Expert Urges Young Asian Women To Give Hope To Families Through Egg Donation

Could you help a childless couple? Asian families find it harder to access donor eggs.
Could you help a childless couple? Asian families find it harder to access donor eggs.

All those who need donor eggs will be grateful to the women who endure discomfort to give their eggs so that another woman may have a child. But if you are from a particular ethnic group, you may want to receive an egg that will turn into a beautiful little baby that looks just like you.

Sadly, British Asians are struggling to find donor eggs – it seems there just aren’t enough women able or willing to be an egg donor. Dr Venkat, Director of the Harley Street Fertility Clinic, is appealing to young Asian women to help couples from an Asian background achieve their dream of having a baby.

Infertility is a condition that is still widely stigmatised within Asian communities. Despite being a cultural taboo, it is estimated that two out of 14 Asian couples experience infertility issues.

The problem is so extreme that over a third of couples on waiting lists for donor eggs are Asian, all of whom are hoping for matching eggs that currently don’t necessarily exist. Out of desperation to seek this treatment many couples travel abroad, to India and elsewhere, every year to receive eggs, often in practices that are unregulated. This in consequence can have some devastating results. Others are forced to take matters into their own hands, appealing for donors via online forums which leaves people vulnerable to scams.

The Harley Street Fertility Clinic is keen to combat the misconceptions surrounding egg donation in the British Asian community and has an insightful film about infertility, which can be found at http://hsfc.org.uk/egg-donors/

Dr Venkat comments: “It is a huge physiological shock for a women to be told that she cannot produce eggs. The egg donor is a large part of the therapy process – offering a stranger the amazing gift of a family is a very kind and brave act. Donating eggs can be a little time consuming but it will not damage your ovaries, nor affect your fertility. It is a very simple process and is all done in complete confidence”.

In 2012, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) changed its guidance for compensating egg donors; donors may now be compensated with a lump sum payment of £750 per donation. This move has helped to increase the number of women donating their eggs in the UK. In spite of this, there is still a huge shortage of Asian egg donors.

Clinics ensure that all egg donors discuss the process with a consultant and a registered fertility counsellor, so that donors fully understand the implications of becoming an egg donor. Clinics requires that all donors are:

  • young women between the ages of 18-35
  • a non-smoker, as smoking can damage your eggs
  • no history of genetic conditions

It is preferable that donors have had a previous pregnancy but it is not a requirement. So if you would like to help bring joy to others experiencing the heartbreak of infertility, please contact [email protected] or call 020 7436 6838.

 

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