The process of egg donation is a complex one. It is a deviation from normal ovulation and hence it is bound to give rise to side effects. After comprehensive evaluation and tests, a woman can become a donor. What happens next and what are the side effects, read on. Egg donation happens after a series of medical tests are conducted. The status of the donors ovaries, uterus and other pelvic organs are ascertained through an ultrasound, besides a pelvic examination is conducted along with some blood tests to know the hormonal levels. Only after all the tests assure that the woman is fit to undergo the entire egg donation procedure, she is confirmed to become an egg donor. But there are certain side effects to the procedure that one needs to know before going ahead to become an egg donor: The procedure starts with ovarian hyperstimulation. Doctors often administer the donor a regular dosage of birth control pills. This is to regulate and monitor her menstrual cycles. This is followed by three stages of drugs that involve the hyperstimulation phase. In this articleGonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist Analogues –Follicle Stimulating Hormone Some less Frequent but Serious Side EffectsRare Side-Effects That Calls For SurgeryGonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist Analogues – This hormonal drug suppresses the release of luteinising hormone by the pituitary gland. LH causes the egg to mature and as an effect of this drug, the donor experiences ‘artificial menopause’. This is to control the timing of the egg maturation and ovulation and the medication is administered through regular subcutaneous injections. The side effect is tampering with the normal cycle of the donor through medications and little to moderate bruising. The bruising is controlled by rotating the injection sites. At times the injections are substituted by nasal sprays, but their side-effects are yet to be documented. Follicle Stimulating Hormone – This FSH or human menopausal gonadotropin is administered through daily injections. This is to trigger to development of multiple egg follicles so that the doctor can readily retrieve several mature eggs at a single go. As a side effect, the donor is asked not to go for sexual intercourse as it might result in an unwanted pregnancy. Several blood tests and pelvic ultrasounds are conducted to measure the maturation of eggs and the dosage of FSH is accordingly adjusted. Fertility medications do not usually result in allergic reactions. But as a side effect to these above mentioned procedures, there can be:Little to severe bruising at several sites in the body due t o repeated injectionsAbdominal swelling and discomfortFrequent mood swings, anxiety and tensionA sense of pressure in the abdominal areaVaginal dryness and hot flashes due to the temporary menopause Some less Frequent but Serious Side Effects: This is a complication that is caused by the abdominal fluid build-up that also causes discomfort to the chest. This is basically the result of the cystic enlargement of the ovaries. This complication might result in a fatal injury and even death in rare cases. As a severe side effect of the drug regimen, the other symptoms are:Feeling of persistent dehydrationDisorder in blood clotKidney damageRare Side-Effects That Calls For Surgery: This can happen in less than 1% of the egg donation cases. The fertility and the hormone control drugs can result in adnexal torsion. When the ovary is artificially stimulated, they might just twist themselves and the blood supply to the ovaries is stopped. The twist is cleared through surgery. There are studies that also suggest that Clomiphene, a drug that is administered during hyperstimulation enhances the probability of the donor developing ovarian cancer later in her life. Lupron is also a drug that is given to donors for hyperstimulation, can aggravate the condition of the donor if she is already having a tumour in her pituitary gland. In some cases, it can also cause strokes.Only after all the tests assure that the woman is fit to undergo the entire egg donation procedure, she is confirmed to become an egg donor. So, one can consider the possible side effects in detail before going ahead with the entire process.
The process of egg donation is a complex one. It is a deviation from normal ovulation and hence it is bound to give rise to side effects. After comprehensive evaluation and tests, a woman can become a donor. What happens next and what are the side effects, read on. Egg donation happens after a series of medical tests are conducted. The status of the donors ovaries, uterus and other pelvic organs are ascertained through an ultrasound, besides a pelvic examination is conducted along with some blood tests to know the hormonal levels. Only after all the tests assure that the woman is fit to undergo the entire egg donation procedure, she is confirmed to become an egg donor. But there are certain side effects to the procedure that one needs to know before going ahead to become an egg donor:
The procedure starts with ovarian hyperstimulation. Doctors often administer the donor a regular dosage of birth control pills. This is to regulate and monitor her menstrual cycles. This is followed by three stages of drugs that involve the hyperstimulation phase.
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist Analogues –
This hormonal drug suppresses the release of luteinising hormone by the pituitary gland. LH causes the egg to mature and as an effect of this drug, the donor experiences ‘artificial menopause’. This is to control the timing of the egg maturation and ovulation and the medication is administered through regular subcutaneous injections. The side effect is tampering with the normal cycle of the donor through medications and little to moderate bruising. The bruising is controlled by rotating the injection sites. At times the injections are substituted by nasal sprays, but their side-effects are yet to be documented.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone –
This FSH or human menopausal gonadotropin is administered through daily injections. This is to trigger to development of multiple egg follicles so that the doctor can readily retrieve several mature eggs at a single go. As a side effect, the donor is asked not to go for sexual intercourse as it might result in an
unwanted pregnancy. Several blood tests and pelvic ultrasounds are conducted to measure the maturation of eggs and the dosage of FSH is accordingly adjusted.
Fertility medications do not usually result in allergic reactions. But as a side effect to these above mentioned procedures, there can be:
- Little to severe bruising at several sites in the body due t o repeated injections
- Abdominal swelling and discomfort
- Frequent mood swings, anxiety and tension
- A sense of pressure in the abdominal area
- Vaginal dryness and hot flashes due to the temporary menopause
Some less Frequent but Serious Side Effects:
This is a complication that is caused by the abdominal fluid build-up that also causes discomfort to the chest. This is basically the result of the cystic enlargement of the ovaries. This complication might result in a fatal injury and even death in rare cases. As a severe side effect of the drug regimen, the other symptoms are:
- Feeling of persistent dehydration
Rare Side-Effects That Calls For Surgery:
This can happen in less than 1% of the egg donation cases. The fertility and the hormone control drugs can result in adnexal torsion. When the ovary is artificially stimulated, they might just twist themselves and the blood supply to the ovaries is stopped. The twist is cleared through surgery.
There are studies that also suggest that Clomiphene, a drug that is administered during hyperstimulation enhances the probability of the donor developing ovarian cancer later in her life.
Lupron is also a drug that is given to donors for hyperstimulation, can aggravate the condition of the donor if she is already having a tumour in her pituitary gland. In some cases, it can also cause strokes.
Only after all the tests assure that the woman is fit to undergo the entire egg donation procedure, she is confirmed to become an egg donor. So, one can consider the possible side effects in detail before going ahead with the entire process.
