What You Can Expect
Coordinating and facilitating egg donation cycles is our specialty and we strive for a smooth and timely cycle. After being selected as an Egg Donor and completing all necessary steps and paperwork with the Match Coordinator, your Care Coordinator will organize your cycle to ensure success and will be continually committed to resolving any challenges that may arise in a professional and timely manner.
Step 1: Apply to be an Egg Donor with ED&SS
- Set up an account and complete your profile on our website. Once complete, watch our process video on the egg donor process.
- After your profile is complete, you will hear from a member of our team. We will set up a 1:1 call with you to discuss being an egg donor and answer any questions you may have.
- Once you are approved, you will be made available on our database for Intended Parents to view your profile. Plan to update your profile regularly (every 6 months) and add new photos to boost your chances of getting matched!
Step 2: Wait to get Matched!
- This is the hardest part…. the wait to be selected as an egg donor. However, the more thorough your profile is, the more likely you are to be chosen.
- Once Intended Parents select your profile, you will hear from our matching coordinator who will walk you through any questions and all required paperwork.
- Begin abstaining from sex or use 2 forms of birth control.
Step 3: Official Match with Intended Parents
- Once all paperwork is complete with our matching coordinator, you will transition to work with one of our Egg Donor Care Coordinators. They are there to support you and advocate for you throughout the entire egg donation process.
- You will be given final information on what clinic(s) you will work with and will be prepared for what to expect in the coming months. Your assigned Care Coordinator will make sure you are informed every step of the way.
Step 4: Egg Donor Screening Phase (3-8 weeks)
- You must complete a series of screening steps before you can receive medical clearance from a clinic.
- Screening steps include: AMH, Genetic Consult, Psychological Assessment, Day 3 testing (bloodwork & ultrasound), STD and drug/nicotine screening, and an Initial Visit at the primary clinic
- These appointments can vary from clinic to clinic, whether or not you are a proven donor, and if you are a local or traveling donor. This is a demanding time and requires flexibility in your schedule for potential last-minute requirements.
Step 5: Egg Donor Medical Clearance / Legal (1-3 weeks)
- After reviewing all of your screening results, the clinic will medically clear you to move forward.
- Once you are medically cleared, we transition into legal contracts. You will be represented by an attorney to complete all necessary legal steps to protect you as an egg donor and ensure you are well supported. This is a huge step and is something to celebrate!
- At this time, you will begin birth control pills, if you aren’t already on them, and will be required to abstain from sex. Getting pregnant would cancel a cycle and would of course be devastating to any Intended Parent.
Step 6: Retrieval Planning
- Dependent on the clinic you are working with, during or after legal contracts are complete, you will receive a calendar outlining the upcoming responsibilities surrounding med start and your retrieval. You and your Care Coordinator will review your calendar in depth.
- The bulk of inconveniences for an egg donor happen during this time, such as last-minute appointments, needing to find childcare, missing work/family obligations, etc.
- Appointments to anticipate include: Baseline ultrasound and bloodwork, potential COVID testing, 3-4 local monitoring appointments, and daily or every other day appointments at the primary clinic during the week of your retrieval.
Step 7: Medication Start (2-3 weeks)
- You will begin self-administered injectable medications for 10-16 days. Your medications end with a trigger shot 36 hours prior to retrieval. Timing of this shot, and all other medications, is extremely important.
- If you are a traveling donor, you will travel with your companion to the retrieval city for 7-10 days while on meds until at least 24 hours post retrieval.
- During this time, you will be abstaining from sex, you will not be able to work out or engage in any physical activity beyond walking, will abstain from all alcohol and drug consumption, and will need to stay hydrated and well rested.
Step 8: Egg Donor Retrieval & Recovery
- On the day of your retrieval, your companion will take you to an early morning appointment at the clinic. The retrieval procedure itself lasts between 15-30 minutes. You will be under conscious sedation (you are asleep) while the eggs are retrieved vaginally.
- Once the procedure is complete, you will remain at the clinic to be monitored for 1-2 hours, and then either return home or to your hotel with your companion for further recovery.
- Most donors resume normal life activities within 48-72 hours; however, you will likely experience some discomfort post-retrieval.
Step 9: Compensation (7-10 days)
- You did it! All of the hard work has come to a close and your job is done. You have provided an incredible gift to your Intended Parents, and they are now one step closer in building their happy family.
- We will arrange for your compensation to be deposited into your account 7-10 days after your retrieval.
- Our team is available in perpetuity to assist you or answer any questions you may have.
Step 10: Embryo Formation
- This isn’t an active step for you, your job is truly complete once eggs are retrieved.
- After the retrieval, the eggs/oocytes are either frozen or are fertilized with sperm, genetically tested, and prepared for transfer.
- Your profile will be updated with as much detail as we receive regarding the retrieved eggs or formed embryos, and pregnancy results, if available.
We are here to S-E-R-V-E you every step of the way!
The Egg Donation process (from match with Intended Parents to retrieval) averages 3-5 months depending on the donor’s menstrual cycle and the clinic’s schedule.
