Side Effects of Egg Donation: What to Expect

While it’s a beautiful act, egg donation is a medical procedure, and like any medical process, it can come with physical and emotional impacts. Whether you’re considering becoming an egg donor or just curious about what it entails, here’s what you need to know about the potential side effects of egg donation.

Common Short-Term Side Effects

Some side effects cut across donors. After all, becoming an egg donor is a medical process involving hormone injections, blood tests, ultrasounds, and a retrieval procedure. Your body will go through a series of steps that can result in both mild and more intense symptoms.

The first step in the donation process involves taking hormone injections to stimulate your ovaries. These hormones help your body produce multiple eggs instead of the usual one during your menstrual cycle. While these drugs do what they’re supposed to do, they can also cause side effects like:

• Bloating: A lot of donors report feeling like their stomach is stretched or puffy.
• Breast tenderness: Because of the hormone fluctuations, you might notice that your breasts are sore or swollen.
• Mood swings: These hormones can mess with your emotions, making you feel on edge, sad, or super emotional.
• Headaches: Hormonal changes often trigger headaches in some women.
• Fatigue: The process can be physically draining, especially toward the end of the stimulation period.
• Cramping: Similar to period cramps, sometimes worse.
• Spotting: Light bleeding for a day or two is common.
• Discomfort: A general sense of pelvic soreness for a few days.
• Weight gain: Temporary weight gain due to bloating and fluid retention is fairly common during the stimulation phase. It usually resolves itself once your hormone levels normalize after the retrieval.
• Menstrual irregularities: After egg donation, your next period might be delayed or come earlier than expected. Your body has just gone through a hormone rollercoaster, so it might take a cycle or two to reset.

Most donors return to their normal activities within a day or two, but it’s essential to rest and give your body time to recover.

Rare But Serious Complications

For the mos part, egg donations go smoothly. Still, complications can arise. 

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)

This is a less common but more serious side effect. OHSS occurs when the ovaries react too strongly to the fertility drugs and become swollen and painful. In most cases, OHSS is mild and goes away on its own, but in rare instances, it can be severe and may require hospitalization. 

Symptoms of OHSS include:

• Severe bloating
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid weight gain
• Decreased urination

Nevada Center For Reproductive Medicine will closely monitor your hormone levels to try and prevent OHSS, but it’s important to speak up if something feels off.

Injection Site Reactions

You’ll be giving yourself hormone injections daily, typically in the stomach area. Some donors report redness, bruising, or soreness at the injection site. Rotating the injection spot and using ice can help minimize discomfort. 

Though extremely uncommon, infections can occur after egg retrieval. Clinics use sterile techniques and antibiotics to reduce this risk.

Ovarian Torsion

This rare condition involves the ovary twisting, cutting off its blood supply. It causes sudden, intense pain and requires emergency surgery.

Anesthesia Reaction

Sedation used during egg retrieval is generally safe, but there's always a very small risk of a reaction.

Emotional Side Effects

The emotional side effects of egg donation can be just as significant as the physical ones, though they often go undiscussed. While some donors feel completely fine emotionally, others may find themselves grappling with unexpected feelings.

Mood Swings

Hormone fluctuations can mess with your emotional stability. You might cry at commercials, feel irritated for no reason, or swing from happy to anxious in a matter of minutes. These emotional shifts are often temporary but very real while you’re in the thick of the process.

Anxiety and Stress

There’s a lot riding on egg donation, not just physically, but emotionally and ethically too. You might find yourself worrying about whether the procedure will work, how your body will respond, or whether you’ll feel regret afterward.

Regret or Sadness

It’s not uncommon to feel a sense of loss or sadness post-donation, especially if your experience was physically or emotionally taxing. These feelings can be amplified if you went into the process with little emotional preparation or support.

Post-Retrieval Blues

Some donors report feeling a drop in mood after the procedure, similar to postpartum baby blues. This could be due to the sudden drop in hormone levels and the emotional buildup leading up to the retrieval.

How to Manage Recovery

Recovery looks different for everyone. Some donors feel fine within a day or two, while others take several days to fully bounce back. Here are some ways to support your body during this time:

• Rest: Give yourself permission to slow down. Plan for at least one full day off post-retrieval.
• Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids to help flush excess hormones and support your recovery.
• Gentle movement: Walking can help reduce bloating and get your digestion moving again.
• Nutritious meals: Stick with light, balanced foods. Avoid anything too salty, processed, or heavy.
• Pain relief: Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can ease discomfort, but check with your clinic first.
• Watch for warning signs: Call your clinic if you experience high fever, severe pain, heavy bleeding, or difficulty breathing.

Most donors feel physically normal again within a week. Emotional shifts might linger a little longer, which is completely normal. Having a trusted support system can make a big difference.

Bottom Line

Egg donation can be a powerful and rewarding experience. While side effects are part of the process, most are manageable and temporary. Knowing what to expect and having a plan for care and recovery can make all the difference. If you choose to donate, do so with eyes wide open and support by your side.

FAQs

What are the common side effects of egg donation?

Mild bloating, cramping, fatigue, mood swings, breast tenderness, and light spotting are typical. These effects usually pass within a week of the egg retrieval.

What is OHSS?

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome is a condition where the ovaries become overly stimulated and swollen. Most cases are mild, but severe cases can lead to significant discomfort and, rarely, hospitalization. Clinics monitor you closely to catch early signs.

Does egg donation affect my fertility?

No. Studies show egg donation does not harm long-term fertility. The procedure retrieves eggs your body would naturally discard, and it does not accelerate menopause or deplete your reserve.

How soon can I get back to normal?

Many donors resume work or classes within 24 to 48 hours. However, it's best to avoid intense exercise or heavy lifting for a week.

Will I experience long-term side effects?

Maybe. However, long-term side effects are rare, and most donors return to their emotional and physical baseline within one to two weeks.

Is egg donation emotionally difficult?

Some women feel proud and fulfilled, while others may feel emotionally raw after donation. This varies from person to person. Counseling services, if offered by your clinic, can help process any unexpected emotions.

Can I donate eggs more than once?

Yes. Most clinics allow up to six donation cycles. This cap is in place not because of evidence of harm, but to minimize potential cumulative risks.

What should I do if something feels off?

Always reach out to your clinic if you feel anything unusual, whether physical or emotional. They are there to support you through every step.