Becoming an egg donor is a big step. Sharing the decision-making process with your partner is a personal choice, but your spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend may have concerns about your interest in donating your eggs. He or she may worry about your safety or ask “Is donating eggs painful?” Providing reassurance to your loved ones will increase their comfort level with the egg donation process.

It might be possible to keep quiet about donating your eggs, but the check-in appointments and injections and the medical procedure on the day of donation may have mild side effects and require rest. Birth control methods might need to change. It may not be practical to avoid sharing your experience with the one closest to you.

Why You Should Share This Experience

Opening this discussion might be uncomfortable, but you may be surprised at the level of support and understanding your significant other will provide. Your decision to donate your eggs is one of generosity and empathy for parents struggling with infertility.

There should be no shame associated with your desire to help others, and your partner may share your giving spirit and do all he or she can to support you in selling your eggs, once any concerns are put to rest.

Answering Your Loved One’s Questions

Being prepared with answers to these common questions that loved ones ask will help you start the discussion.

• Why do you want to do this? You may want to describe your motivating factors, including your desire to help intended parents overcome infertility.
• Is the process dangerous or painful? The process is safe and entails only minor discomfort unless there are complications. The risk of developing complications is very low for healthy women.
• Will it put your future fertility at risk? Egg donation will not deplete a woman’s egg supply or inhibit her later fertility, as only a few eggs are retrieved out of millions.
• What are your/our responsibilities to any resulting children? The legal documentation ensures that the parents of the resulting children have all legal rights and responsibilities. The donor is not responsible for the outcome of the IVF or for any resulting children.
• How can I help? You may need help with transportation on the day of the retrieval, and emotional support or practical help during the screening process and retrieval cycle. Your partner’s support will make this experience even more meaningful as you come together to provide hope for another couple.
• Where can I learn more? There are resources available on our website to answer common questions, explain the egg donor application, screening, and medical process in detail, as well as dispelling common myths and misconceptions about egg donation.

Sharing Resources and Finding Support

Having a clear understanding of the egg donor requirements and the facts about the egg donation process will help reassure your partner that this is a healthy and wise decision which he or she can fully support. Be sure to connect your partner with the FAQs and other information available on our website.

If you or your loved one has more questions, we have all the answers at The Donor Solution. Reach out to us today and find out how rewarding it is to share your abundant gift of fertility with someone who dreams of having a child.