Become an Egg Donor

The decision to become an egg donor is a very personal one, and many different factors must be taken into consideration. If you are interested in becoming an egg donor at one of our Centers, please request more information here.

Below is some information to educate and empower you to make the best decision possible.

Qualifications to Become an Egg Donor

To become an egg donor, you must generally meet the following qualifications:

An egg donor candidate is a woman who exhibits the emotional stability necessary to complete the egg donor procedure, and of her own free will decides to donate her eggs to the recipient.
The ideal egg donor is a healthy female between the ages of 21 and 31. While not mandatory, it is preferable that the candidate has had at least one healthy pregnancy prior to donation.
The donor should be a US Citizen or possess a Green Card or Work Visa.
A donor candidate must have a valid Social Security Number.
A donor candidate must complete and return an application from the Center she selects.

Once the qualifications are met and the applications are completed and returned, you will generally be asked to complete medical and psychological screening.

The Process of Becoming An Egg Donor.

To become a potential donor, you will generally go through the following steps with the Center:

1. Preliminary telephone screening
You will undergo telephone screening to determine if you are eligible to participate in the program.
2. Consultation and medical screening
Based on the information collected in your initial phone interview, you may be mailed a questionnaire. If the returned questionnaire shows that you would be a good candidate for egg donation, you will be asked to come to the Center for consultations with medical and psychological staff, who will explain the process in greater detail. Consultations are scheduled visits and usually take up to two hours to complete. Screening includes a physical exam, psychological testing, blood tests and an instructional session with a Nurse Coordinator.
3. Follicular development
To help increase the success of egg donation, it is best to obtain multiple eggs for fertilization. Donors are treated with fertility medications that stimulate the development of multiple egg follicles within the ovary. These medications have been used for over 2 decades and are the same medications used by women undergoing their own IVF cycle. You will be given detailed information and instructions about this medication.
4. Monitoring your cycle
An egg donation cycle usually takes about 2-3 weeks. During this time, you will need to make regular visits to the Center for blood tests and ultrasounds. These visits usually last less than 30 minutes. This monitoring tells the Center when the follicles are mature, informing your physician when it is the right time to retrieve the eggs and complete the cycle.
5. Egg retrieval
The egg retrieval process is performed at the Center on an outpatient basis. IV sedation is generally performed by an anesthesiologist. The procedure takes about 30 minutes. It is done using vaginal ultrasound to help locate the eggs for retrieval and requires no incision. You will rest after the procedure for about 45-60 minutes in the recovery area.

Following the Procedure.

Most donors feel a great deal of satisfaction from this act of giving. However, occasionally, donors experience uncertainty about their decision. Psychologists or other mental health professionals are available to help you during and after the cycle to offer emotional support. Some women experience side effects including tenderness in the breasts or ovaries, fluid retention, and moodiness. These symptoms can take up to two weeks after the cycle to disappear completely. There are certain medical risks to this procedure that will be discussed with you by your physician.