“Does little James want a baby brother or sister?” “Are you going to have any more kids?” “How many kids do you want?”
All of these seemingly innocent questions can hit hard when you’re facing the unimaginable diagnosis of secondary infertility. While you feel incredibly grateful for your firstborn, the notion that you may not be able to complete what you had planned for your family can feel incredibly overwhelming.
All kinds of thoughts may be running through your mind. Should you just accept that a second child ‘isn’t meant to be?’ Are you being selfish wanting more than one child when some people struggle to have one?
While feeling like the above is completely natural, there are options available to you. Options that will allow you to achieve your dream family. Let’s take a look at the power of egg donation and everything it can offer you.
Donor Egg as a Choice for Women Facing Secondary Infertility
Many of us are choosing to ‘settle down’ later on in life. Whether we head off traveling, build up a formidable career, or simply enjoy life before having kids, our biological clocks may not be on the same timeline.
By the time a woman is 30, the monthly chance of her becoming pregnant is around 20 percent. This drops to just five percent when she hits 40. And, by 45, it becomes very difficult for women to conceive naturally.
Why didn’t someone tell you this when you were in your twenties?
Despite this question, it’s important to understand that you did what was right for you at the time. After all, if you had settled down in your twenties and had a baby, would you be where you are right now? Would you have the career you’ve got? Would you have even met your partner?
You’re also part of a large number of women who are facing the same problem. In the US alone, around 1 in 20 women are suffering from secondary infertility. Egg donation provides a potential solution for these women. Not only does it allow for an alternative source of eggs- which can be one of the causative factors in secondary fertility–the eggs, but it may allow women to enjoy a normal pregnancy.
The Emotions Faced When Choosing an Egg Donor
Although using an egg donor allows you to embark on this next stage of parenthood, that doesn’t mean it’s an easy decision or one that you should take lightly. How will you come to terms with the fact that your baby won’t share your genes?
Overcoming this hurdle is something some women struggle with. But with time, a lot of talking, and some professional guidance, many women feel ready to take the next leap and connect with an egg donor. This is especially true when egg donation is considered alongside other options, such as adoption and surrogacy. Of all these potential options, it is the only one that provides women with the chance to carry and give birth to their baby.
And did you know moms using egg donors can influence their baby’s gene expression through epigenetics? Not only that but you may also create a connection through your partner’s genes, which could provide a connection to your firstborn.
The Physical Process of Using Donor Egg
As well as the emotions to expect when using an egg donor, there’s also the physical process to consider. Thankfully, however, after the first two months of preparing for the implantation of the embryos, you’re often free to enjoy a normal pregnancy with egg donation.
In the lead-up to the implantation, you’ll need to take a course of hormones that will prepare your body for the embryo and pregnancy. When ready, the donor’s eggs are fertilized with your partner’s (or a donor’s) sperm. After two or three days in an incubator, an embryo is transferred to your womb or the embryos are frozen for future transfers.
Just two weeks later, you’ll return to the clinic for a pregnancy test.
The Next Step in Your Family’s Journey
While secondary infertility can feel like an impossible mountain to climb, options like egg donation provide the avenue you’ve been looking for. With careful thought, planning, and time to adjust, you’re able to create the family you have always dreamed of.
What’s more, you’ve been able to do this while still traveling the world, making a career for yourself, finding your life partner, and enjoying life the way you have always wanted to.
