Short answer: it is extremely unlikely that donating your eggs will affect your own fertility. The eggs retrieved during a donation cycle are eggs your body would otherwise have lost naturally that month.
Why egg donation does not use up your fertility
Women are born with thousands of egg cells, but only around 300 to 500 will ever mature during a lifetime. Each month, around 15 to 20 follicles start developing, but usually only one egg is ovulated. The rest are naturally reabsorbed by the body.
During a donation cycle, medication helps more of those eggs mature at the same time, usually 10 to 20. These are eggs your body produced anyway. You are not taking eggs from your future supply, you are using eggs that would otherwise have been lost.
What about the medication?
Egg donors use the same medication as fertility patients undergoing IVF. Your nurse coordinator plans the sequence, dosage and schedule with the fertility specialist, and you get detailed instructions. You will see the doctor for 3 to 4 ultrasound appointments so they can check how your body is responding and adjust where needed.
Could I fall pregnant while donating?
Yes, which is why donors are cautioned to take measures against pregnancy during a donation cycle. You are very fertile while on the medication.
Are there any risks?
Complications are rare. The best known is Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), where the ovaries become swollen and painful after the stimulation medication. Severe OHSS happens in about 1.5% of egg donor cycles, and if it does occur you are cared for and monitored by our doctor. There is also a small risk of infection, similar to getting a tattoo or piercing.
An upside many donors do not expect
Donating is also a chance to assess your own reproductive health at no cost. Your screening includes a doctor’s consultation, a scan and blood tests, so many donors learn more about their own bodies along the way.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still have children after donating my eggs?
Donation does not use up your egg supply, and it is extremely unlikely to affect your own fertility.
How many times can I donate?
Many EDSA donors donate more than once. South African law says a donor may not have more than 6 children born from her donations. Read more in how many times can a woman donate?
Does the medication have a lasting effect?
No. It is the same medication used in standard IVF treatment and is planned and monitored for each donor.
The science behind the numbers
The average woman is born with about 500,000 eggs. Each month your ovaries release follicles that contain eggs, and the average number of follicles is between 4 and 13. Exact numbers are difficult to predict because every woman is different, and some factors are genetic or lifestyle related. What matters for donors is that only a small fraction of these eggs is ever used in a lifetime, and the eggs retrieved in a donation cycle are ones that would otherwise be lost.
What EDSA does to protect your health
- A full medical examination, scan and blood tests before you join the programme
- A psychological assessment with a clinical social worker or psychologist
- Medication plans made by the nurse coordinator with the fertility specialist
- 3 to 4 ultrasound appointments during your cycle to check your response
- Monitoring and care if you develop symptoms such as bloating or pain
See egg donor screening explained for what each step involves.
Questions to ask before you donate
- What will my medication schedule look like?
- Who do I call if I feel unwell during my cycle?
- How will my health be monitored after the retrieval?
- How many times can I donate within the law?
Take the next step
EDSA was founded in 2007 and is South Africa’s first egg donor agency. Our team is led by Kimenthra Raja, an embryologist with more than 20 years of IVF laboratory experience, and our egg donation coordinator, Kinny Ramoeng, supports each donor personally. Read our complete guide to becoming an egg donor, visit the donors page, browse the egg donor FAQs or apply now. You can also contact us or call +27 83 761 6961.