Today's blog was written by Delcie, one of our donor coordinators.
If you’re interested in donating your eggs but aren’t’ sure if your current birth control method will be an obstacle, this blog post is for you!
You can discuss your current birth control method with your donor coordinator if you’re concerned about it, but the good news is that most birth control methods don’t prevent you from being a donor. There are certain types of birth control that you may need to pause.
Here is a list of different types of contraception and what to know before you donate:
Best birth control options for egg donation
Oral birth control pills
Oral birth control is very compatible for egg donation, and in fact you will have to be on birth control 2-3 weeks prior to starting your hormonal injections. Depending on your fertility clinic they may put you on a different dosage or brand prior to starting your hormonal injections.
IUD
In most cases, IUD’s can remain in place for egg donation.
Nueva ring
Like birth control pills this type of birth control is fine for egg donation, and your clinic will decide when to have you remove the ring prior to your donation.
The patch
Like birth control pills, this type of birth control is fine for egg donation, and your clinic will decide when to take you off the patch prior to your donation.
Tubal Ligation
This may surprise you, but this form of birth control also does not affect your ability to donate as the eggs are retrieved directly from the ovaries. In an egg donation cycle the eggs are retrieved prior to being released in the fallopian tubes. However, it is necessary that you meet all the other donor requirements.
Birth control that delays egg donation
Depo shot
Unfortunately, the depo shot does not work for egg donation, and most clinics would like donors to be off the depo shot a minimum of three to six months (depending on the clinic) prior to donating. At AsiaWest we ask our donors to be off this type of birth control three months prior to going on our donor database, or until you’ve had at least three regular menstrual cycles, whichever comes first. So, this does not disqualify you, but it can delay egg donation.
Nexplanon (arm implant)
This type of birth control like the Depo shot, needs to be removed at least three months prior to going on the donor database, or the donor applicant has had at least three regular menstrual cycles which can take as long as 6 months for some donors. Again, this form of birth control can delay egg donation.
It’s important that donor applicants don’t immediately come off the above forms of birth control prior to applying to be an egg donor as there may be other issues with your eligibility/application. You can discuss your current birth control during the initial intake call, and what the best options are for you once it’s determined that you’re eligible overall.