Oocyte donation is a medical treatment in which a healthy young woman volunteers to give some of her egg cells to an infertile woman. The medical techniques used for donation are similar to those used for in vitro fertilization. There is no guarantee that donation will always result in a healthy baby, but for women over 40 years old especially, it may offer an improved chance for pregnancy when other methods have failed. However, since the egg donation process is relatively new and the way success rates are calculated can vary considerably from one oocyte donor program to the next, success rates should always be discussed with a doctor. A donor program must not only have experience and success in the use of IVF technology, it must also have policies and guidelines for the legal, psychological and financial arrangements protecting all parties.
Egg donation is a medical treatment that requires the giving and receiving of a very personal gift.
The donor A healthy young woman who feels strongly that she can help another woman who wants a baby very much can volunteer to be a donor. Not everyone who wants to volunteer can become a donor, because donors must be in excellent health and must be psychologically ready to give this gift. If a woman wants to donate, she should find a program that will give her considerate medical care and will be alert to her psychological needs. She should be told about every aspect of the medical procedures and any possible risks. A donor can choose to be known to the recipient, or her identity can be kept secret.