Donating eggs has become a most common practice for many Spanish women. They are women between 18- and 25 years old, altruist, empathetic and caring… this is the egg donor profile. To become a mother thanks to an egg donation raises a lot of concerns such as how are the woman who donate their eggs. We have wanted to ask Dr. Pilar Alamá, director of the IVI Valencia Egg Donation Program.
– How are egg donors in Spain?
This is the major donor profile we receive at our clinics. A group representing a 62% of the overall of egg donations, followed by two other scenarios that, although different, are essential to complete the picture of egg donation in Spain.
– Which other profiles can we find?
Another egg donor profile would be integrated by women between 26 and 31 years old, many of whom have experienced motherhood on their own. It is them who after bringing life into the world are more sensitive to the circumstances of women with reproductive problems, so that they want to share the happiness of motherhood with those who cannot fulfill their dream to become mothers with their own eggs. This group accounts for 29% of the total donations that IVI receives in its clinics in Spain. Finally, we find women between 32 and 35 years old, who represent 9% of donations, moved to donate their eggs for a feeling of pure sympathy, conscious of the importance of their gesture of solidarity for these women. Whatever the profile, we can assure that all of them are moved for an altruistic, voluntary and anonymous action, which aim is the most gratifying ever; a mínimum effort for an unparalleled reward.
– Why is the role of donors so important in reproductive medicine?
Because women delay their motherhood and when they have to confront with it, most of the times their eggs are not good quality anymore. So much so that in 2016 near to 6.400 of egg donation treatments were performed in our Spanish clinics; a 7% more than in 2015. The high success rate that offers ovum donation, which is above 68%, leads us to choose to transfer one single embryo (Single Embryo Transfer, SET) with the aim to reduce the number of twin pregnancies and the inherent risks (high percentage of premature labour, preeclampsia and a higher number of cesarean labours). In addition, this allows us to preserve surplus embryos after the treatment, thanks to the vitrification technique, which offers similar results. In such a way, if it is decided to increase the family in the future, patients will be able to use these embryos without the need to turn to resort to a new egg donation.
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