News

WASHINGTON, December 6, 2001 (LSN.ca) – The process for extracting eggs from a woman for fertility treatment either for herself of others is a painful and dangerous experience. The Washington Post reports today on the hardship faced by women who are enticed by large monetary rewards to consider donating their eggs.

“Following an extensive application process, she could wait months, even years,” reports the Post, the woman must endure tests for genetic and infectious diseases, a complete physical examination and psychological assessment. Once the process is approved there are multiple doctor appointments and the prospective egg donor must “give herself daily or twice-daily hormone injections in the thigh or abdomen for three weeks or longer.” The woman then “receives an injection of a powerful hormone that prepares the ovaries to release the mature follicles. The eggs are removed in a vaginal procedure conducted under light anesthesia.”

The Post reports that the side effects include “PMS-like symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, nausea and moodiness” and “in 3 to 5 percent of cases, hyperstimulation of the ovaries occurs, causing severe abdominal pain; on rare occasions, surgery is required and the patient can be left infertile. Other risks of retrieval include lacerations, ovarian trauma, infection and anesthesia-related complications.”

See the full article in the Post at:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52458-2001Dec3.html