| I had never really heard about egg donation until I | | | | well. I would be able to pay off all my student loans |
| had a friend from college become an egg donor. I | | | | and pay for future tuition fees without having the |
| quickly found out that young women (generally | | | | worry of living paycheck to paycheck. |
| between 21 and 30 years old) that met certain | | | | Thankfully, my family and friends were very |
| physical and intelligence criteria could qualify for egg | | | | supportive of my decision to become an egg donor. |
| donation. They are paid to donate their eggs | | | | The application process was long and tedious; I had |
| (oocytes) to treat infertile couples. As your typical | | | | to provide not only my own medical, social, and |
| in-debt college student, such large monetary | | | | mental history, but extensive information regarding |
| compensation was very alluring; however, I needed | | | | my family’s background and medical |
| to research the process to see what risks involved | | | | information. Not only was there physical health |
| before I pursued it. | | | | considerations, I was also required to provide test |
| I found the internet to be the greatest resource for | | | | scores (e.g. SAT and ACT scores) and pictures of |
| information. There were a number of articles from | | | | myself. |
| reputable sources regarding egg donation. I was able | | | | After my application was accepted, I had to go |
| to learn about certain health risks involved, the moral | | | | through preliminary screenings to make sure that I |
| controversy stemming from the process, and | | | | was physically and mentally healthy and capable of |
| personal stories about those who have benefited | | | | becoming an egg donor. The staff that took me |
| from the egg donation process. | | | | through the whole process was very kind and |
| I then spoke with an egg donation center and they | | | | understanding and more than willing to answer all my |
| were very accommodating and responsive in | | | | questions. |
| answering all my questions. However, I still a little | | | | I was very nervous the actual day of the egg |
| uneasy about the process especially considering the | | | | retrieval, but everything went well. I was sedated for |
| side effects that may occur due to the fertility drugs. | | | | the process and slept for several hours thereafter. I |
| After putting much thought into it, I decided to | | | | felt only slight pain (much like mild cramps), but that |
| become an egg donor. I would not only be helping | | | | was easily remedied with the use of pain medication. |
| infertile couples hoping to create a family, but the | | | | The next day I was fully recovered. |
| monetary compensation was a huge advantage as | | | | |