What Is Ovarian Stimulation?
How it works, what to expect, and potential side effects of ovarian stimulation
Ovarian stimulation is an important part of the egg donation process. During this approximately two-week stage, donors receive hormone medications to encourage egg growth before the egg retrieval. Read on to learn more about how ovarian stimulation works and what to expect from this part of the egg donation journey.
What Usually Happens During Ovulation?
Eggs, or oocytes, develop in the ovaries inside fluid-filled sacs called follicles. Most people with ovaries have about 300,000 follicles by the time they reach puberty. During a typical menstrual cycle, about 15-20 eggs begin to develop. Only one of those eggs fully matures and is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube in a process called ovulation. The rest of the immature eggs stop developing and are absorbed back into the body.
What Happens During Ovarian Stimulation?
During an egg donation cycle, you are prescribed hormonal medications that allow all or most of the eggs developing in your ovaries to mature at the same time. Instead of only one egg fully maturing and the rest dying off, the hormones in ovarian stimulation allow multiple eggs to grow. This means a doctor can retrieve many mature eggs that would normally be reabsorbed into your body. Since there’s no way to guarantee the quality of any one egg, retrieving multiple eggs increases the chances of successful fertilization, implantation, and pregnancy for an intended parent.
What Do I Need To Do During Ovarian Stimulation?
As a donor, you will first take a prescribed birth control medication to regulate your period. Next, you’ll receive injectable hormone medications called gonadotropins to stimulate your ovaries and encourage egg growth. You’ll need to inject these medications multiple times every day for two weeks before the egg retrieval. We will teach you how to inject the medications safely and easily. If you’re not comfortable administering the medications, you may have a trusted partner, friend, or family member help you with the process. During this two week period, you will also come in for regular appointments (usually 3-5) to monitor your body’s response to the hormones.
Are There Any Side Effects to Ovarian Stimulation?
Some donors experience side effects like abdominal cramps, bloating, or mood swings, similar to when you’re on your period.
Occasionally, donors experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which occurs when fluid from your blood vessels leaks out into the abdomen and pelvis. OHSS is usually mild, but can become severe in rare cases. Your donation team will work with you to minimize the risks of OHSS and inform you of signs of OHSS to look out for after the retrieval.
Ovarian stimulation and donating your eggs does not affect your future fertility. Ovarian stimulation won’t make you “run out” of eggs faster than you normally would, as it simply encourages eggs to grow that would otherwise be reabsorbed into your body. Similarly, no long term health risks have been documented for egg donors.
Curious About Becoming A Donor? Reach Out to Us Today
Ovarian stimulation is a safe and effective way to increase the number of mature eggs that can be retrieved during an egg donation cycle. More eggs means more chances for success for an intended parent. If you’d like to help intended parents grow their family through donor eggs, apply today.