I'm curious to know why researchers appear only to be concerned with egg donors, when the focus should equally (at least!) be on IVF patients as well. These are women who do 3,4, 5 and sometimes more rounds of ovarian stimulation, often to no end. Aren't they even at a higher risk of developing cancers later in life than the one-time donor? Why are the people who get paid of such concern, when those who pay -- and ultimately support the fertility industry -- don't get the same kind of warnings?

Nicole-

You raise a very important point. Certainly the health risks to the woman donor vs. the infertile woman are the same. Some have made the distinction that the infertile woman is weighing the risks of hormone treatment with the benefit of the hope of a baby. Unlike the healthy woman who is serving as the egg donor who is not weighing any risk to benefit ratio.
In either case both women need to be fully informed of the health risks to them and their future fertilty and future children.

One issue which has not been highlighted in these very interesting articles on payment for egg harvesting is the fact that the women most likely to suffer serious consequences are younger healthy women, exactly the target group of the biotechnology focus. This is one of the few agreed facts relating to OHSS incidence. A woman has died in the UK according to news coming through today as a result of the egg aspiration process. This is a process which can kill.

Hello - the editor here. There is some breaking news today that a woman in Britain has died after IVF treatment.

It was reported that the patient suffered a complication during egg retrieval that caused internal bleeding and kidney problems.

But the cause of her death hasn't yet been confirmed.

Read the story here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2306800,00.html

This debate is need of the hour for the entire scientific world.

It is necessary to take care about the donor as well as the receipient (which definitely makes sense in good clinical practice). Besides, the IVF is not the sole reason for the death of the woman. Persumably, the IVF is well fluorished in most of the countries particularly in India because of technological development in developmetal biology with less or no risk factors in IVF. In short, the leathal effect may also be due to some Physilogical problem of the donor either in the circulatory system or blood clotting mechanism.

To my view, as an ethicist, I totally object what is happening in the name of research. Ofcourse research & clinical trial are important but it should not compromise with the health of an individual.

It is just not right. Researchers/ scientists at some point forget they are treating humans as they get involved in the research. But the outcome result of an individual is a question mark. It just needs some thinking....

There should be a very strict guidelines so that no mistakes are done atleast in the future.

I find this interesting. I took Clomid due to infertility for around 6 yrs. from 1982 - 1988. In Aug. 1988, I had a ruptured tubal pregnancy but I had discontinued the Clomid for aprrox. one year prior. On Sept. 1988, I had surgery for Thyroid cancer. My infertility specialist had always checked my thyroid during the infertility treatment, with no signs of thyroid impairment.
I was never told of any cancer risks for taking Clomid. However, I did have one and only one live birth as a result of taking Clomid. I did have over 5 miscarriages during 6 pregnancies. The one live birth has been well worth the medical risks and health issues that I suffered.

I don't have a comment, but a question. Where can I find unbiased info on the side effects of donating an egg. I can't find anything in the search engines, and the clinic (here in town) that makes it so appealing doesn't provide enough info that I can trust them.

Hello, I am a 37 year old mother of 2 and am currently suffering the aftermath of donating my eggs when I was 20 years old. I am not suffering physically at this time but emotionally. I was wondering if there was anyone else out there that has donated their eggs and then several years later after marriage and children of your own have wondered how this child has turned out etc? If they are happy, healthy etc. Do they even know that you are a biological part of them? What happens if my daughter ends up going to the same college and dates this person? These are things I did not consider as a 20 year old in need of extra money. I had a friend in Orlando, FL that knew someone that was in need of an egg donor. I volunteered and went through all of the physical and psychological testing and chose to go through with it. Now that I have two children (girls) I wonder how this child is doing (a boy) and what his life is like. I understand how heartbreaking it can be to suffer fertility issues as I suffered these myself including a miscarriage - but I think that all women especially young women need to really consider the consequences not just physically but emotionally before donating their eggs.

Best Regards,
Amy

I once donated my eggs to the donation center... I wonder how old the kids are now... are they ugly... cute.... deformed?.. I want to know who their father is... is he ugly... cute... well that doesnt really matter i like girls anyways... thats why i donated i donated my eggs... theyre useless to me... *TEAR*... MYSPACE!!!.... find me... my display name is... "lonely momma"... come find me and we can talk about egg donations... I NEED FRIENDS.... Im a lonely soul... please come talk to me... THANKYOU!

As a woman who is deeply involved with the pro-life/pro-woman's movement, I am saddened and infuriated that scientists, the country's best and brightest are so willing to push the well-being and health of women aside in pursuit of eggs for embyonic stem cell research. In 25 years, this highly speculative research has not yielded one therapy or cure, only empty promises, thousands of dead embryos and compromised women. Women need to look out for themselves and not put our trust or bodies into the hands of money hungry researchers who don't give a damn about them. Women can earn our money elsewhere.

I have a step daughter who is 17 yrs old. Her mothers sister is 39 and has is unable to use her own eggs to get pregnant. She has requested that my step daughter donate her eggs to be fertilized and implanted in her. Basically a niece donating to her Aunt. I feel that this is too much to ask of someone so young, who in my opinion cannot begin to comprehend the implications of this decision. Please advise or share opinions on this. Paula Stanley

hi everyone.im a mother of 11 kids and in the past i have donated eggs to a woman who was unable to concieve.i had the great privalege to have helped this couple become a family,they now have a son,and id like to say eight years on im heathy happy and i feel confidant this family is a loving one,so im greatly pleased to have done my bit to help them,i never found the cycles of egg donation in any way bad or painfull i just got on and did it.i was lucky had no side affects at all.i dont have regrets ,nor do i crave info on the child im just happy that i done something so special for someone who needed my help.to all you out there who want to do egg donation..just do it,you will feel imensly proud in what you do just like i did.its quiet a great thing to give a couple the child they deserve and want so much. those who are wanting and those who have gave,god bless you all ...tracy xxxx

I dontated eggs about ten years ago. I was twenty three at the time of my donation. I thought it would be a wonderful gift to give the world and it could help me with college. I was very young and very fertile. I produced over 36 eggs during my egg donation process. I almost went into hyperstimulation. After my donation I recieved some flowers, and about few months later I was told that my eggs were sucessful for the couple who chose me.

I am now in my thirties and have suffered many complications. Two years ago I had a very large Fibroid Tumor removed from my uterus. The surgery was performed after the fibroid was causing complications with my bladder. There was no hisory of fibroids in my family. I do not come from an ethnic background known to have this condition. I can not say there is a direct connection. Logically speaking, I had been introduced high doses of hormones to my body in a short period of time. I researched the cause of fibroids and research suggests that high surges of estrogen may be a leading cause of fibroids.

I have been trying to concieve for about a two years now. I am now having to seek fertility treatment. I have searched for simular cases where women who gave eggs where unable to concieve later down the road. I do not have my own children. Now I think back and think should I have done this?

I donated my eggs in October of '07. I have had SEVERAL health issues since then... I was a VERY healthy 33 year old. I have been sick more than I have been healthy in the last 6 months. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this a coincidence? I hope that it is. My Aunt and Uncle are expecting a baby girl in July thanks to me! I wouldn't take that back but I'm just concerned.

Hello, i just want to know if donating eggs are so risky, why donate ? i thought about donating eggs and now i'm not so sure anymore. The more i find out about the presedure the more scared i get. i just wish that there was a better way of donating for both the donors and recieversof the eggs.

I have donated my eggs 6 times. Here's my two cents. If you have any uncertainty in your mind about egg donation, you should not do it. Like any major decision in life, I do not make a choice that I feel half hearted about. I have read countless times of people who were unsure of the procedure and went ahead with it, only to regret it later. I made my decision because I am healthy, young, and have had the good fortune of great fertility. Being one of five children and seeing and experiencing the joy of a family, I couldn't imagine the struggle for a couple just wanting to feel that same joy. Me offering my eggs was giving my recipients the chance at a family. I don't regret it. I know one day I will have a family of my own and will get to share in on that very precious gift that I gave someone else. The only advice I can give is that if you are going to donate your eggs, make sure you are 100% sure that it's really what you want to do and secondly, make sure that it's anonymous. I have read several stories of people who have donated to relatives and while this seems noble and virtuous, it makes the process a completely different one than the one I participated in. I know that I will never see these children that I help contribute to, but that would be a completely different story if I had to see the child at family functions and saw my resemblance. And the last thing that I have to say is that as much testing to find a link between cancer and all other physical ailments, there isn't any. And though it may take several years to even find a link, people develop physical problems all the time and who really knows if the drugs cause them or if they are just the receiving end of bad luck. People may be genetically predisposed to fertility problems, but that is why egg donors are screened and seen to be the healthiest and have the best medical histories. I don't know if I have damaged my health in the future, but I do know that I have given the gift of pregnany to several families. And if I have health issues, is it really right to blame egg donation? Could it be that maybe I just received a bad hand of cards?

To the mother of the 17 year old step daughter -- my personal opinion, is that such a request must have come after considerable thought and debate. For someone to choose a close friend or relative to essentially be the biological parent of their child in the stead of their own (in)fertility truly displays an enlightened view, whereas most people would harbor resentment and jealousy towards such an idea.

To find out more about the risk of egg donation, please visit http://www.HandsOffOurOvaries.com

They are looking for women who have had adverse effects from donation.

Hi everyone, I recently donated eggs for the first time. When the process began, the clinic made me read about possible complications, ranging from Hyperstimulation syndrome to loss of fertility and kindney failure. All acute complications, but I´m aware that science has a 30 or 40-years-old lag when chronic exposure is considered. I had to sign that I was aware of all possible complications before starting hormonal treatment.
Honestly, I´m not afraid. We all have to die eventually, so what if I go from ovarian cancer stimulated by hormones, lung cancer because of my bad genetics, or a heart attack because of a fat-rich diet? The important thing is to know that something can go wrong and hope that you don´t get the worst part.

My name is Samantha and I'm 17, Im a senior in high school and Im doing a very important project on the adverse effects of hormones on the women who donate their eggs, as well as the emotional side effects. I am interested in anything you have to say. If you would like to share your story with me, and don't mind me using parts for my project, please e-mail me at SamDoll23@yahoo.com Thank you so much.

I was considering donating my eggs but if parents really want children there are HUNDREDS and THOUSANDS of kids in orphanages around the world that need a loving home.

And for those people who want quick cash, seriously...there are other ways out there to earn $7,000. Your health is NOT worth it.

Hope you guys make the right decision.

My name is Kelly Bazely and I am a journalism student at the University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We run a website called Novanewsnet. The URL is http://novanewsnet@ukings.ca. I am currently working on a story on students who donate their eggs for money to pay off student debt. I WISH I had some of your e-mail addresses because I noticed a few of you donated eggs as students for money. I would really appreciate talking to you about it for my story. Any help you could offer me would be great. Thank you so much for your time. :)

~ Kelly Bazely ~
kbazely@excite.com

Hello,I just had to find somewhere to vent.a family member made the choice to use his sperm and an egg donation,as his wife had no eggs.they are older mid 40"s.they had only been married 2 years and they really wanted a baby.great we hadn't had new baby in 11 years in the family,so excited were we,okay i had my children when I was 25,and hear this wife is 45 years old,so when I tell you she was the only one in the world that was pregnant,oh do I mean it.So we dealt with it we are not married to her.The problem is the babys 2 weeks old and hasn't had a bath yet,has baby acne from her family kissing it and we were told what are doing washing your hands you don't have to that,there was no nesting on her part,my brother did the nursery,(and removed the bed from it because her mother thought she would be staying there with the baby for month)good for my brother, it was all she could do to hang some baby clothes in the closet,there is no baby smell on the baby,her dog walks all over the baby's belongings,and she is picking ticks off the dog while sitting on the couch holding the baby,no hospital picture taken of the baby and to boot she is breast feeding,call me silly but if you don't have eggs at 45,then what makes your milk so good for the baby,and she couldn't even wait for the due date she had a ceasran 2 weeks before the baby was due,because she was tired,of being pregnant,look i could keep going the babys 2 weeks old and is yellow and has lost weight,suppose the coffee and sugar wafers aren't giving him enough nutrition.we stay out of it and are heartbroken,to look at my brother who is so so so happy and is this really something to start a family war over,oh I am sure it will happen sooner or later,so to you people who donate eggs please think hard because maybe this is your child.Now I know why God gave her no eggs,some things should be left alone.