Data aktualizacji: 11 December 2024
Publish date: 28 July 2023
: 7 min
Nowadays, donating blood and bone marrow has become quite popular. In 2022, nearly 600,000 people decided to donate blood, contributing to a total of 1.1 million donations, as reported by the Blood Donors website.
The number of bone marrow donors increases every year, and currently, there are over 2.1 million registered donors in Poland thanks to the efforts of DKMS. But why are there fewer donors of egg cells compared to bone marrow or blood donors?
Blood and bone marrow donors are incredibly important individuals for the healthcare system and for patients in need of blood transfusions or bone marrow transplants. Their generosity and dedication are invaluable and play a crucial role in saving lives and improving the health of many people.
The process of donating blood is relatively simple and safe, and the donated blood undergoes various tests and procedures to ensure it is safe for the receiving patient. The process of donating bone marrow is more complex than donating blood and requires greater commitment from the donor. There are two ways to collect bone marrow stem cells: from the hipbone or from peripheral blood. In the case of hipbone collection, the donor is under anesthesia, and a doctor extracts marrow from the hipbone using a special tool. In the case of peripheral blood collection, the donor takes special medications for several days to increase the number of stem cells in their peripheral blood. Then, blood is collected, and the necessary stem cells are separated from it.
Becoming a blood or bone marrow donor is, of course, very popular and a source of pride for millions of people worldwide. So why is it different for egg cell or sperm donors?
Infertility is also a disease. It deprives people of the basic function of reproduction, often leading to depression and even the weakening or breakdown of relationships. Currently, one in five couples in Poland has problems conceiving naturally. Modern medicine has come to the aid of women who do not have their own eggs or have too few for successful in vitro fertilization. Following the example of the National Bone Marrow Bank and the National Blood Donor Registry, the Honorary Egg Cell Donation Program was created at the INVICTA Fertility Bank.
A woman who wants to help infertile couples can apply to the program by filling out a form on the clinic’s website. It’s very simple. Just like with bone marrow donation, the qualification process is necessary. During this process, potential donors undergo laboratory tests, including genetic testing, and consult with a gynecologist, among other things. Additionally, throughout the preparatory period, women receive support from a psychologist.
All Egg Cell Donors start the process with thorough medical examinations and a comprehensive psychological interview. This allows Egg Cell Donors to gain awareness of the entire process and its impact on their lives. The high medical care standards maintained by the INVICTA Clinic ensure that the donation process is carried out in the best possible way.
Egg Cell Donors also receive compensation for going through the entire process. Although it ranges from 4,000 to even 8,500 Polish złoty, Egg Cell Donors are primarily motivated by the desire to help others fulfill their dreams of parenthood. However, thanks to the many medical tests, Egg Cell Donors also gain precise information about their own health. Egg Cell Donors at the INVICTA Clinic are under the constant care of specialists who ensure their health and well-being. Psychological and emotional support, as well as immediate responses to any questions, make it comfortable to go through the entire process.
It is worth noting that egg cell donation is entirely safe for the donor and does not affect their ability to have children in the future. The egg retrieval procedure is performed under anesthesia, minimizing any discomfort. After the procedure, Egg Cell Donors can return to their normal activities within a few days.
Every woman has over 40,000 healthy egg cells. The body releases them systematically throughout life. By participating in the donation process, you can provide about 8-20 egg cells to a couple in need. This does not in any way reduce fertility in the future. There are many more benefits associated with donating egg cells.
Of course, the most important one is the feeling that someone in the world has been given a chance to fulfill their dream of parenthood. The entire donation process is carried out in a professional clinic with the support of the best specialists in the country. It is also an opportunity to check your own health, thanks to the free laboratory tests worth approximately 3,500 złoty. Moreover, for the time and commitment of the donor, they receive a fixed reimbursement of approximately 8,000 to 8,500 złoty for two donation procedures or 4,000 złoty for one procedure.
The amounts depend on the number of visits to the clinic. The donor also gains a tremendous amount of energy and an incredible sense of self-fulfillment! Only women can undergo the qualification process, which means that the chances of finding an egg cell donor are half as high as for blood or bone marrow. That’s why it’s so important to inform and raise awareness about how many aspiring parents struggle with this disease and how many of them need help.
