Egg donor, what your side effects?

vesnala07 · 02-17-2007, 10:51 PM

I'm new to this site. Looking for information from egg donors, who went through all process, what did you experiance and what side effects. Thanks

cs1984cs · 02-19-2007, 03:29 PM

I don't know if there are many donors on this site. I waited to see if anyone was going to post. There are better forums out there for donors, but I don't remember the links

Is there anyone out there that can help?

Good luck,

CS

rachel1876 · 02-20-2007, 04:07 PM

I am new to this board. It's been really interesting to read what recipients think about this whole thing!
I just completed my first ever donor cycle. I responded really fast to the meds (gonal f, repronex) and had to be monitored daily. I am not sure how many eggs were retrieved but I was VERY swollen at the end.
The main side effects were initially just increased moodiness (I am not a crier, and I definately became a crier during those ten days!) and I had a lot of soreness in my arms and my hips from the shots and blood draws. I was also really dehydrated all the time. Towards the end, when my ovaries were really big, I had to pee all the time, too.
Now, the worst part is actually AFTER the retrieval. They tell you that you'll get cramps, but for me it was really bad. I had severe cramps, and then I began to feel some pain in my sides, then my neck and shoulders. At that point I went to the doctor and lucky me- I am of the rare few who suffered from OHSS. I'm not complaining, because I'm still glad I did this and I would even do it again (especially since we could control it better the second time) but it was definately scary to see the ultrasounds with all the fluid building up around my vital organs. But it is getting better and the clinic has been very good to me as far as aftercare goes. I hear that some donors don't get very good aftercare. But mild OHSS goes away naturally, you just have to take it easy. Severe OHSS is very rare.
Definately be AWARE of the potential and likely side effects- there were so many I wasn't prepared for. But don't let that scare you away from donating! The benefits of knowing how much you're helping someone really outweigh the negative.
Oh, and unless you are like me and you enjoy confronting your fears, do NOT donate if you are afraid of needles! As much as I tried to avoid it, I ended up finding myself occasionally having to give shots to myself because my bf and friends just weren't available when I needed them done.
Good luck to everyone who is thinking about donating! It's quite a journey. Just trust your body and your doctors.

cs1984cs · 02-20-2007, 04:19 PM

It just occurred to me that you could read the IVF & High Tech forum on this board about side effects. Most people there cycle with their own eggs; you can ask the same question up to the ER and how they feel after it

Even recipients we go through a lot of needles. However, the one you'll be using except for the trigger, if I'm correct, are insulin syringes (tiny and short) and injected sub-q.

Side effects will vary from person to person. The main thing is to drink tons of water to counter them starting with those Lupron give you. Both donor and recipients are on it to get synchronized.

Good luck,

CS

02-17-2007, 10:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
vesnala07 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: ca Posts: 1	Egg donor, what your side effects? I'm new to this site. Looking for information from egg donors, who went through all process, what did you experiance and what side effects. Thanks

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02-19-2007, 03:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
cs1984cs Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,198	I don't know if there are many donors on this site. I waited to see if anyone was going to post. There are better forums out there for donors, but I don't remember the links Is there anyone out there that can help? Good luck, CS

02-20-2007, 04:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
rachel1876 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1	I am new to this board. It's been really interesting to read what recipients think about this whole thing! I just completed my first ever donor cycle. I responded really fast to the meds (gonal f, repronex) and had to be monitored daily. I am not sure how many eggs were retrieved but I was VERY swollen at the end. The main side effects were initially just increased moodiness (I am not a crier, and I definately became a crier during those ten days!) and I had a lot of soreness in my arms and my hips from the shots and blood draws. I was also really dehydrated all the time. Towards the end, when my ovaries were really big, I had to pee all the time, too. Now, the worst part is actually AFTER the retrieval. They tell you that you'll get cramps, but for me it was really bad. I had severe cramps, and then I began to feel some pain in my sides, then my neck and shoulders. At that point I went to the doctor and lucky me- I am of the rare few who suffered from OHSS. I'm not complaining, because I'm still glad I did this and I would even do it again (especially since we could control it better the second time) but it was definately scary to see the ultrasounds with all the fluid building up around my vital organs. But it is getting better and the clinic has been very good to me as far as aftercare goes. I hear that some donors don't get very good aftercare. But mild OHSS goes away naturally, you just have to take it easy. Severe OHSS is very rare. Definately be AWARE of the potential and likely side effects- there were so many I wasn't prepared for. But don't let that scare you away from donating! The benefits of knowing how much you're helping someone really outweigh the negative. Oh, and unless you are like me and you enjoy confronting your fears, do NOT donate if you are afraid of needles! As much as I tried to avoid it, I ended up finding myself occasionally having to give shots to myself because my bf and friends just weren't available when I needed them done. Good luck to everyone who is thinking about donating! It's quite a journey. Just trust your body and your doctors.

02-20-2007, 04:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
cs1984cs Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,198	It just occurred to me that you could read the IVF & High Tech forum on this board about side effects. Most people there cycle with their own eggs; you can ask the same question up to the ER and how they feel after it Even recipients we go through a lot of needles. However, the one you'll be using except for the trigger, if I'm correct, are insulin syringes (tiny and short) and injected sub-q. Side effects will vary from person to person. The main thing is to drink tons of water to counter them starting with those Lupron give you. Both donor and recipients are on it to get synchronized. Good luck, CS