Meet Katie…she is a writer, speaker and advocate with a background in community organizing, abortion care and reproductive health advocacy. She received an M.A. in 2012 in Gender and Women’s Studies and Nonprofit Leadership. In 2010 she shared her own abortion experience on MTV’s 16 and Pregnant special “No Easy Decision”. Her writing has been featured on countless online outlets and in 2011 she called out anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers in a controversial New York Times op-ed. Since then she has investigated anti-choice organizations nationwide through The Crisis Project, which was featured in an Al Jazeera English documentary in 2012. Katie speaks regularly on college campuses about the importance of reproductive freedom.

I must admit, until I read that Katie was going to undergo this procedure, this fertility treatment option had never crossed my mind, I’m sure that it would have a little later down the line, if we weren’t successful conceiving or if we end up suffering with secondary infertility.

Now that our first medically-aided cycle is behind us, I’ve got to say, this process brings with it a level of consideration for things that many people would say ‘I’d never do that’, ‘I’d never consider doing that’, ‘I have not considered that’.  When you’re desperate to have a family, no option seems stupid or too out there.  In fact, if you, yourself are struggling with egg quality, or, for that matter, having no (or very few) eggs, this option may be something for you to consider.

Katie is a very brave and selfless lady for undergoing this procedure, and, since I was curious, I asked her a few questions about the whole process of being an egg donor.

What was your motivation to donate eggs?

The motivation for me was really two-fold. On the one hand I’m a incredibly interested in reproductive health and technology and this was a really personal way to learn more about, and to experience, this kind of science. I prefer to learn though experience more than anything. But at the same time, this was a way for me to really enact my commitment to reproductive justice. I think that it’s a matter of human rights for people to be given the tools to manage their own fertility.

Also, I happen to have a really great family and we tend to have pretty cute babies. I’m not at the point in my life where I’m interested in having children of my own, but giving someone the chance to be a mother while passing on my family’s stellar genes is pretty cool.

What are the qualifications of an egg donor?  What kind of screening did you go through?

I actually take some issue with these a bit. The qualifications are that you must be an adult, employed, have graduated (or be in) college. You must also be healthy – physically, psychologically and emotionally. “Ideal” candidates have advanced degrees and other skills (my public speaking came into play here. For other donors it may be dance, acting or athletic abilities). I’m not sure my ability to go to grad school has so much to do with my genetics as it does with how I was raised and the support I received, but I suppose that boils down to the nature vs. nurture argument.

You also have to be comfortable with the medical aspects of the process – making regular doctor’s appointments on time, giving yourself injections and receiving almost daily trans-vaginal ultrasounds. You also have to have a relatively flexible schedule. Once you’re taking stimulation medications, retrieval can be required at almost any time. You need to be able to work with the unknown in that sense.

Screening was medical, psychological and financial. Medical was a physical and evaluation of my medical history (including lots of looking at my ovaries). Psychological screening included a session with a therapist. That was actually fairly intense. We talked about everything related to egg donation/fertility – including how I would tell any future children I may have about the fact that they may have half siblings out in the world. That was certainly something I hadn’t thought about when I initially filled out the application!

I also took an IQ and personality test (I have above average IQ – which was cool to learn). Finally, there was a lot of screening related to my finances. They really wanted to make sure that my primary motivation wasn’t money. And that makes sense. Because while the “gift” you receive is $5,000 after taxes you only take home a little less than $3,000.

What did the procedure involve?

The process of stimulating the eggs was much more involved than the actual procedure. It involved weeks of birth control pills, followed by injections of Lupron. To stimulate the ovaries I also added about a week and a half of Lupron, Menopur and Follistem. I also took an HCG injection to “trigger” ovulation – which was done a little over a day before retrieval. During that process I had MD appointment about every three days. Retrieval was the easiest part! I was under anesthesia, so I don’t remember any of it.

Was it painful?

The injections certainly don’t feel good. But the pain involved in those is pretty quick. The most painful part was definitely the days immediately before and following retrieval. I could literally feel my ovaries swelling during stimulation (it felt like lots of little pinches) and it was uncomfortable to wear anything but sweatpants. After the retrieval of the eggs I was pretty sore and achy for a few days. I actually worked the very next day and was convinced I didn’t need to take the day off. I should have! I felt awful all day.

Are there any lasting effects from the procedure?

Not that I’ve noticed. I feel completely normal. It took a few weeks for the swelling and weight (I put on about 8-10 pounds) to go down.  A lot of it is literally ovary weight (they more than double in size) which is weird to think about.

Were you able to advocate for yourself? Did you feel the clinic listened to you and were concerned for your health? I was really lucky in that I worked with a great organization called Compassionate Beginnings LLC. They were always available to me via text. The nurse I worked with was really accessible too. I also did all my appointments and retrieval surgery at University Hospitals which is only about 10 minutes from my home and work. I think that was helpful because I got to know everyone and felt really comfortable with the staff.

I would really encourage her to explore her own personal reasons for wanting to donate. If it’s purely for the money (remember, you get taxed at over 40%), reconsider. It’s a huge emotional and physical commitment. I’d also encourage her to talk about it with her family/partner.

If my mother and boyfriend hadn’t been supportive (or worse, had been against it) it would have made the process much more difficult. I’d also encourage potential donors to be honest in the screening process. Not only for the benefit of the recipient, but for your own health and well-being as well. These are powerful hormones that you’re taking. And finally, I’d encourage anyone who is doing it to enjoy the process.

I don’t know the outcome of any of the eggs I donated. Some became embryos. Others may have been donated to science. One or two might be a fetus at this point. But regardless of the outcome, but fact that my body was able to assist in creating a family is just incredible.

If you are considering this type of treatment, I’d contact Katie and chat to her about legitimate avenues through which to proceed.

Do you have a story like Katies that you wish to share? Drop me a line and tell me about it!