Having an egg donor can be the difference between realizing the dream of having a baby or not for countless women who struggle with fertility. Fortunately for them, more women are donating their eggs to help couples conceive.
According to a new report, between 2000 and 2010, the number of egg donors increased from 10,801 to 18,306. Along with the increase in egg donations there was in increase in positive outcomes, according to information gathered from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National ART Surveillance System, to which fertility centers are mandated to report.
The American Pregnancy Association says that women who need donor eggs do so for a variety of reasons including age, poor egg quality, history of genetic disease, early menopause, and hormonal imbalance.
The mean age of recipients held steady at 41. The report also notes that the average age women delivered their first infant has steadily increased to 25.2 years of age in the U.S. So has the number of live births to women in their early 40s.
Women are having babies later because of multiple factors that include technological advances in reproductive science, evolution of women’s societal roles, increased availability of effective contraception, and increased acceptance of divorce and delayed marriage.
The study authors recommend there be more research on why some egg donations have a negative outcome.