Egg Donation in Singapore: An Emotional Journey To Motherhood

A significant victory of the 20th century is gamete preservation — freezing eggs and sperm to store them for long periods. After years of research and development, egg (known as oocytes in the scientific community) preservation has become a routine technique in many parts of the world, including Singapore.

In today's world, women have more choices and opportunities than ever. Whether deciding to marry or not, prioritising our careers and professional aspirations, or planning our family structure, we now have the tools to shape our lives according to our desires. Many of these advancements have resulted from years, even decades, of silent struggle. However, these tools have emerged from technological advances to solve life's challenges and provide alternative options.

This breakthrough offers women a second chance at motherhood when infertility becomes a reality.
In this blog, we aim to answer key questions about the egg donation program and its rules and dig into the pros and cons of egg donation in Singapore.

The Unexpected News

Sometimes, life comes with unexpected news. Without warning it enters our house, making noise and chaos, playing with our thoughts and feelings. This is close enough to a description of what you -or someone you care about- may feel when you find out that infertility enters their house.

After months -or years- of tests and clinical studies, after several in vitro fertilisation (IVF) failures, the doctor comes with the news: Your ovaries are not working well, and the scarce number of eggs have poor quality. You have to think about egg donation. Those were the words… And you may feel everything starting to fall apart.

But remember, motherhood is a journey, and only you can make the path by taking steps with accuracy and holding your partner's hand.

Why is this happening to me?

While there is no official data about the infertility rate in Singapore, the Singapore Department of Statistics showed that the fertility rate -understood as the number of children born from a woman over her lifetime- dropped over the last 20 years. Worldwide, infertility affects about 17.5% of adults — that’s about one in six people — and has many causes, including different disorders and social factors.

Lifestyle today comes with different challenges, such as pursuing a higher educational level, increased income to travel the world, or a better job position. Those changes may delay motherhood, and as you may know, fertility gradually declines, particularly after 35. Beyond that point, egg quality and quantity usually diminish. Finding a partner is hard work, building a family takes time, and getting pregnant naturally sometimes does not happen as we wish.

Hopefully, nowadays, technology and scientific advances develop vast medical reproductive therapies and protocols tailored to a diversity of women. While you may expect that pregnancy comes naturally, life surprises us in different ways. If this is your case, talk to your partner about your feelings, maybe he is looking to share his, too.

You may feel alone, but you are not.

What should I do?

The most important thing is to be informed. Making an informed decision can help you handle this situation with peace of mind. A team of researchers found this point critical for couples that will be faced with the stress of infertility. They carried out a qualitative study — they analysed non-numerical data — with 17 infertile women candidates for egg donation who were concerned about the impact of egg donation in their married life. They found themes like threatened married life, lack of supportive situations, religious beliefs, psychosocial damage, and damaged feminine identity have a significant impact on the marital relationship and mental health of those women. Researchers conclude that psychological support before, during, and after treatment is fundamental to reducing women's stress.

To make an informed decision, your first step is to talk to your partner as many times as you need. Find out what both of you want and if egg donation is the path. Are there other alternatives to becoming parents? What about adoption? What are your thoughts or emotions regarding not being genetically linked to the baby? And your partner, what does he feel about that? I encourage you to talk to a counsellor who understands the complexity of infertility, egg donation, and IVF treatment.

Once you both make the decision, talk to your doctor, and ask for medical information about egg donor programmes. Ask for everything you both need. One crucial consideration is whether you would prefer an anonymous egg donor or if you would feel comfortable asking for or accepting an egg donation from a friend or family. Take one step at a time. Take your time. Ask and talk as many times as you need. While you don't need to feel completely resolved on all issues, it's meaningful to find peace with your decision to turn to egg donation to continue your journey to motherhood.

Can you explain what are the steps of egg donation? Can anyone be a donor?

First, it is important to understand that not every woman is eligible as a donor, just as not every man can donate his sperm. Donor programs prioritise the selection of high-quality gametes, which is why thorough medical screening processes are in place.

This process is designed to confirm that the candidates are healthy and suitable for donation. The screening for egg donors typically includes:

● Comprehensive Blood Test: To assess the donor's overall health and to check for any underlying medical conditions or infectious diseases.
● Genetic Screening: Genetic screening helps identify any hereditary conditions or genetic disorders that could potentially be passed on to offspring.
● Psychological Assessment Sessions: Donors undergo MANDATORY psychological assessments to evaluate their mental and emotional well-being, and their understanding of the donation process and its potential impact.
● General and Reproductive Health Examinations: A thorough examination of the donor's general health and reproductive system is conducted to ensure there are no underlying issues that could affect the quality of the donated eggs.

By subjecting potential egg donors to this thorough screening, donation programmes ensure that only those deemed suitable and healthy participate in the donation process. This increases the quality of egg selection and ultimately improves the chances of success for intended parents undergoing fertility treatment.

It is important to note that Singapore currently has a limited number of available egg donors, as egg donation is not yet a widespread practice in the country. As a result, individuals undergoing fertility treatment may find it challenging to find a suitable donor through traditional channels.

In such cases, your doctor may recommend considering alternatives, such as asking relatives or close friends to serve as egg donors — they still need to undergo the same rigorous medical screening process to ensure their suitability for donation. However, having a known donor can offer certain advantages, including a closer genetic match — if it is a family member — and potentially greater peace of mind for the couple. However, the decision to involve a known donor should be carefully considered and discussed with your doctor to determine the best course of action for your circumstances.

What are the pros of using a donated egg? And the cons?

Each case is unique, although the clinics have standard procedures. The decisions about which protocols to use will depend on the couple's fertility history and whether the donor is known or anonymous. However, egg donation has its positive and negative side.

Egg Donation Pros:

● Allow those women who cannot use their eggs.

● It is an alternative for women with genetic disorders.

● High chances of a successful pregnancy.

Egg Donation Cons:

● Finding a matching donor can be a time-consuming process.

● Egg donation is expensive, especially when coupled with IVF procedures.

● Facing a non-genetic relationship with your baby.

Before you and your partner decide if egg donation will be the way to have children, you must talk to your doctor to know all the pros and cons and your actual chances of becoming a mother.

What comes after deciding to be egg donation mothers?

Beyond the donor, you and your partner must go through basic steps until the IVF procedure:

● Initial Consultation: During this initial meeting, the doctor will assess the couple's medical history and fertility status and discuss the egg donation process in detail.
● Finding a Donor: The couple will work with their fertility clinic to find a suitable egg donor, either known to the couple or sourced through the clinic's donor database.
● Legal Considerations: To outline the rights and responsibilities of both the egg donor and the intended parents, agreements that cover issues such as parental rights, compensation, and confidentiality will be discussed and signed.

If you have questions, your doctor can provide accurate information. You can discuss which clinic and choose the egg donor programme that fits your desires and requirements. According to The International Federation of Fertility Societies, more people worldwide are donating gametes (reproductive cells like eggs and sperm). And egg cryopreservation — storing high-quality eggs for future use — has improved pregnancy rates for egg donation, especially for heterosexual couples facing conception challenges.

As many people turn to donor-assisted conception, medical recommendations focus on supporting patients emotionally, helping them make better choices for themselves and their future children.

And what happens after the donor selection and paperwork?

Once cleared for donation paperwork, the donor undergoes hormonal stimulation to encourage the production of multiple eggs in a single menstrual cycle. The eggs are retrieved through a minimally invasive under-sedation surgical procedure that typically takes about 20-30 minutes. High-quality eggs will be stored cryopreserved (frozen at ultra-low temperature) or used in a conventional IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to generate embryos. Decisions such as which egg should be used or if the egg must be cryopreserved or not, even if conventional IVF or ICSI is carried on, will depend on the fertility clinic team. However, they must communicate and explain all these decisions to their patients.

My Final Advice

The journey to motherhood through donor programmes can be exciting and overwhelming. It is okay to feel a mix of emotions and have lots of questions – you are not alone. Talk to your friends and relatives, as emotional support is fundamental.

In Singapore, egg donation is legal and highly regulated — you cannot pay your donor — so be mindful of the rules. Take your time to learn how it works and whether it fits your needs and values. Understand the screening process, the legal side, and how likely it is to succeed. Knowing all this will help you make confident decisions.

Every step you take gets you closer to your dream of being a mom. Enjoy the journey, stay hopeful, and know we are here to support you every step of the way. If you want to talk more, you can book a call with us to start your fertility journey with confidence.

FAQs: Egg donation in Singapore

Is there an egg bank in Singapore?

Although egg donation is permitted in Singapore, it is strictly altruistic and cannot involve a husband’s relative. Therefore, women seeking an egg bank must explore options outside Singapore, such as Malaysia, Taiwan, or China.

What are the criteria to choose an egg donor?

The criteria for selecting an egg donor may vary between fertility clinics, but one of the primary considerations is whether the donor remains anonymous or not. Once this decision is made, medical tests will be conducted to ensure compatibility, including matching your blood type with the donor's. Additionally, other factors such as physical and emotional characteristics, health history, and genetic screening may play a role in the selection process. It is essential to discuss your preferences and concerns with your doctor to find the best match for your individual needs.

If I use an egg donor, what are the chances that the baby will resemble me?

There is no easy answer to this question. Since genetics is complex, the baby could resemble the father, grandfather, or aunt but will not have your genes. However, your role in their development is still profound. The baby will grow in your womb, and that environment will have a major impact on your baby’s development. After birth, breastfeeding plays a role as the baby inherits important immunological defenses from you.

By: Mónica Faut, Ph.D.

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