You’ve decided to donate your eggs — one of the most generous and selfless acts a woman could do — but, you don’t know where to start.
We get it, at first it may seem overwhelming as you step into the world of egg donation. But, we’re here to help.
Read on as we walk you through the 7 phases of egg donation.
1. Application
The first step is to apply with the best egg donor agency. There are many egg donation agencies out there, and unfortunately, they are not all created equal.
Be sure to sign with an egg donor agency who are associated with the ASRM and Seeds Unions of Ethics. It’s important the agency you choose will adhere to the highest industry standards when it comes to the care of their donors.
At Elevate, we make it easy to apply. Just fill out our online application, and we’ll contact you from there.
2. Acceptance
We are grateful for every woman who applies to be an egg donor. But, there are strict guidelines we must follow in regards to the donor’s health. These guidelines are enforced to protect the intended parents, the egg donor, and any embryos that may result from this process.
Because of these guidelines and regulations, not every donor who applies will be accepted. Here are a few things we consider before accepting a donor:
Non-smoker
Has both ovaries
Between the ages of 20 and 30
Healthy height/weight ratio
No drug use
Regular menstrual cycles
Ready to take hormonal injections
In addition to these being physically healthy, a donor must also prove that she is punctual, reliable, kind, and mature enough to handle the egg donation process.
3. Making a Match
When intended parents select a donor, we call this making a match. Finding the perfect donor can take intended parents a long time. Often they are searching for months and months before finally making a decision.
It’s important to remain patient at this time. There is not a set time limit on how long a donor can be waiting to be matched. Just know that if you are matched, the intended parents have been looking for a long time for the perfect donor, and they have chosen you!
4. Medical Screening
After a donor is chosen, she will go through a rigorous screening process. Here are a few things to expect:
Medical screenings are done to make sure the donor is healthy. We test of any infectious disease and drug use at this time. We will also ask for a complete family medical history.
Fertility screenings are essential to determine a donor’s ability to produce eggs. We do this through pelvic exams and vaginal sonograms.
Genetic screening is used to raise awareness of any possible hereditary diseases.
Psychological screenings are used to makes sure the egg donor full understands any risks associated with donating her eggs, including any emotional side effects.
The screening process may take a few weeks to complete and is not meant to be stressful. It is our way of protecting our donors and giving the intended parents the highest chance of a successful cycle.
5. Legal Arrangements
In a perfect world, everyone would agree, and there would be no need for legalities. But, to protect all parties involved, we do make sure that everyone signs legal contracts regarding the egg donation process.
These contracts will outline all expectations, discuss compensation, define parental rights, and establish the relationship of the donor and the intended parents going forward.
6. Medications and Injections
After contracts have been signed and screenings have been passed, the donor will be instructed on the medications and injections. Be prepared to take self-administered injections for about 7-10 days.
Each donor will have an individualized schedule based on her own menstrual cycle. Our case manager will be with you every step of the way through this process in case you have any questions.
7. Retrieval
When your body is ready, we will do your egg retrieval. The egg retrieval is a short 30-minute procedure done under light anesthetics. You will be able to go home that same day but will need to rest for about 24-48 hours.
After that, you can resume all normal activities.
Egg Donation Explained
And there you have it, all 7 phases of egg donation explained.
Just think, after this process, you will have given a couple in need the opportunity to become a family. We can’t think of a better way to spend your time.
So apply today, and let’s get this process started!
