?
Is the procedure performed under full anesthesia?  The egg collection procedure is usually performed under short intravenous anesthesia. Ovarian follicles are punctured through the vault of the vagina with a puncture needle under ultrasound guidance. Collected follicular fluid from both ovaries is transferred to the embryological laboratory. The procedure takes about 15-30 minutes, and the total stay in the clinic is about 2-4 hours. Due to the procedure and anesthesia, the patient should not be alone on that day, she cannot drive a car. 

8. What does the flat-rate cost reimbursement for joining the procedure mean? 
The donor of oocytes receives a flat-rate cost reimbursement, i.e. in a predetermined amount, reimbursement of costs related to participation in the donation program. Flat-rate cost reimbursement is compensation for the time spent, physical and emotional involvement and reimbursement of expenses, e.g. related to commuting to the clinic, absence from work. 

9. Is it possible for a child conceived from my egg cell to find me in the future? 
In Poland, in accordance with the Act on Infertility Treatment of June 25, 2015, (Article 38(2)) cell donation is anonymous. A person born as a result of an in vitro procedure with a donor’s cell, after reaching the age of 18, may submit a special application to the Minister of Health for disclosure of the donor’s data, such as the year and place of birth, information about her health and the results of medical and laboratory tests. 

10. Will I get information if a child was born from my mobile phone? 
A candidate for an egg cell donor, in accordance with the Infertility Treatment Act of June 25, 2015 (Article 30(1)(5)), has no right to access information on the further treatment of the donated reproductive cells. She also has no rights towards the child who will be born as a result of the in vitro procedure.  

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME AN OVA DONOR, CLICK HERE AND FILL IN THE REGISTRATION FORM.