How Many Eggs Do They Take?
We often get this question. Kathy Benardo, the egg donor coordinator at Takes3.com, explains how a donor cycle works. Typically only one mature egg is produced at ovulation. With egg donation, the ovaries are stimulated with hormones to create more than one mature egg. The number of mature eggs resulting depends on each donor's own ovarian reserve and her particular response to medications. So the number of eggs taken with each donation is impossible to predict, although the average is around 10-20. Keep in mind that egg donation does not deplete the ovarian reserve (as all these eggs would have been released at ovulation anyway, it's just that more are becoming mature). Also, multiple eggs retrieved does not result in multiple babies born, as not all eggs will be mature and not all will end up as normal embryos. A successful donation, no matter how many eggs are retrieved, results in a healthy singleton birth.
DISCLAIMER: NAFG is not a medical organization and does not provide medical advice. NAFG makes reasonable efforts to maintain the privacy of those who engage our services as intended parents, recipients, surrogates and egg donors. Please understand that NAFG does not control third-party Web sites or social media platforms. You assume the privacy and security risks inherent in your use of technology -- including that you may relinquish a certain degree of anonymity when you choose to participate in public Web forums or social media platforms.