Ovarian stimulation, cycle monitoring and egg collection

Fertility drugs are given to the egg donor to stimulate her ovaries to produce several follicles. As the follicles grow, their development will be monitored by ultrasound scans and blood hormone levels. Serious side effects of the medication are rare, but some women may experience, headaches, hot flushes, mood changes, fluid retention, discomfort and bruises at the site of injections, allergy and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

There is about 5-10% risk of cancellation of the treatment cycle because of either poor response to the fertility drugs or high risk of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. After about two weeks the follicles are mature, the donor will be given hCG injection to ensure final maturation of the eggs. About 36 hours later, egg collection will be performed; this is usually carried out by transvaginal ultrasound aspiration under mild sedation, but is sometimes performed by laparoscopy, if the donor is to undergo another procedure such as sterilization (some women undergoing sterilization decide to donate eggs). Most egg donors will produce around 8-10 eggs.

Not all follicles necessarily contain eggs and not all eggs obtained are necessarily mature. Rarely no eggs are collected.

The egg donor is advised not to have unprotected intercourse following egg collection until the next period in order to avoid the risk of unplanned pregnancy.

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