A Gift From the Heart: The Experiences of Women Whose Egg Donations Helped Their Sisters Become Mothers

Abstract

During in‐depth interviews, 3 women whose egg donations resulted in the birth of a child or children for their sisters discussed their donation motivations and decisions, the challenges of the donation procedure, and their postdonation feelings and experiences in the years since the birth of their nieces and nephews. The findings of this narrative study support the viability and advantages of this form of family building and highlight the counseling and support needs of known donors throughout the process.

Looking back: egg donors' retrospective evaluations of their motivations, expectations, and experiences during their first donation cycle

“…Studies assessing the reasons why women donate eggs in countries such as Canada and Finland, where payment for egg donation is either severely limited or prohibited, report that women have largely altruistic reasons for their participation in the procedure (4)(5)(6)(7). These studies also indicate that donors tolerate the procedures well, are largely satisfied with their experiences, have few (if any) regrets about donating, and have some willingness to donate eggs again.…”

“…Most first donations occurred in 1999 (12), 2000 (17), and 2001 (16). The donations took place in 20 different states, with the majority in California (23), Massachusetts (7), New York (7), Washington (7), and New Jersey (6).…”

Exploring Motivations, Awareness of Side Effects, and Attitudes among Potential Egg Donors

“…have significantly expanded the treatment options available to the estimated 17 percent of couples who are unable to procreate ( Winter & Daniluk, 2004). Over the last couple of decades, in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques have played a more widespread role in the range of available fertility treatments in the United States ( Kenney & McGowan, 2010).…”

“…Over the last couple of decades, in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques have played a more widespread role in the range of available fertility treatments in the United States ( Kenney & McGowan, 2010). Through IVF, women are able to donate eggs to an infertile woman who cannot produce viable eggs ( Winter & Daniluk, 2004). The process of egg donation is arduous and invasive and includes a month of daily medications to stimulate maximum egg growth followed by outpatient surgery to retrieve the eggs.…”

Attitudes and intention to donate oocytes for research

“…So, past studies (14,15) have found that women with positive attitudes toward oocyte donation and positive assessments of the consequences of donation (attitudes), social support in their donating oocytes (subjective norms), and high levels of behavioral control in their ability to donate (perceived behavioral control) reported intentions to donate their oocytes. Other studies have found altruism (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24), financial incentives (25)(26)(27), or making up for a loss, such as a past abortion or rape (26,28) influenced the decision to donate. Research has also demonstrated that the perceived importance of parenthood is a key factor in determining intentions to donate for treatment (22-24, 26, 29-31).…”