KIAMBU: Women warned against dangers of donating ova for IVF

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Kiambu level 5 Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Grace Ochieng has warned women against donating ova for In vitro fertilization (IVF) saying it’s a complex process which may lead to health complications.

Speaking to KNA today in her office, Ochieng said that the ova donor has to undergo multiple extractions, a procedure that poses substantial risks to the donor.

Ochieng noted that the donor has to undergo ovary stimulation using drugs to induce ovulation using a combination of drugs. In vitro fertilization is a test tube baby technique. It is a technology used by women who cannot conceive through the natural method.

“These medications help to prevent ovulation from occurring too early and also helps to stimulate the production of multiple eggs in the ovary,” said Ochieng, adding that the medications involved may have side effects, and the donor must be monitored carefully by performing an ultrasound.

She said that in some cases, the donors may experience ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome which involves a painful swelling of the ovaries. She added that women should consider the risk factors involved before they can decide to become donors.

In vitro fertilization, eggs and sperms are brought together in a laboratory dish to allow the sperm to fertilize an egg. It can use both own eggs and sperms and donor eggs and sperms.