Pallidum), Chlamydia trachomatis, and
Neisseria gonorrhea.
In European countries genetic testing
are done for diseases such as: Beta
Thalassemia, Cystic Fibrosis, Canavan
Disease, Familial Dysautonomia, Bloom
Syndrome, Gaucher Disease, Sickle Cell
Disease and much more.
Once the potential donor has been
screened and passed she may be taken
for the egg donation program. In Kenya
most egg donation is done after a couple
has commissioned the cycle i.e they are
fresh cycles. This is because it is easier
to freeze embryos than eggs and the cost
is borne by the couple as the procedure
is still relatively expensive. There are
international egg banks available as well.
An egg donor should not donate her
eggs more than 6 times and this is the
European standard as the Reproductive
Health Bill has not yet come into force in
most African countries.
There was a lot of focus on the donor only
getting KSh. 50,000/= when the couple is
paying about Ksh. 500,000-600,000 and
in extreme cases even Ksh. 1,000,000/=.
The correct position is that the donor
should actually not be paid for donation
just like in blood donation but should be
reimbursed their costs.
In Europe the average a donor is reimbursed
about KShs. 100,000-150,000/= and
considering the difference in cost of living
this will just cover their primary cost. In
this case donors are purely altruistic i.e.
they are doing what Wazungus do best,
which is giving back to society. That is the
same model we should take unfortunately
KSh 50,000/= is a big financial motivator
in this part of the world so it could come
across that centers are taking advantage of
young girls and women.
Egg donors are exposed to the same
risks in IVF as women using their own
eggs for IVF which include infection,
bleeding and ovarian hyper-stimulation
syndrome (OHSS), which occurs in 1-3%
of stimulated cycles.
Currently due to use of antagonist cycles
and the fact that the donors will not get an
embryo transfer makes stimulation safer
in donors than in women undergoing their
own cycles.
Regarding their future health especially
those who do multiple egg donations
it is true that we do not know the exact
impact on their future health but no study
has demonstrated a link between egg
donation with cancer, infertility or any
significant long-term health problems. In
fact a recent study done in Belgium found
that majority egg donors did not have a
problem conceiving, and in those that had,
a big proportion was due to a problem in
their partner.
Being a fertility specialist I feel egg
donation offers a solution to some women,
noting that very few women, even those
who are advised, opt for this method and
should be left as an option as we increase
the safety for donors and advocate for the
rights of both the donors and recipients.
Dr. Maureen Owiti is a practicing
Obstetrician Gynaecologist and
fertility consultant based in Nairobi.
You can commune with her on this
or related matters via email at:
[email protected].
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