Oocyte Donation: Cash for Eggs

Especially now in this time of recession in U.S. and increased prices of gasoline and just about every other commodity required for normal living, people are looking for ways to supplement their income. Many people are already working second and third jobs and still not making it. A need for quick cash has spurred many into the fields of medical testing and research or to the paid donation of plasma. In this arena, many young women who are looking to supplement their income are turning to the growing industry of egg or oocyte donation.

There are several medical centers across the country that pay a large sum of money for the donation of healthy eggs. These oocytes are increasingly in demand and used by women who are either infertile or otherwise cannot have children without medical assistance. Randy S. Morris, M.D. at http://www.ivf1.com/oocyte-donation/ cites several groups of women in need of donated oocytes such as those with premature ovarian failure, occult ovarian failure, advanced maternal age, or those who have been unsuccessful with other fertility treatments.

Oocyte donation is, in effect, a modification of the in vitro fertilization process that has been used successfully since 1978 to fertilize an egg outside the body and have it re-implanted into the uterus. Regular IVF uses the natural eggs of the patient, but many woman who cannot produce their own eggs may have an oocyte implanted from a third party donor.

Facilities accepting applications for oocyte donors can be found across the country. Some of the major centers are Georgia Reproductive Specialists in Atlanta, Center of Human Reproduction in New York and Illinois, UC Davis Fertility Center in Sacramento, CA, IVF1 Fertility Center in Naperville and Chicago, IL, and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, IA. Other centers can be found through an internet search for Fertility Centers near your location.

The process of becoming an oocyte donor begins with a medical screening and questionnaire. The questionnaire will ask the prospecting donor questions about her personal life and history including education, work, medical history, family medical history, sexual practices, psychological history, social habits, and previous donor experience.

The medical screening consists of a general physical along with measuring hormone levels during the menstruation cycle, testing for transmittable diseases, and chromosome testing. Other tests include normal gynecological tests such as pap smear testing.

Once an applicant has passed the medical testing and been accepted as a donor, normally they will be matched with a waiting recipient who will receive the donated oocyte. Some women find a recipient themselves and strike a private deal for the donation, while it is considered safer to go through medical centers that will match the donor and recipient anonymously.

Once matched, the donor’s ovulation cycle must be matched to the recipient’s through artificial inducement. The cycles of the two women must work in conjunction so that the egg can be donated at the right time for placement in the recipient. There are risks involved with the medications used to induce ovulation, but most side-effects are considered relatively mild.

Once the cycles are matched up, it will then be time for retrieval of the egg. A probe and needle will be inserted through the vagina and into the ovaries. This is an extremely low-risk procedure that can be completed in 45 minutes on an outpatient basis.

After retrieval of the oocyte, there will be one or more post-procedure screenings which are done either in person or through the telephone and spaced out from 2 weeks following to 6 months afterward. After this, the procedure is considered complete on the part of the donor.

Compensation for the donor varies by location. Many women who strike a private deal for donation, are paid for all medical costs and a donation fee as determined through negotiation. This fee can be anywhere from $500 to $5000 or more depending on the situation. An anonymous matching program will pay the donor throughout the process. As an example, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics pays $75 for the pre-screening process, $200 for each visit during cycle planning, $2500 after retrieval is completed, and $300 after completion of the follow-up appointments.

Women should be aware that there are risks with the procedures and you will need to make time for every appointment. It may take several months for completion of the program. There are currently no federal laws limiting oocyte donation although some States may have limits already in place. For further information, please consult your local oocyte donation center.