Why Egg Donors Donate

Egg donors donate for a multitude of reasons. In the end, most women who are considering egg donation come to Shady Grove Fertility with the same desire to help other women achieve their dream of a child.  Egg donor, Vanessa Zaczek, was no different.

Helping a Friend in Need

Nearly 10 years ago, a friend of Vanessa’s was having a hard time getting pregnant. The two young women often discussed fertility treatment, and Vanessa felt compelled to help. She went so far as to start the egg donation process.

“I’d gone through the inquiry form and psychology background part when she got pregnant,” Vanessa recalls.

Vanessa’s friend was lucky enough to conceive naturally after all, but Vanessa decided to pursue the donation process anyway. “I felt so comfortable already with the staff that I figured I’d continue with Shady Grove Fertility,” says Vanessa.

That’s typical among women who apply to be egg donors, according to Michele Purcell, the Donor Egg Program Supervisor at Shady Grove Fertility. “We have found that the majority of donors are like Vanessa, coming to us to help another person and hopefully help create a baby. Many donors, when asked, tell us that they know someone who experienced infertility or read an article on infertility and want to help.”

The Screening Process

The rest of the screening was actually more in-depth than Vanessa expected, but it was a pleasant surprise. “I thought if I was using someone else’s eggs, I would want [the screening] to be that thorough.”

Michele describes the screening process as “thorough and extensive” and can take approximately six weeks and several office appointments. Applicants are screened both medically and psychologically.

“The screening process allows us to sort out donor candidates that do not meet our standards,” Michele says. Shady Grove Fertility Center's donor program is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and follows the strict guidelines of the American College of OB/GYN (ACOG) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). In 2011, of the more than 6500 egg donor applicants at Shady Grove Fertility, only 8 percent were accepted for the screening itself, and 3 percent completed a donation cycle.

Future Fertility

When she first donated eggs, Vanessa “definitely knew” she wanted children of her own. She’s worked in education since high school, now as a preschool director. Today, the 28 year old has a toddler of her own, and both her work and motherhood have heightened the importance of donating her eggs to Shady Grove Fertility patients.

“In my work, I see parents who maybe take for granted their ability to have children,” Vanessa reflects. “When I had my son, it was an amazing feeling, and it is sad to think of the women who cannot have their own.”

Still, Vanessa says she feels no “attachment” to the egg cells she’s donated. She’s not sure if she wants to know the final outcome of any IVF cycles in which her eggs were used. “It’s a really amazing process,” Vanessa says. “I don’t think [lack of anonymity] would be a problem for me.”

When asked to describe the egg donation process and its impact on her life, “dedication” best illustrates the physicality of it. “I had to give myself injections, which was nerve-wracking at first, and went to the office nearly every other morning for ultrasounds. It was a big maturity level test for me at first. But in the end, it was no big deal: two or three weeks of my life to help someone else have a baby…”

Michele concurs that Vanessa’s donor experience is common. “For donors who have children of their own, they will tell you that they cannot imagine life without their child and feel for woman that are unable to conceive using their own eggs. They feel egg donation is a way to reach out and hopefully help another woman or couple fulfill their desire to have children.”

A Positive Experience

Vanessa has donated her eggs now the maximum number of times allowed by the FDA - six. She says that the experience was so uplifting that she’d happily continue donating if allowed.

“I’d want to continue with Shady Grove Fertility if I were allowed to donate again,” she remarks, “because they just feel like a family to me now.”

On that note, Vanessa’s own family and friends are aware and supportive of her donor experiences. “Some people didn’t really understand and would ask me how I could give someone else part of me, but for the most part I got positive feedback. My mom came with me to some of my appointments. My husband thought it was really great. My sister actually decided to donate her eggs because of my experience.”

Vanessa and her husband intend to enjoy their toddler a little longer before trying to have another child. “Having a child is a completely different experience from donating eggs,” she laughs. It is an experience she has graciously given to others.

Click here to learn how to become an egg donor.