Cycle manipulation: Most Egg-Sharers need to take a low dose contraceptive pill for a minimum of two weeks to ensure that menstruation commences at the correct time to overlap with the recipient.
Down regulation: In order to allow the drugs to work their best it is necessary to temporarily “shut down” the body’s own natural cycle. This is done with a drug taken in the form of a daily subcutaneous injection or a nasal spray, for four to six weeks. This acts on the pituitary gland and once stopped your own cycle will immediately return to normal.
Follicle stimulation: Eggs grow within cystic structures in the ovary called follicles. Each month a woman should normally mature one egg within a follicle. Drugs will be given to stimulate a donor to produce several of these follicles (which are normally wasted) in each ovary. These drugs are hormones taken in the form of daily injections for ten to sixteen days.
Possible side effects of medication
Not all women will experience any or all of these side effects and they vary greatly in their degree of severity. Side effects can include hot flushes, mood swings, restless sleep, pre-menstrual changes and discomfort, fluid retention and headaches. Careful monitoring of treatment using vaginal ultrasound is carried out and hormone assays are of value in certain situations. Any patient who is worried about side effects which she may experience should telephone the clinic.
In this guide
