Known vs. Anonymous Egg Donor
Approximately 10 percent of women in the United States struggle with infertility. While there are a wide range of issues that can interfere with a woman’s ability to conceive, many are related to the quantity or quality of a woman’s eggs. In these cases, egg donation may be necessary to achieve a successful pregnancy.
Patients at The Center for Fertility and Gynecology, who require egg donation often question what is the best method for choosing an egg donor. Here, our doctors help our patients from Los Angeles, CA, Tarzana, CA, Bakersfield, CA, and surrounding areas consider the pros and cons of a known vs. anonymous egg donor for fertility treatment.
Choosing a Known Donor
If patients choose to use a known egg donor, they will need to find someone among their circle of family and friends. Even if patients find a willing egg donor, they should understand that the person will need to undergo testing to determine if she is a suitable donor candidate. Typically, egg donors should be between the ages of 21 and 31. They should be physically and mentally healthy, and they must have both ovaries and a regular menstrual cycle.
Pros and Cons of a Known Donor
An obvious advantage of using a known egg donor is that the patient has an established relationship that can make them feel more comfortable about the donation process. Patients using known donors have thorough knowledge of the donor’s personality, genetics, and other characteristics. Using a known egg donor allows the donor-conceived child to have a relationship with the donor. A final pro to consider is that a known donor often does not receive any financial compensation, which can make fertility treatment significantly less expensive.
The potential cons of a known donor are that these types of donations tend to be more emotionally complicated. Even if both parties go into the process feeling good about the situation, different feelings may emerge down the road. Disputes could arise about parenting choices or other decisions regarding the child’s upbringing. Ultimately, this can damage any relationship that existed between the donor and the patient.
Choosing an Anonymous Donor
When our patients choose an anonymous donor, they will make their selection from a donor bank. Donation and fertility clinics thoroughly vet potential donors to ensure they are suitable candidates. When choosing an anonymous donor, intended parents will be able to learn key information regarding the donor’s health, education, and personal interests. Baby photos of the donor should also be available.
Pros and Cons of an Anonymous Donor
The most notable advantage of an anonymous egg donor is that there are no strings attached to the donation. Intended parents can choose their donor and proceed with fertility treatment without worrying about potential emotional complications, changes in their relationship with the donor, or legal action.
The primary con of an anonymous donor is that a child often grows up and has questions about the person who made their birth possible. If parents do not have a known donor or go with an open donation, they will have no future connection to the donor. This is an important consideration for patients who use an egg donor.
Get in Touch
Choosing the right egg donor is essential to a successful and positive egg donation. The fertility doctors at The Center for Fertility and Gynecology can guide patients through this process so that they feel confident with their decision. If you’d like to learn more about egg donation, get in touch with our fertility specialists or call our practice at (818) 617-2067.
