Many young women find fulfillment in become an egg donor for couples who are having difficulty having or completing their families. Often the intended parents will hope to include the egg donor as part of the extended family unit. This is called being a Known Donor. It means that the intended parents and child, as well as the donor, will all know each other and can create a unique relationship. Donors get to choose if this is something they are comfortable with or not. They can also remain open-ID until a child born from the donation turns 18 years of age.
At Fertility Match, all donors in our program are at minimum open to having their identity disclosed to a child after they turn 18. To learn more about what this means in practice, visit our egg donation FAQ or review the egg donor responsibilities that come with joining our program.
Here are some benefits of being a Known egg donor:
Relationship with the Parents and Potentially the Child
Being a Known Donor means you may have the opportunity to keep in touch with the recipients and possibly the child. Sometimes this is through photographs or correspondence with the parents. Sometimes the parents include electronic visits or physical meetings. It all depends on the desires of all the parties involved. These details will be worked out before the donation occurs to make sure everyone is on the same page. You can read real egg donor success stories from women in our program to get a sense of what these relationships can look like.
Acquire Experience
For a woman who is generously donating eggs but has no children of her own at this point, the experience can serve as a meaningful springboard toward understanding parenthood. Situations are very specific to all of the adults involved in the process. Each adult should meet with a counsellor and be represented by a lawyer to fully understand their rights and obligations before moving forward with a donation. Our donor education resources are a great starting point for understanding what to expect.
Personal Fulfilment
Most potential parents have explored many other options toward forming a family before arriving at egg donation. They are incredibly appreciative of this selfless gift. They may express their gratitude in many different ways as they fulfill dreams of a complete family unit.
As an egg donor, you share in the joy and satisfaction of seeing your efforts come to life, literally, and knowing you made someone’s dream of a family come true. Reading intended parent success stories can give you a powerful sense of the impact your donation could have on a real family.
Egg Donation is Not Easy
Known egg donation is not for everyone. If you prefer your level of involvement to stop at the end of egg retrieval, that is perfectly acceptable as well, as long as you are willing to update the agency about any medical or health issues that arise over the years and feel comfortable with your information being released to a child born from the donation after they turn 18 if the child wishes to have it.
Before deciding, it helps to understand the full egg donation process canada from start to finish, including what the egg donating process involves medically and emotionally. Reviewing the egg donor requirements will also help you determine whether this is the right path for you.
But It Is Worth It
The rewards of egg donation Ontario and across Canada are profound, both for the families created and for the donors themselves. Our fertility consultants Canada are here to walk you through every step of the journey with care and expertise.
If you are thinking about how to become an egg donor and want to learn more, we encourage you to explore our recommended reading resources and then contact Fertility Match to schedule a consultation. We will be glad to answer all of your questions and help you through the process.
