One of the main reasons why egg donation is stigmatized is the mistaken idea that it is unnatural or unethical. However, egg donation is a safe and well-established practice that has helped countless families have children and build their families.

By recognizing this fact and the important role that egg donation plays in building families of all kinds, the stigma around egg donation is reduced and promotes open attitudes, influencing to make the countless alternatives that Assisted Reproduction has even more visible, so that all people who long for a baby can achieve it.

Egg donation holds the opportunity to give life, but has been stigmatized without foundation

Donated eggs provide a valuable option for all types of people and couples struggling with infertility or unable to conceive using their own eggs.

Eliminating the stigma around the use of egg donation and understanding it as a different way from the traditional scheme of having a baby is crucial to advancing reproductive medicine, and promoting inclusion and diversity throughout society.

Recognizing that there are many different ways to build a family and that each person or couple has their own unique circumstances, needs, and the power to openly decide on them, is a way to promote a truly inclusive system and community for all people, regardless of how they are created.

Egg donation in numbers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, around 123,000 cycles of assisted reproduction treatments using previously frozen eggs or embryos for later use are performed every year.

Most of these cycles involve women between the ages of 21 and 30, and the success rates for these procedures vary depending on factors such as:

• Age of the recipient
• Quality of the eggs
• The skill of the medical team performing the procedure

The World Health Organization (WHO) also recognizes the importance of egg donation in assisted reproduction treatments. In its guidelines on the ethical and legal aspects surrounding this field of medicine, the WHO states that egg donation can offer an important option for women who cannot conceive using their own eggs due to various medical conditions, genetic disorders, or age-related factors.

Additionally, the WHO recognizes that egg donation is essential in addressing the problem of infertility, which affects millions of people worldwide and continues to grow.

Fertility preservation, an alternative to egg donation

As mentioned before, egg donation is a personal decision, and although many people choose it to grow their families, there are many other alternatives for those who do not want to choose this option.

Fertility preservation is an option that allows freezing time and choosing the exact moment to have a baby without any physiological issues interfering.

Fertility preservation is the storage and freezing of eggs and sperm to preserve their reproductive potential so that these cells can be used in the future. Some of the people who opt for this alternative are:

• People with a diagnosis of cancer and other diseases that may put reproductive health at risk.
• Women with endometriosis or ovarian problems.
• Women under 35 who want to postpone their maternity.

Fertility preservation through egg freezing is an option that can serve as an alternative to using egg donation, putting reproductive choice and empowering women to make much more informed decisions about their own bodies and lives at the forefront.

10 Reasons why you should consider egg donation as a part of your assisted reproductive treatment

1. Provides an effective option for women who cannot conceive using their own eggs due to various medical conditions, genetic disorders, or age-related factors.
2. Helps same-sex couples and single individuals have biological children and start their own families.
3. Can increase the success rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproduction treatments.
4. Allows women to postpone their maternity until they are ready without compromising their chances of having a biological child.
5. Helps to address the issue of infertility, which affects millions of people worldwide.
6. Provides an opportunity for women who have received cancer treatment or surgeries that compromise their reproductive health to preserve their fertility and have children in the future.
7. Promotes reproductive choice and empowers women to make decisions about their own bodies.
8. Contributes to the advancement of medical knowledge and research on reproductive health, which has direct implications for the health and well-being of all women.
9. Promotes inclusivity and diversity in family building, recognizing that there are many ways to create and define a family.
10. Drives a fairer society in which all people have access to increasing opportunities of enjoying a fulfilling life.

A true story of a happy family made possible by the use of egg donation

"She is what I wanted the most in the whole world, but of course, it was a complicated journey. (...) I wouldn't change anything at all as long as I have her. I don't regret the tears, the effort, or everything I had to go through. I would do it all over again without a doubt because she is the most important thing in my life."

This is shared by Lorena, a proud Ingenes mother thanks to egg donation.

In addition to providing a viable conception option, egg donation can also help transform people's lives in many ways. It can give them a new perspective on life and motherhood and allows them to fulfill their desire to have a biological child and start a family.