‘Tis the “season of giving” and this the greatest gift of all…
The holidays are here, and so is the season of giving! Whether gifts for loved ones or donations to people you may never meet, giving and donating benefits everyone involved. And, if there is one gift that stands out above all others, it is certainly an egg donation that allows a couple to have the family they dream of, and could not have without a donation.
The act of giving or donating not only makes the world a better place for others, but it also blesses the givers and donors themselves – not just in the amazing feeling of selfless generosity it creates but also in physical health benefits and mental health benefits.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, just some of the benefits of giving and donating include lower blood pressure, reduces stress levels, improved self-esteem, decreased sadness and depression, increased happiness and satisfaction, and an overall longer life.
In addition to boosting your health, you can also deepen your sense of connection to your community by showing compassion and empathy to those in need.
The end of the year – also known as the Giving Season – is of course an ideal time for people give to gifts to others and also to donate.
If you were wondering what kind of gift would make the biggest impact on someone, an egg or sperm donation is certainly among the greatest gifts anyone can received.
“Our baby is our joy – and we wouldn’t have him without a donor” says one couple in a newspaper article entitled “Couple who had baby through IVF after pregnancy struggle back plea for more egg and sperm donors”. The couple added that their baby boy has “changed their lives for the better” saying: “He’s added so much to our lives and to the lives of our families – everyone wants to see him, be with him and play with him all the time”. They urged people to donate eggs and sperm to help “bring joy” to other families.
Fertility experts around the world are also urging more kind-hearted people to become egg and sperm donors to give other people the chance of becoming parents.
The need for donations is growing
Worldwide, one in six couples experience fertility problems and many need donated eggs and/or sperm to have the babies they long for.
Sadly, there are many more couples requiring donations than there are donors, and donor recipients are encouraging young, healthy people to consider donating eggs and sperm to help those who desperately want their own families. As one donor recipient says: “If you’re even thinking about it, do it. You’re changing someone’s life. Without it we wouldn’t have our son.”
Another donor recipient adds: “It’s the most selfless thing someone can do, to bring such a joy to another family.”
Fertility experts globally work with couples who desperately want to experience the joy of parenthood, but cannot conceive using their own eggs or sperm, for a variety of different reasons. Donors have the ability to provide these couples with a chance of that happiness.
In fact, donating eggs or sperm is a very special altruistic act, because it change peoples’ lives for the better.
Are you able to give the greatest gift?
An egg donation requires more involvement than other donations, such as sperm or blood donations. Even so, it is heart-warming to find women willing to donate their eggs to help a couple they will never meet.
In addition to their amazing kind-hearted altruism, egg donors must also meet further requirements for becoming an egg donor, with the aim of maximising the chances of conception for the mom-to-be. By ensuring only the very healthiest eggs are donated, the parents-to-be have the very best chance of conceiving.
Below is a quick overview of the requirements for egg donation.
Requirements for donating eggs
A genuine, deep wish to help another person, or altruism, is an essential requirement, because the egg donation process requires time, effort, involvement and commitment. And, although some compensation is provided to egg donors for their efforts and expenses, it is certainly not enough to be a main motivator.
Egg donors also need to be at least 18 years old, although the South African Society for Reproductive Medicine (SASREG) recommends that donors are at least 21 years old. There is also an upper age limit which is 34 years. This is because after age 35, there is an accelerated decline in the quality of a woman’s eggs, and after age 40, the number and quality of a woman’s eggs makes the likelihood of conceiving quite small. This age-related decline in egg quality affects both the ability to conceive and to successfully carry a healthy pregnancy – and is one of the main reasons why egg donations are in such high demand.
Further important requirements for donating eggs are good physical health as well as good mental health. This is because your state of health significantly impacts the quality and quantity of the eggs you have, so good health, both physically and mentally, is essential to ensure the eggs donated are of the best quality.
Good physical health includes a healthy weight for your height, which is called your body mass index or BMI. Egg donors need to have an optimal BMI, which is between 18 and 29. This will give the parents-to-be the best chance of conceiving. The mental health of egg donors is also important, and for this reason, egg donors undergo a psychological assessment before donating.
There are also lifestyle factors that would disqualify women from becoming egg donors because of the negative impact of these factors on a woman’s health and fertility. The most obvious among these is excessive smoking and alcohol or drug abuse.
Where to give the greatest gift this season of giving
If you meet all the requirements and you are ready to give the greatest gift this season of giving, it is extremely important that you ensure you get the best medical care by only donating eggs at a world-class medical facility.
Only donate through 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. You can check if a clinic or facility is registered here sasreg.co.za/centres-of-excellence.
At Cape Fertility, a leading fertility clinic in Cape Town, we are not only registered with SASREG, but we are also absolutely committed to safe, legal and ethical egg donation practices.
At Cape Fertility, we have worked with thousands of egg donors over the last 26 years in a friendly, relaxed and caring environment at our advanced, purpose-built facilities in the beautiful city of Cape Town.
If you are willing to donate eggs to help another woman fulfil her dream of having her own baby, the first step is as simple as contacting us by filling in your contact details here: eggdonationcapefertility.co.za/contact-us, or by contacting our Egg Donor Fairy God Mother, Linda, on 072 698 7919 or linda@capefertility.co.za.
You are welcome to contact us any day over the December/January festive season – we are open every day of the year! And please remember that your information is 100% confidential and will under no circumstances be made available to anybody else.
We look forward to welcoming you to our friendly, professional and leading Fertility Clinic and supporting you throughout your entire egg donation process, as well as after your egg donation is completed.