03 March 2024 , 15:54
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A woman who doesn't think she wants children has donated 88 eggs - helping four couples to create families.
Alex Webster, 31, doesn't have any kids of her own and discovered her friend needed donor eggs to have her own children. Feeling inspired and wanting to help other women in the same situation she contacted a private fertility clinic in May 2020. Since signing up, Alex has donated 88 eggs which have gone on to help four families.
Alex, a medical writer, from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, said: "I'm possibly not geared for motherhood as much as some. Because there are women who need help creating their own families, this is where I can fit in. It seemed like a waste to me that I have these eggs and there are all these women out there who want to start families but can't.
"I can help them and I want to be able to help them if that means they can start the family they want." In 2016, Alex discovered that one of her friends needed an egg donor to have a child on her own. Alex was inspired and decided to look into egg donation.
She then contacted TFP Oxford Fertility, part of TFP Fertility UK - IVF and fertility specialists - and were accepted to become a donor. She said: "The experiences of my friends helped firm up my decision, all I needed now was to find the right time to donate. I chose TFP Oxford Fertility because it was the nearest clinic to where I live in Abingdon and the welcome was lovely. They're grateful for donors and work hard to make people feel comfortable."
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Developing follicles in Alex Webster's ovaries (TFP Oxford Fertility / SWNS)First donors have to inject themselves for 14 days to suppress their natural hormone production. One injection is to suppress the natural cycle and then two days after that you start a second set of injections to stimulate follicle production. Then they will have a scan to check that their natural cycle is fully suppressed.
A day or two before the eggs are collected, donors receive a hormone injection to help the eggs mature and then the eggs are collected during a small procedure. Alex said the process is "intense" and you can be wiped out for a few days. She said: "I needed a quiet weekend after the procedure because I felt some discomfort and was tired. The process is three weeks long but the long-term implications of a family being able to have a child is worth it. Even though I did need a quiet weekend after my first round, I went back eight months later to donate again."
The TFP Oxford Fertility team collected 42 eggs from Alex in November 2022 and then 46 eggs when she repeated the process eight months later - helping four families who have now received her eggs. Alex said: "I don't have the option to know the families I am helping. Once the children reach 16 they will be allowed to get a little bit of information and then when they reach 18 they are allowed to get identifying information.
Alex Webster's final injection for her donation cycle (TFP Oxford Fertility / SWNS)"There is the potential that they will be able to get in contact with me. As part of the preparation to donate, I received counselling to understand the implications of egg donation. I also had to write a letter to be shared with the parents who will receive my eggs." Alex said that she doesn't know if she will donate eggs again but it is something she is thinking about.
She said: "I am thinking about it at the moment, it does take up a bit of time. For two and a half three weeks you go through the process of taking the medication. The donation Itself wiped me out for a few days. For me, the consideration is that I have already helped four families and I don't know how many more I would like to help. I wouldn't say no but I am still thinking about it. I hope women who read this will be encouraged to donate or contact the fertility clinic to find out more about how they can help."