Donors
Our dandelion seeds are our donors, a special group of women who we screen in confidence and with great respect for the special gift they bring. You can do it, it may just be the most important thing you do in your lifetime…
You’re born with about two million eggs. By puberty, only 300,000 immature eggs are left: every month, a group of eggs grow and develop so your body ovulates once each cycle. One egg! The remaining eggs from this group don’t develop fully and are flushed in the menstrual cycle.
As we age, so the efficiency of ovulation and quality of your egg may reduce; that’s one of the reasons why we have an age limit for Egg Donors.
Not too bad, but it does take some commitment from you.
After you’re chosen, there will be an appointment with the doctors at your clinic (about an hour). Also, an hour, once-off, with a psychologist. And during the actual procedure, you’ll have to visit the clinic three to four times (over a two-week period) for ultrasounds, checkups and to coordinate your cycle with the recipient mother.
You’ll also have to take a day off for egg retrieval, which happens during the normal work week. We can arrange a sick note, if you need it.
Our secure database is password-protected. You will join our list of Egg Donors, where registered ababySA Recipients (those looking for eggs to start a family) can view your profile. They will not know who you are, but will see a bit about you, physically, as well as relevant details of your medical and family history.
It helps your body to rescue many of the immature eggs (usually around ten) that would otherwise have been lost, so medical professionals can retrieve them for use in an egg donation programme like ababySA. It doesn’t affect any of your eggs that your body will use for future cycles. The fertility medication has no proven long-term bad effects.
If you’re female (please check!) aged 20 to 34, healthy and from a healthy family, you could be a very special person: you could donate a few of your eggs to people (Recipients) who need them to start their own family.
We welcome Egg Donors of any ethnic background. The usual disclaimers apply: addicts or heavy smokers are a no-no.
Egg donation doesn’t cause infertility. Fertility medication has no proven long-term effects at all.
You may choose to donate several times and then go on to have children of your own. Or you may have kids first and then donate your eggs.
Your Recipients pay all medical costs. This is a very big deal for them, emotionally AND financially, and they want you to have the best possible treatment and care.
No, no cutting at all. You will be under procedural (conscious) sedation, a medical term for very light anaesthestics or sedatives to minimise pain and discomfort. You’re usually able to speak and respond to the doctors and nurses while they retrieve your eggs vaginally, using a suction needle.
You will, however, be in specialist medical hands, treated by doctors who specialise in fertility medicine.
The South African Medical Ethics committee have recommended R7,000 to the Egg Donor per donation cycle (depending on which Clinic runs the program) as an inconvenience allowance for the time and energy you expend in gifting your eggs, to help parents with their dream of having children. The compensation is paid in cash, by the clinic, on the day of the egg retrieval, after the procedure.
Eggs are not sold, they are gifted and no price can be put on that gift.
Your recipient parents will never forget you.
Unfertilised eggs are discarded by your body with your normal menstrual cycle. And to make a child, you also need an entire swagbag of goodies: sperm; a healthy womb, a mother. There aren’t going to be any of your children running around any where, but there may be children that carry some of your genetic material, loved by parents who have moved mountains to welcome them into their lives!
An egg donor, surrogate or birth mother is special person who helped to create that child, but they are not that child’s mother.
Yes, the National Health Act of 2003 (regulations about artificial fertilisation and related matters) confirms it’s all completely above board. It is true that there are some places in the world where you may not donate eggs; that’s why a large number of international Recipients who visit South Africa to use our service.
There are two things you should be aware of: the main risk is a condition called Ovarian Hyper-Stimulation Syndrome (OHSS), which happens in 1% of In-vitro Fertilisation (IVF) cases. And secondly, on retrieval, there is a tiny chance of infection, or reaction to the anaesthetic, as with any medical procedure.
We work with professional Fertility Clinics, where you will have the best possible specialised medical treatment. You are in good hands.
“I want to help woman reach their dream of bearing children and experiencing the joy of motherhood.”
“I hope that you are able to find someone to give you the gift you are looking for. I would be so happy and grateful to help you achieve this.”
“Let’s us raise this generation and build this nation with love and passion. May God be with you. I love you both.”
“I thrive on helping other people and would love to help you realise the dream of having your own family.”
“My goal in life is to make people happy – this is just another way of doing that.”
“You have been too awesome! Thank you for your support, I would do this again, no questions asked. Your ethics and kindness will take you far.”
“Thank you so much, you are an amazing woman and it’s a pleasure working with u. I am also happy I was able to donate such a wonderful gift.”
“Thank you so much for everything, I appreciate working with you and everyone you introduced me to. I just hope and wish my recipients are successful.”
“I have only received excellent service from ababySA.”