ARE YOU BORN WITH ALL YOUR EGGS?

If you're considering becoming an egg donor, you may be wondering about the number of eggs needed for donation. Are you born with all your eggs, or does your body make more eggs over your lifetime?

HOW MANY EGGS ARE IN YOUR OVARIES?

Females have around 300,000 eggs in their ovaries when they reach puberty, even though they are born with one to two million immature eggs. Many of those eggs are lost before puberty through a natural process called ovarian follicle atresia.

Of those eggs left at puberty, it is estimated that a woman may lose as many as a thousand eggs per month over her fertile years. Of the roughly 400 follicles that will reach ovulation over the course of a woman’s fertility, a woman can expect 20 follicles to mature each month with just one egg being released.

DOES THE QUALITY OF EGGS IN YOUR OVARIES DECREASE OVER TIME?

Science goes on to tell us that only the best quality eggs will be released and that, over time, the overall quality of these eggs begins to diminish as menopause approaches. This is commonly believed to be the reason women of an advanced maternal age may have difficulty achieving pregnancy with their own eggs. 

DO WOMEN PRODUCE MORE EGGS OVER TIME?

Women may be able to produce new eggs during their lifetimes, according to research. The theory is based around the existence of stem cells found within the ovaries of female mice in a 2004 study. In 2012, a study conducted by scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Edinburgh and published in PLOS Genetics  found that stem cells inside of a human female’s ovaries are capable of dividing and generating new oocytes, which then become new eggs.

While the research is still in its infancy and has only been conducted on mice at this point, it suggests that fertility and egg development may continue long after birth.

HOW MANY EGGS ARE DONATED AT ONCE?

Whether or not your body produces more eggs, only 10 to 20 eggs are donated during egg retrieval. Donors usually have ample eggs to donate and use for their own family building. Learn more about what to expect during your egg donation journey on our Egg Donation Process page.

GET STARTED

If you're considering becoming an egg donor, but you haven't taken that next step, we're here to help. To learn more about becoming an egg donor with Growing Generations contact us online or apply today.