Becoming a parent is easily one of the biggest life changes a person can experience. Suddenly, you’re responsible for the health and happiness of another person — a difficult job to say the least. So it’s not surprising that new parents have a lot of questions.
But parents of children born via egg donation face a unique set of challenges that traditional parenting books don’t prepare them for.
If you’re considering fulfilling your dream of having a child through the use of a donor egg, you may find yourself asking the following questions:
Why do women donate their eggs?
It can be tempting to assume all women donate for a paycheck, but we’ve found that couldn’t be further from the truth. Often times, our donors are motivated by a personal experience, such as a friend or family member who suffered from fertility issues.
To ensure women are always donating for the right reasons, our qualification process is designed to weed out those who are only interested in making money.
Which type of egg is most likely to produce a child?
This is perhaps the most common question we get at Asian Egg Bank, and for good reason. We’ve found that many people who come to us have been trying for years to get pregnant or have had other options (surrogacy, adoption, natural conception, etc.) fall through. Intended parents can rest assured that fresh and frozen eggs have virtually the exact same rate of conception. The main difference between the two is the process in which they’re recovered.
Typically, frozen eggs are more convenient because they’ve already been recovered and are waiting to be selected. If an intended mother would rather use fresh eggs, her and the donor’s cycles would need to be synced — a process that can take several months.
Should I meet the egg donor?
This is a very personal decision, as well as a logistical one. At Asian Egg Bank, we offer intended parents the option to choose between fresh and frozen eggs. If you choose frozen, you likely won’t be able to meet the donor, seeing as how she has already completed the egg donation process. If you choose fresh eggs, there’s a greater chance of you being able to meet with the donor.
Unfortunately, there’s no one correct answer to this question. Some people find that getting to know a donor makes them more comfortable with their decision, as they’re able to learn more about the donor’s health, lifestyle, and interests. However, other intended parents feel like meeting their donor would be intimidating or upsetting.
Do you work with LGBT couples?
Our goal is to help loving couples of all kinds, meaning we’re always happy to help same-sex couples, trans, and gender-nonconforming people realize their dream of parenthood.
Can I use a donated egg and donated sperm?
Absolutely! Though heterosexual couples often use the male partner’s sperm to fertilize the donated egg, there are many instances when people would also need to use donated sperm. Single women who wish to be mothers, same-sex female couples, and straight men with low sperm count may all need to use donated sperm.
Will my baby look like me?
Because a child born from a donated egg will not share any genetic material with its intended mother, there’s a chance they won’t resemble one another. That being said, the child may still look related to you if you and the donor are of the same ethnicity.
If however, your male partner’s sperm was used, the baby may look like its father because they share the same genetics.
What if I don’t bond with my baby?
Even parents of naturally conceived children have this fear. Rest assured that it’s completely natural to worry about bonding with your child. And though many intended parents feel an instant connection to their baby, there are steps you can take to improve your relationship, should you feel a disconnect.
We encourage all new parents to:
- Spend time looking into their baby’s eyes.
- Sleep in the same room as the baby for the first few months.
- Listen to the baby’s heartbeat periodically.
- Respond to the baby’s crying.
- Create a nighttime routine with their baby that includes reading or listening to soft music together.
Should I tell my child they were born from a donor egg?
This is another highly personal decision, however, experts suggest it’s best to talk to your children about their conception at an early age. Even if they’re too young to understand the complexities of reproduction, you can still begin the conversation. Studies show that children who find out they’re adopted or born from donor eggs as adults feel more confused, isolated, and rejected than those who grew up knowing about their conception.
Asian Egg Bank was established to meet the ever-rising demand for Asian egg donors. Having helped hundreds of couples experience the joy of parenthood, we’re proud to be the world’s largest Asian Egg Bank!
Give us a call at 858-381-3224 or visit us online for more information!