Because egg donation is a medical procedure, there is always the risk of infection—just as there is with any type of surgery. An anesthesiologist will always be in the room with donors throughout the entire procedure, and they will administer antibiotics through an I.V. in order to help combat the possibility of infection. Donors should also rest and follow all post-procedural instructions to help further reduce this risk.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is another rare complication of egg donation that occurs after the ovaries have been overstimulated due to medications. The ovaries are not used to producing multiple eggs during a natural menstrual cycle, but during an egg donation cycle all the eggs that are available to ovulate are stimulated. When the ovarian follicles are drained, the body will naturally replenish the fluid. OHSS occurs when the body overcompensates and puts too much fluid back into the follicles, causing extreme bloating and discomfort. The chances of OHSS developing is less than 2% when given the proper medications. The World Egg Bank takes the proper precautions and we closely monitor our donors to minimize the risk of developing OHSS.
Another risk of egg donation doesn’t have to do with the procedure itself—it is the risk of pregnancy. While cycling, our nurse provides donors with hormone injections to stimulate the ovarian follicles. These medications are the same as if you were undergoing fertility treatment, meaning you will be extremely fertile while taking the stimulants. If you do engage in sex, your risk of pregnancy and becoming pregnant with multiple babies significantly increases. We advise all donors to abstain from sex the 10-14 days you are on the medication and until your next menstrual cycle following retrieval (this will be about a 5-week period). If a donor becomes pregnant during a cycle, the cycle.
