Second donation July 2005

I have recently completed my second egg donation process for a lovely couple called "Marsha and Dan." (names have been changed)

I registered as a donor in the beginning of March 2005, and soon afterwards I received an email informing that a couple - Marsha and Dan - had selected me as their donor. After receiving letters from both Marsha and Dan, I decided that I would definitely like to donate to them. Apparently I looked amazingly similar to Marsha, and their letters were very genuine and heartfelt.

In my opinion egg donation is a wonderful way for an infertile couple to be able to experience pregnancy and have a little baby. I also feel that although a part of me will be out there in the world, I have no right to think of it as mine. The child will belong to the recipient couple, and I know they will look after it with the utmost love and care.

Marsha and Dan wanted the procedure to happen in June or July, so in the interim I had time to do a donation for another couple called Reina and Jim . Reina is now pregnant and I’m very happy and excited for them.

In June I received my second batch of medications to take. Previously I had to take two injections per day, one intra-muscularly and the other subcutaneously. Intra muscular injections are painful, but subcutaneous are not that bad because they’re injected just below the skin. This time both injections were subcutaneous which was a relief for me and I could therefore also do them myself.

I arrived few days later in Cape Town - on a Friday. I met a lady that works for Robin as a co-ordinator called Savannah. She gave me lifts when I needed and was very sweet and helpful. I felt a bit bloated by this stage and as though I had some serious PMS – which is exactly the way I had felt previously.

Dr Le Roux did a check-up on the Monday on my ovaries which were quite big by this stage. It's always amazing for me to see this - my egg cells inside the ovaries - by means of a scan. Additional tests on my health were not required as I had been tested for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis about three months before.

Dr Le Roux decided that we would be able to go ahead with the ovum pick-up on the Wednesday. I admitted myself at the hospital at 08H00, was given a pre-med and was fast asleep by 09H00. They took me into surgery at 10H00. I was half awake but very drugged, I remember that I tried to chat to the nurses but didn't make any sense. I saw on my chart later that I was "drowsy but responsive." I could feel the actual extraction - it was like a pin prick. They use a needle to obtain the ovum. I remember nothing after that.

I woke up at 13H00 and Savannah collected me and took me home. I felt once again felt amazingly well and strong, just a bit bloated and sore. I flew home later that day. The uncomfortable feeling wore off within about 5 days. I also received the most beautiful card and gift from Marsha and Dan expressing their gratitude. It's a very satisfying feeling.

I hope that this will be a successful attempt and I look forward to hearing the good news.

I would definitely consider doing another donation in the future - it's worth it.