Women who are unable to conceive using their own eggs may benefit from donor eggs. The Froedtert & MCW Reproductive Medicine Center has an active egg donation program to provide an individual or couple with this option. Our thorough screening process helps ensure that egg donation is safe for donors and a suitable option for recipients.
Becoming an Egg Donor
Physically and mentally healthy women, 21 to 33 years old, can help give the gift of life to an infertile couple through egg donation. Ideal candidates are women with a flexible schedule who are responsible, honest and dedicated. Participation is completely confidential and donors are compensated. Proven fertility is desired, but not required.
Women interested in becoming an egg donor should begin by completing our online screening process, a secure and confidential online application. The questionnaire asks for health, sexual and social history, as well as family medical history.
The information submitted through this application is reviewed by a third party nurse specialist and an interview is scheduled with the donor candidate. Following the interview, the application is reviewed by the medical director of the Froedtert & MCW Reproductive Medicine Center. If approved, the candidate is listed as a donor.
If you have passed the pre-screen application and have a password, you can log in here to complete the application.
Egg Donor Screening
All egg donors must complete several screenings to ensure the health of the woman and eggs, including:
- A psychological consultation with a psychologist who is familiar with third party reproduction issues
- Physical exam by a Reproductive Medicine Center provider
- A genetic counseling session which includes a three-generation family history review by a genetic counselor
- Blood testing for: Anti-Mullerian Hormone, syphilis (RPR), HIV 1 & 2, hepatitis B antigen, hepatitis C antibody, HIV/HCV/HBV by PCR, hepatitis B core total antibody and West Nile virus
- Pap smear and gonorrhea/chlamydia cultures
- Genetic screening for 176 conditions, including cystic fibrosis
- Donor risk assessment
To eliminate the possibility of an unintended pregnancy, all donors must use a barrier method of contraception or abstinence during the screening and donation process.
Additionally, 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.
Egg Donation Process
Egg recipients review potential donors and make a selection. When selected, a donor may need to complete additional medical screening before the donation process begins.
The donation process lasts a minimum of least eight weeks. The first four weeks require limited clinic visits and medication for the donor. In the second four weeks, the donor self-administers medications through injections and attends more frequent clinic visits for monitoring purposes. All donors must be available during weekday business hours for required appointments.
Egg donors undergo an IVF cycle to produce eggs for donation. During an IVF cycle, medications are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Egg development is monitored by ultrasounds and hormone blood testing. The provider reviews and assesses the cycle development, making appropriate changes to medications as necessary.
Eggs are retrieved under monitored anesthesia and as an outpatient procedure. The donor must arrange for a ride home following the retrieval procedure. She is typically able to return to work the next day.
Donation of eggs may present some risks to the donor. Please discuss these risks with the physician who will manage your egg donation cycle.
Egg Donation Compensation
A donor is not financially responsible for any fees associated with the screening process, the egg donation cycle or medications. All donors are covered by a primary health insurance policy that will cover additional costs associated with the donation process. All charges are paid by the recipient couple.
Donors are compensated for their time and the risk undertaken in the egg donation process. The total donor compensation package is $4,500, paid in a graduated scale. If a 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, $4,000 of compensation is earned. All payments to the donor are made at the completion of their donation process and sent by postal mail, usually arriving within three weeks.
An egg donor may undergo a maximum of six egg retrievals.
Record Keeping
It is necessary for the Froedtert & MCW 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.
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