For mother Penny Jarvis-Stephens of South Yorkshire, England, the decision to freeze some of her own eggs for her daughter’s future use was an easy one. Penny’s daughter, Mackenzie, is only two years old, but was born with Turner Syndrome which is known to cause infertility. While Mackenzie would obviously not use the eggs for a long time, Penny wants to plan ahead for her daughter’s future. She wants Mackenzie to have the option to experience the joys of motherhood as she, a mother of five, has. The chances are extremely high, though, given Mackenzie’s condition with Turner Syndrome, that one of her only chances for having a child would be through IVF. Thus, Penny is looking into the process of freezing donor eggs now while she is still within child-bearing age. “I’m looking at it as donating an organ,” Penny explains.

Some might think of this as a thoughtful gesture on the part of this mother. Such is not the case for everyone, however. Penny has received a number of negative comments, some even abusive, on an internet forum where she had posted her plans. This controversy begs the question as to whether people are opposed to IVF egg donors being family members or just between the case of mother and daughter? Or is the controversy simply brought up because the eggs are intended for a child who is not even close to being of an age of considering using those eggs? Whatever anyone’s opinion may be, we hope that Penny receives the best counsel on how to accomplish the plan that she has chosen.

Have you ever considered using a donor egg? Or perhaps donating your own eggs? We are more than happy to provide more information or answer any questions you may have about either process!

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