Can I Donate Eggs More Than Once?
A guide to how many times you can donate eggs
Can I Donate Eggs More Than Once?
If your first experience goes well, then yes, you can donate eggs more than once. Everyone’s body is unique and reacts to the egg donation process differently. If your body responds well to the medications involved and there were no complications along the way, then you may be eligible to donate again. Egg donors are able to donate eggs up to six times.
Why Can I Only Donate Six Times?
At SIMPLIFY and our partner clinic Pacific Northwest Fertility (PNWF), we follow the guidance of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) by limiting donors to six donation cycles total. According to the ASRM, there are two main reasons for this limit.
Firstly, limiting the total number of donation cycles protects the donor’s health. While there is no evidence for any long term health concerns from egg donation, there are short-term risks associated with any medication or medical procedure. With egg donation, these risks (including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) or complications from anesthesia) are extremely rare; limiting the total number of donations helps to keep those chances low over a donor’s lifetime.
Secondly, keeping the total donations to six or less, limits the number of people who are genetically related through their donor but might not know it.
Will Donating Eggs More Than Once Affect My Fertility?
No, There is no evidence that repeat egg donation affects your future fertility. The egg donation process involves maturing and retrieving eggs that would otherwise be reabsorbed into your body during a normal menstrual cycle. The eggs you donate aren’t being taken from your future egg reserve. There is also no evidence that your egg quality or reproductive health will be affected if you donate eggs more than once. For more information, check out our article, “Does Egg Donation Affect Fertility?”
How Do I Donate Eggs More Than Once?
After your first donation, give yourself some time to reflect on your experience. If there were no complications during the process and you would like to donate eggs again, let us know, and we’ll discuss next steps. If you are approved to donate again, the process is usually quicker, as you have already been accepted as a donor. At SIMPLIFY, we sometimes recommend our donors wait 1-2 menstrual cycles between donation cycles.
The First Step to Donating Eggs More Than Once…Is Donating the First Time!
Donating eggs more than once is determined on a case-by-case basis, although many of our donors are approved to donate eggs again. Donating your eggs is a wonderful gift to families in need, and donating more than once can be a very meaningful experience. If you are interested in donating eggs more than once, the first step is to be approved as a donor and see what your experience is like with your first donation cycle. If you are interested in becoming a donor, apply today! And if you have questions about the egg donation process, we’re happy to help.