Ovum (Egg) Donation Process

Getting Started

Your first step will be to complete our short online initial screening form.  Once you fill this out, it will be sent directly to our Ovum Donor Recruiter, who will contact you to set up an initial phone call.  This first phone call is very short and will provide you with an opportunity to get all of your questions answered and to learn more about being an egg donor through our agency. 

Application

Once you complete your initial phone call, you will be sent an application packet, which must be filled out and returned to us along with several identifying documents.  The identifying documents you will need to send copies of are as follows:

• Birth Certificate
• Driver's License
• Social Security Card
• Passport (if applicable)
• Photos - (the photos you submit must be professional, clear, and show you at your best; they must include at least one headshot and one full length photo; the more photos you submit, the better!)
• Most current transcripts (college or highschool)

Once we receive these documents, we will begin your screening process.  The first part of your screening process will be a more thorough telephone call with our Ovum Donor Recruiter.  During this phone call, you will go over all of the details regarding the screening, matching and donation processes.

Screening Process

We prescreen all of our donors, so that you and the intended parents can feel confident that you are qualified to complete an egg donation before a match is made.  The following are the steps that will be completed during your screening process:

• Health History Application approval - The physicians we work with will review and approve your health history information.
• Contract signing - You will be required to sign and return a contract with our agency.  By signing this contract, you give up all legal rights to any embryos created or children who result from your donation.  You will not receive any information regarding the embryos or children.
• Criminal Background check - You will complete a release form with your application packet, and we will use that do to a quick criminal background check for you.
• Social Assessment/Psychological evaluation - You will be required to be okayed as a donor by a psychological professional.  Your appointment will either happen over the phone or in person.  This testing will provide you with information on what to expect as you proceed with your donation process. 
• Hormone level testing - We will locate a clinic for you to go to that will do a quick blood draw to test your FSH and AMH levels.  These two tests will help to determine how well you will perform as an egg donor. 

Matching Process

Once you complete your screening process, we will create an anonymous profile that will be shown to intended parents.  Your identifying information (full name, address, employer, social security number, driver's license number) will not be given to the clients or to the children who are born as a result of this donation unless you expressly permit us to do so.  

Your profile will include the following information:

• General information regarding your physical characteristics
• Educational and employment history
• Diet and exercise habits
• Pregnancy history (if applicable)
• Personal medical history
• Family medical history
• Personal messages written by the donor
• Photos

This information will also be added to our online donor database.  We cannot make any guarantees about how long it will take for an intended parent to select you for a donation program, but you information will constantly be circulated to intended parents.  Once an intended parent shows interest in selecting you as their donor, we will contact you to confirm your availability to begin a program. 

Medical Testing

Once you are matched in a program, the first step will be to complete infectious disease and hormone level testing.  Your IARC® Program Coordinator will assist you with getting an appointment scheduled to complete this testing in your local area.  The testing will involve a blood draw and vaginal/cervical swabbing.

Birth Control

From the time you begin the screening process with IARC through the actual egg retrieval, it is critical that you use an effective method of contraception or abstinence to prevent pregnancy.  This is especially important once you are matched because we need to ensure that you do not become pregnant or contract any infectious diseases. 

Preparing for the Egg Retrieval

Once your medical testing is completed, the clinic will create a medical protocol for you to follow.  This protocol will lay out what medications you will be taking, when you will be taking them, and the dates you will have to travel.  You will have at least four weeks advance notice before you have to travel so you are able to take the necessary time off of work.  You will travel about seven days prior to the egg retrieval so you can be seen and monitored daily at the clinic. 

The Procedure

For the actual egg retrieval procedure, you will be partially or fully sedated depending on the clinic, but either way, you will be made to feel comfortable.  The eggs will be retrieved using a trans-vaginal ultrasound probe with a needle guide, so the physician has precise and direct access to the egg follicles.  The physician will use the needle guide to quickly remove the eggs.  Most egg donors are able to easily tolerate this non-invasive procedure, and about 1 out of 10 actually fall asleep while the physician is removing the eggs.  Once the retrieval is completed, you will need to rest for 1-2 days before you are able to fly home.  You will feel drowsy and bloated after the procedure, so most donors appreciate having that time to rest before returning to their normal schedule.  Abdominal discomfort is normal for at least a few day after the procedure.