Are Egg Donor Babies Healthy? Addressing Common Concerns

While assistive reproductive technologies (ART) have completely changed the landscape of family building, there are still many who have concerns. Many people turn to ART for their family building because they have been unable to do so naturally. As well, there are those who turn to ART due to the nature of their relationship such as same sex couples.

Whatever the reason, many come to the table with questions and concerns about the processes, the risk, and the outcomes of fertility treatments. One major concern has to do with the health of the babies conceived through ARTs. In this article, we shall be discussing whether egg donor babies turn out to be healthy. We shall look at the genetic and general health aspects of egg donor babies.

Understanding Genetic Screening and Testing

It is important to note that before anything is done with donor eggs - or donor sperm - there is a screening process. Part of the screening process examines the DNA of the eggs. The human genome consists of 46 chromosomes, 23 from the sperm and 23 from the egg. The purpose of genetic screening is to check for any anomalies in the DNA strand, as well as any disease or mutations. When it comes to DNA, we all have what are termed as dominant genes and recessive genes.

If the disease is found on a recessive gene, that person is said to be a carrier. This means that the offspring from that egg is not likely to be affected by the disease, because the dominant healthy gene pair will keep them healthy. However, when there are two recessive genes of a condition on the same strand, it increases the likelihood that the offspring would be affected by the disease.

In relation to egg donation, carrier gene testing focuses on identifying recessive genes that could result in severe childhood diseases, cause health complications or disability, that have no treatment or cure, or result in a lower life expectancy. In doing this, it allows potential parents to understand the risks of proceeding with fertility treatment using those eggs. 

Screening Process

Genetic testing is done at a genetic testing lab. Usually a blood or saliva sample would be used to conduct the test. The test would normally take about two to three weeks before results are ready. 

Previously, the testing approach used was to test for the more common conditions, based on a patient’s ethnicity. However, this practice has changed since disease affects all people. Genetic testing now covers a panel of more than 100 variants of conditions and diseases.

Ideally, for fertility treatment purposes, it is recommended that one does the screening and testing even before the donor begins their hormone treatments for egg retrieval. If after the test results are out, there is a need to select a different donor, the transition will be easier.

The Role of Donor Health in Baby’s Well-Being

The role that the egg donor’s health plays in the baby’s well-being cannot be overstated. Even in circumstances where people are not using donated eggs, the health of both male and female counterparts plays a role in health outcomes for the baby.

Health is determined at several levels - physical health which includes BMI (Body Mass Index), lifestyle and diet; medical health which considers a person's medical history; as well, psychological health which looks into mental and emotional stability. 

For an egg donor, the screening will include testing if the donor is a carrier of conditions such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell; testing if the donor has any chromosomal anomalies such as Down Syndrome, or Turner Syndrome; as well, screening using tests such as the PGT-A test will allow for the identification of anomalies in the chromosomes and single gene disorders.

Research on Egg Donor Baby Health Outcomes

So the question of the day is whether the babies born from egg donors are healthy or not. There are studies that show that there are no major differences between the health outcomes of children born from natural conception, IVF treatments, or egg donation. In other words, one cannot tell whether a child was conceived through egg donation, other ARTs, or naturally.

As well, the bond between parents and the children born from egg donation has been evaluated to generally be normal. The psychological health of the parents, how well the child is adjusted to the family, and the quality of parenting are the typical markers used to evaluate. The egg donor families have been observed to function just as well as any other healthy family. 

Addressing Myths & Misconceptions

There are many myths and misconceptions that revolve around egg donation in particular. Let us look at a few below:

Myth

Egg donors will run out of eggs affecting their future fertility.

Fact

The eggs that are retrieved come from the follicles that are naturally produced by the ovary within that particular cycle. The rest of the ovarian reserve is not interfered with. In the natural cycle, only one egg would mature and the rest of the immature follicles would be lost. With ovarian stimulation, multiple follicles develop the eggs to full maturity, meaning fewer follicles are lost.

Myth

Egg Donation is a secret, donors have no say in the process and cannot be involved with the families built from their egg donation.

Fact

Confidentiality in medical procedures is a standard practice. Egg donors are made aware of the process, the risks, and potential outcomes before they begin the process. As well, they are free to discontinue should they feel unable to go on. Additionally, the egg donor-recipient relationship is often governed by legal agreements which outline the degree to which each party will be involved, and the degree of confidentiality each must maintain. 

Myth

Egg donation is painful, invasive, and leads to psychological and emotional distress.

Fact

Egg retrieval is done under sedation which limits pain and discomfort for the donor. As well, donors undergo comprehensive psychological evaluations to ensure that they understand the full scope of the process they are undertaking, before they get started. 

Conclusion

Egg donation has been a central factor in family building for many years. Couples who have had challenges in building their own families naturally due to female factor infertility or the nature of their relationship have benefitted from this arrangement. As well, egg donors are carefully screened physically, medically, and psychologically beforehand. 

In addition, egg donors do not go into the process without understanding what it entails, the risks and the possible outcomes. Due to the nature of egg donation, the roles and responsibilities between donor and recipient are governed by legal agreements. If you would like to know more about egg donation, whether as a donor or recipient, contact our team of professionals at San Diego Fertility today. 

FAQs

Is there a higher risk of birth defects with donor eggs?

No. Egg donor’s undergo thorough medical screening before donating their eggs. As a result, egg donor-conceived babies have the same health outcomes as naturally conceived babies.

Does egg donation impact the baby’s genetics?

A baby’s genetics are determined by the egg and sperm involved in fertilization, regardless of where the egg and sperm are obtained. Sometimes, the sperm is obtained from a sperm donor agency resulting in a child that does not have any of the DNA of the parents who will raise it. Either way, the DNA of both egg and sperm are thoroughly screened for a positive health outcome. 

Can a donor-conceived child find their egg donor?

This is largely dependent on the terms of the donor-recipient agreement. In some cases, children may gain access to information about their egg donor when they turn 18.