Women who have, or are, considering the donation of one of their reproductive eggs will now be glad to know that doing so will not decrease their probability of having their own pregnancy down the road, according to a newly published study by Belgian researchers into the risks of female egg donation.

When a woman donates one of her reproductive eggs, she’s typically treated with hormones that are intended to increase the rate in which her ovaries produce eggs.

In the past, there were a multiple previous clinical studies that suggested that the hormone treatments could result in fertility problems in the future. However, the researchers behind the new study said that these previous studies contained design flaws that detracted from their accuracy.

According to the New Study: 60 Women, 60 Pregnancies

During the survey, the researchers surveyed a total of 194 adult women. All of the women had donated eggs at a Belgian fertility clinic in the past. The average participant in the study was 29 years of age at the time of egg donation, and the average age had increased to 34 by the time the survey took place.

Based on survey data, the researchers determined that exactly 60 of the women had attempted to become pregnant themselves after donating an egg. Of these women:

• 54 became pregnant within just one year of initially attempting to conceive, without fertility treatment

• 3 became pregnant within 18 months of initially attempting to conceive, without fertility treatment

• 2 became pregnant after receiving fertility treatments designed to address problems with their male partners

• 1 became pregnant after receiving fertility treatments designed to address problems with themselves

In other words, all of the women in the study who sought to become pregnant after egg donation were successful, and the vast majority did so without the assistance of fertility treatment.

Limitations of the Study

Although the study’s findings appear to be fairly conclusive, the researchers did have to deal with a few limitations. First off, egg donors are a naturally selective group of women, and women who know they already have fertility problems are unlikely to donate eggs.

In addition, the study only looked at women an average of five years after egg donation. It’s possible that egg donation has long-term effects on fertility, even if the short-term effects appear to be negligible or nonexistent. One possibility is that the ovaries will age more quickly following egg donation, though there’s no evidence directly suggesting this.

Other Effects of Egg Donation

The researchers noted that some evidence indicates other results of egg donation, even if fertility remains the same. During egg donation, the ovary is punctured, potentially causing the immune system to create antibodies designed to fight the ovaries. In the past, researchers have observed higher levels of anti-ovary antibodies in infertile women. However, other studies have shown that these antibodies don’t impact fertility.

The researchers also determined that approximately 16% of the women they surveyed reported differences in their menstrual cycle after donating a reproductive egg. However, none of the women with changed menstrual cycles reported any fertility problems.

Risks of Egg Donation: The Bottom Line

According to a recent study conducted in Belgium, women are equally able to become pregnant after donating an egg. In the study, all of the women who attempted to conceive following egg donation were able to do so, and the vast majority did so without fertility treatment.

The issue of pregnancy after egg donation is of importance not only to women who donate eggs, but to women who freeze their eggs for future childbearing as well.

The full text of the study can be found in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility.