Egg donors: join a growing group of amazing young women

“I’ve got lots of friends and family who have either had miscarriages or have struggled to conceive,” says Alice, a bright, beautiful young woman who is now 23, in an article entitled “Egg donation: Would you help a stranger to have a baby?” in the UK’s YOU Magazine. “I’ve got a cousin who’s had cancer and had her ovaries removed, so she could carry a baby but can’t use her own eggs. There are people out there who are so desperate to have a child they’ll do anything. I’ve spoken to people who’ve told me they have a baby from a donor egg and it was the best thing that had ever happened to them. That makes it worthwhile.”

In the same article, Jaya, a young mother aged 26 who is studying to be a counsellor, says that her two young children mean “everything” to her, and that she wanted to give other people the chance to have what she has, because “most people using donor eggs will have been through so much to have a baby…”. She also says it was worth all the discomfort and inconvenience: “Walking out, having left 22 eggs for someone else to have a baby with, was a great feeling.”

Hollie was inspired to donate because her grandmother couldn’t have children, and so adopted Hollie’s father. “She’s so proud – my whole family are,” says Hollie. “My nan cries every time it’s mentioned. I just feel really happy that I could help.”

Another donor interviewed for the article simply explain her motivation as follows: “I’ve got a neighbour who’s going through IVF and I felt so sorry for them.”

These young women are among a growing number volunteering to become egg donors, who are helping infertile couples have children for no personal gain.

According to the article, the latest data from the UK’s fertility regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the number of ‘altruistic’ egg donors – such as Alice and Jaya – is soaring. It says donors between the ages of 21 and 24 doubled between 2012 and 2018 from 166 to 332, while those aged 20 and under increased more than four-fold from just 17 to 71. And while the HFEA cannot separate the figures for altruistic donors from donors who are donating eggs leftover from their own IVF treatments, experts acknowledge that these younger women are less likely to be donating eggs from treatment and that most will be altruistic. Reports from clinics also suggest that the number of younger donors have risen by 30% since 2020, with the average age of donors dropping from 26.6 to 24.3.

One British 18-year-old donor, says several of her friends that recently finished school have discussed donating their eggs, prompted by social media posts from fertility clinics seeking donors. Many young donors now post videos and blogs about their donation journeys, which is also prompting other young women to consider giving this amazing gift. Once young women see someone making this incredible donation, they’re more likely to want to do it themselves. In addition, the growing number of celebrities speaking out about their fertility journeys and needing donor eggs or surrogacy to have a child has also helped make this more acceptable.

Where to donate eggs in South Africa

If you are thinking of joining this very special group of women who are willing donate eggs to make a difference and help other women create the families they long for, your number one priority should be your own health and safety. Don’t take unnecessary risks – take a cautious and careful approach, and be wise when deciding where to donate your eggs in South Africa.

It is crucial to choose a facility that is registered with the Southern African Society for Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG), and that has signed and agreed to SASREG’s guidelines. In addition, make sure that you fully understand the process and the risks associated with donating your eggs.

At Cape Fertility, a leading fertility clinic in Cape Town, we are registered with SASREG and are committed to safe and legal egg donation practices. Our Premium Egg Donation Program has a large pool of high-quality donors within an excellent legal framework.

Our team has been leading the way in egg donation since 1993 and for the last 30 years we have worked with thousands of egg donors in a friendly, relaxed and caring environment at our advanced, purpose-built facilities. When you donate through our premium Cape Fertility Egg Donor Program, your care is our priority and attention to your medical safety during the donation process is our primary concern.

By joining the Cape Fertility Egg Donor Program, you are assured that you are donating eggs at a leading South African fertility clinic, where you can expect dedicated one-on-one attention – including face-to-face consultations with our experienced specialist team members including a psychologist available to provide additional counselling – to make your egg donation a positive experience. Our Egg Donor Fairy God Mother, Linda, and her team are dedicated solely to taking the best care possible of our egg donors.

We have also streamlined the egg donation process into 7 simple steps to make the experience as easy and hassle-free as possible for our egg donors. In addition, our team at Cape Fertility is with you, supporting you, throughout every step in the egg donation process, as well as after your egg donation is completed, when you will also receive the maximum legal compensation for allowable expenses, which is currently R8000.00.

Your first step to donating your eggs in South Africa

Women who are willing – and able – to donate eggs are a select few. If you are willing to donate eggs to help another woman fulfil her dream of having her own baby, you will be pleased to know that you can take the first step right now.

To find out more about joining this elite group of givers, simply fill in your contact details here, or contact Linda, on 072 698 7919 or linda@capefertility.co.za. Your information is 100% confidential and will under no circumstances be made available to anybody else, ever.

Linda has many years of experience supporting egg donors as well as a wealth of information to share. She will gladly answer your questions and guide you further in giving the gift of a lifetime.

We look forward to welcoming you to our friendly, professional and leading Egg Donation Program!

PS: Even if you don’t live in Cape Town, you can still donate your eggs here. If you are selected as a Cape Fertility egg donor, we will arrange for you to travel to Cape Town and stay here for the duration of the egg donation process, at no charge to yourself!