From the Research
Multiple egg donations can potentially affect menstrual cycles, though these changes are typically temporary. During the egg donation process, donors receive medications like Lupron, Follistim, Gonal-F, or Menopur to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, which can disrupt normal menstrual patterns for 1-3 cycles after donation. Some donors may experience irregular periods, spotting, or changes in cycle length while their hormones rebalance. Most women return to their normal menstrual patterns within 1-3 months after the procedure. In rare cases, some donors might experience more prolonged menstrual irregularities. These effects occur because the hormonal medications temporarily override the body's natural reproductive hormone production, causing the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the usual single egg per cycle.
According to the most recent study 1, repeated controlled ovarian stimulation cycles do not seem to have any adverse effect on ovarian response to higher doses of artificial gonadotropin, as the quality of oocytes collected and their embryological developmental potential were not affected by the number of successive stimulation cycles. However, donors with ≤2 ovarian stimulation cycles had lower numbers of immature oocytes than donors with three or more stimulation cycles.
Key points to consider:
- The risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a concern in egg donation, and donors who develop ≥20 follicles should be actively monitored for the first week after egg collection 2.
- Donors may experience changes in menstrual patterns, but these are typically temporary and resolve within 1-3 months after donation.
- Women considering multiple donations should discuss potential cumulative effects with their fertility specialist and allow adequate recovery time between donation cycles, typically 2-3 months at minimum.
- The effect of multiple egg donations on menstrual cycles is generally temporary, and most women can expect to return to their normal menstrual patterns after the procedure.
It is essential for women considering multiple egg donations to discuss the potential risks and effects on their menstrual cycles with their fertility specialist, as individual experiences may vary. The most recent and highest quality study 1 provides evidence that repeated controlled ovarian stimulation cycles do not have adverse effects on ovarian response or oocyte quality, but donors should still be closely monitored for potential complications.