Egg Donor Procedure
The process was clear. I felt heard and supported the whole time.
Kristen, Egg Donor
Empowered egg donor
We know the egg donor process may seem overwhelming. Relax. You are in good hands. We are pioneers in the egg donor business and have grown into a full family fertility agency by always supporting you and putting your security first. From application through retrieval, we make sure you have the egg donor information you need, including the egg donation timeline, so you are as informed and empowered as possible.
The egg donation process
Application and Intake
Application review through intake call: 2–3 weeks
We are excited to meet you. To get going, please fill out the egg donor application. If you are selected, we will schedule a time to talk and give you more details about the process. The steps in this phase include:
Online Application
You provide general information to get the process moving.
Phone Screen
After we review your application, we will call you for an initial screening.
Enrollment Packet
Once you pass the phone screening, you will receive a link for a full enrollment packet.
Intake Call
When you have been approved and your enrollment packet screened, we will contact you for an intake call.
Matching
Varies per donor
After application and intake, you will be matched with your intended parents
Support throughout
Your Match Manager supports you throughout the process and helps you navigate doctor’s visits.
Medical Screening
6–8 weeks to get full results and to start medications
Screening + consultation
Mental Health Consultation
A mental health professional consults with you to make sure you are ready to take on this challenge.
Medical Screening
You undergo a thorough screening as a safeguard for health and security.
Legal Consent Form
We provide legal guidance on the contract and can offer some options.
The Medication Cycle
10-21 days
Medication + Appointments
Medication
Your latest menstrual period usually becomes the starting date of the donor cycle. To stimulate egg development, a series of injectable egg donor medications begins and continues until approximately 36 hours before the egg retrieval. You will be given exact instructions and information from the medical center on how to take the medication.
Appointments
Throughout the process, you’ll be assigned approximately six to seven morning appointments at the fertility center’s IVF (in-vitro fertilization) unit to monitor your progress and if your ovaries are stimulating properly. The appointments are usually between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and last about 30 to 45 minutes. During this time, please keep in touch with the nursing staff and your Match Manager.
Egg Retrieval
Outpatient procedure: 1 day
What to expect on egg retrieval day
As with any surgical procedure, you will need someone to get you to the clinic, stay with you and get you home. The egg retrieval requires twilight sedation. The physician will then perform a surgical procedure to retrieve the eggs.
You should expect to be at the IVF center for about three hours on the day of egg retrieval (the actual procedure takes only 20 to 30 minutes). You may experience some fatigue and cramping afterwards. Plan on spending the rest of the day taking it easy at home.
The following day you should be able to return to light or even normal activities, but refrain from anything more strenuous than walking or working out until the physician gives you the green light.
The End and the Beginning
Immediate and ongoing
Congratulations. You did something amazing. By deciding to become an egg donor, you helped someone fulfill their family destiny. And your reward is to fulfill your destiny—be it paying off student loans or traveling to Asia and beyond. You are now in a class of women who are bold and courageous. You are an egg donor.
Related Blog Posts
10 Important Questions to Ask Before You Become an Egg Donor
October 3rd, 2018
Egg donation is a process by which a woman (referred to as the donor) provides her eggs to intended parent(s) to assist in the conception of a baby. Egg donation is a safe and widely accepted means of assisted reproduction. For women whose medical conditions prevent them from becoming pregnant, egg donation (in conjunction with in-vitro fertilization), can be a means to starting a family.
10 Signs You'd Make a Great Egg Donor
September 4th, 2018
You might know someone who has done it, or perhaps you're simply a little curious. In any event, some part of you is probably wondering, “Is this for me?” “Do I have what it takes to be an egg donor?” We've organized ten of the most important, wide-ranging factors that we look into when evaluating an egg donor application.