Is using a donor egg right for you?
Donor eggs can help to make pregnancy possible for women who might not be able to become pregnant using their own eggs.
According to C. Birrittieri, M. Fuillo, and G. Witkin , a common myth surrounding pregnancy with the use of a donor egg is that the uterus acts only as an incubator (2016). This is far from the truth. The most important aspect of all pregnancies (including donor egg pregnancies) is that as the baby grows, every cell in the developing baby is built from the pregnant mother’s body. Tissue from her uterine lining contributes to placental formation; linking her and her growing child. The baby uses her body’s protein, sugars, calcium, nitrates and fluids initially and eventually the baby will replace these when he or she begins making their own. The genes of the donor egg provide only the very basic blueprint for the development of the child. The biological mother takes care of all of the materials and construction, from the foundation right on up to the decorative fixtures. So, although the sperm and egg’s genetics program the shape of a new baby’s lips, the lips themselves are the “flesh and blood” of the pregnant woman. That means the lips along with the baby themselves, grew from the pregnant woman’s body. That is why she is the child’s biological mother and this is her biological child.
Many recipients question, “Is the baby actually my flesh and blood?” Not literally. No child is really made of its mother’s flesh and blood. Every baby builds their own flesh and their own blood. Babies inherit and produce their own blood type; which may or may not be the same as the biological mother. Every baby is a complete, self-contained, unique individual you get to meet when they are born. To try and sort the genetic factors out at that point is like trying to separate a cookie down into butter, flower, sugar, water, and milk after it has been baked. It is now a cookie, no longer individual ingredients.
The following are some of the common reasons women may choose to use a donor egg:
- Early Menopause
- Egg quality issues
- History of a genetic disease
- Ovaries do not respond to stimulation
- Over the age of 40
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have regarding the use of donor eggs. We encourage you to also inquire about our Michigan Egg Bank.
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