THE VETTING PROCESS.
EGG DONORS
An Elevate donor is:
20-30 years old.
Fits the ASRM guidelines for gamete donation.
Is mentally and physically healthy.
Has a good family health history.
Is okay with self injections.
Is physically fit.
Is committed to the process.
Wants to bless a family in need.
Is committed to the process and able to make all appointments.
Is altruistic.
Has a good educational background.
Has a healthy BMI.
Is easy to work with.
Has a great AMH level.
Has a good resting follicle count (AFC).
Can verify test scores or educational background.
Has demonstrated some drive or ambition in their life.
Does not discriminate against any type of non-traditional family.
Does not have heavy lines of cancer or mental illness in their family history.
Does not use medication for ADD or ADHD.
Passes a psychological exam and PAI.
Is approved by a genetic counselor based on her family history.
Is kind, talented, and intelligent.
AMH
Anti-Müllerian Hormone Test
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What is an anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) test?
This test measures the level of anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) in the blood. AMH is made in the reproductive tissues of both males and females. The role of AMH and whether levels are normal depend on your age and gender.
AMH plays an important role in the development of sex organs in an unborn baby. During the first weeks of pregnancy, a baby will start developing reproductive organs. The baby will already have the genes to become either a male (XY genes) or a female (XX genes).
ANTRAL FOLLICLE COUNT
An antral follicle is a small, fluid-filled sac inside your ovary that contains an immature egg. The follicle itself plays a major role in egg maturation and the subsequent release of an egg in ovulation. While there are many, many follicles in the ovaries, only the antral (or mature) follicles are visible to the naked eye. It’s only once your follicles reach 0.8 – 1.1cm in diameter that your doctor can measure and count the number of these antral follicles by doing an ultrasound of your ovaries. In the course of a stimulation cycle, this is about the time that your doctor would start stimulating your ovaries with hormones in order get as many as possible to reach final stages of maturation, around 1.5 – 2cm (we’ll explain why that matters in a minute).
GENETIC PANEL
All donors will be run on a genetic panel using any of the major panels clinics are currently using. Genetic testing looks for changes, sometimes called mutations or variants, in your DNA. Genetic testing is useful in many areas of medicine and can change the medical care you or your family member receives. For example, genetic testing can provide a diagnosis for a genetic condition such as Fragile X or information about your risk to develop cancer. There are many different kinds of genetic tests. Genetic tests are done using a blood or spit sample and results are usually ready in a few weeks. Because we share DNA with our family members, if you are found to have a genetic change, your family members may have the same change. Genetic counseling before and after genetic testing can help make sure that you are the right person in your family to get a genetic test, you’re getting the right genetic test, and that you understand your results.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If I am interested in becoming an egg donor, how do I get started?
It’s very easy! Click HERE to begin our easy online-application. A member of our team will usually respond within one business day!
What are my responsibilities if I agree to become an egg donor?
Once you are matched you will undergo a few initial screening appointments. Your psychological evaluation and genetic counseling session are all conducted virtually and are scheduled by you to fit your schedule. You will have a medical evaluation appointment at your Intended Parent’s IVF clinic (if necessary, all travel is covered). Once you begin medications, you will have a few local monitoring appointments that consist of simple blood tests and ultrasounds. After 5 or so days on meds, you will travel back to the IVF clinic for the egg retrieval. You will usually be there for 4-6 days before you are able to return home.
What could disqualify a potential egg donor?
The most common disqualifiers are BMI, age, and medical history. Your BMI should be somewhere between 19 and 29. Your age should be at least 20 and no older than 30. Your medical history is more complicated, but generally speaking you should be clear of any genetic conditions and your immediate family should be generally healthy.