Programs and Services

Donor Egg Program

The Donor Egg Program allows healthy women, 21 to 33 years old, to help give the gift of life to an infertile couple. Our screening process will help ensure that the donation is safe and easy for the donor as well as ensure that the donor is suitable. Participation is completely confidential and donors will be compensated for their time should they be chosen for egg retrieval.

If you are interested in becoming a donor after reviewing the information below, please start the process by completing our online screening process, a secure and confidential online questionnaire.

Process of Donation Program

The following steps are taken in the Donor Egg Program:

The prospective donor fills out an online application to register as a potential donor. Donors will receive additional communications through e-mail to complete the donor application process
The information provided is reviewed by the third party nurse specialist. If the information is acceptable, an interview is scheduled with the donor candidate.
Following the interview, all of the information on the potential donor is presented to the medical director for review.
If accepted, additional medical testing is performed and the donor is placed on a list from which she could be selected by recipients.
Upon selection of the donor candidate by a recipient, the donor completes medical screening and begins the donation process.
The donation process is at least an eight week commitment. The first four weeks require limited visits and medication. In the next four weeks, the donor self-administers medications through injections and attend multiple visits for monitoring purposes. All donors must be available during business hours (8:30 am - 4:00 pm) for required appointments.
The eggs are retrieved under monitored anesthesia care and as an outpatient procedure. The donor must designate a responsible person for the drive home.
All donors are compensated for their time and discomfort during the donation process.

Egg Donation Candidates

Egg donor candidates submit a screening questionnaire which contains health, sexual and social history. In addition, this questionnaire solicits family medical history. Upon receipt, the questionnaire is reviewed and if accepted, an interview with a third-party nurse specialist is scheduled. Following the interview, all information is presented to the medical director of the Reproductive Medicine Center for review and approval. If the donor candidate is accepted, the donor is placed on the egg donation candidate list or selected for work-up to be a pre-screened donor.

All donors must be between the ages of 21-33 years old. Proven fertility is desired, but not required.

Screening Requirements

All oocyte donation candidates must complete the following screening.

A psychological consultation with a psychologist who is familiar with third party reproduction issues.
Physical exam by a Reproductive Medicine Center physician.
A genetic counseling session which includes a three-generation family history review by a genetic counselor.
Blood testing for: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), syphilis (RPR), HIV 1 & 2, Hepatitis B antigen, hepatitis C antibody, HIV/HCV PCR DNA, hepatitis B core total antibody, and pap smear with gonorrhea and chlamydia cultures.
Genetic screening for cystic fibrosis.
Donor risk assessment.

Legal Considerations

All egg donors and recipients are required to sign respective consent forms. The consents help to assure and document that all individuals involved in egg donation have been advised of medical risks and possible adverse effects, such as those that may occur with ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval.

Financial Considerations

At no time will the donor be financially responsible for any fees associated with the screening process or the egg donation cycle. In addition, all donors will be covered by a catastrophic health insurance policy that will cover any cost associated with the donation process. All charges are paid by the recipient couple.

Donors are compensated for their time, inconvenience and for the risk undertaken. At this time, the total donor compensation package is $3,000. This compensation is paid in a graduated scale. If the donor proceeds with an egg donation cycle and progresses to the second monitoring ultrasound, $500 of compensation is earned. Upon completion of the egg retrieval procedure, the compensation is $2,500. All payments to the donor are made at the completion of their donation process and usually received by postal mail within two weeks.

In Vitro Fertilization Process

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a process where eggs are removed from the ovary with a needle guided by ultrasound, and then fertilized in the laboratory. The fertilized eggs are kept in the laboratory for several days to develop until they are transferred into a woman’s uterus. During the IVF cycle, medications are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Egg development is monitored with ultrasounds and in most cases hormone blood testing. The physician will review and assess the cycle development and make appropriate changes to medications as necessary. The physician will determine when the egg retrieval should be performed. The egg retrieval is performed under sedation by an anesthesiologist.

Time Commitment

Once a donor is selected by a recipient and the screening process is completed, the actual egg donation cycle can proceed. This is usually an eight-week process. The first four weeks require limited clinic visits and medication. In the next four weeks, the donor self-administers medications through injections and attends multiple clinic visits for monitoring purposes. Donors must be available during normal clinic hours 8:30 am - 4:00 pm for required appointments. On the day of the egg retrieval, donors will not be able to work. Barring any unforeseen complications, donors may return to work the following day.

Multiple Donations

An egg donor may undergo a maximum of six egg retrievals.

Program Risks

Donation of eggs may present some risks to the donor. Please discuss these risks with the physician who will manage your egg donation cycle.

Pregnancy Possibility

To eliminate the possibility of an unintended pregnancy, all donors must use contraception during the screening and donation process.

Record Keeping

It is necessary for the Reproductive Medicine Center to maintain permanent records about each donor, including medical work-up and consent to participate in the program. These records are maintained in a fashion that identifies each cycle outcome, and allows reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The names of anonymous donors will not be furnished to recipients unless under the direction of a court order.

Last Review Date: Dec. 16, 2009

Online Editor(s): Richard Petre