What to Expect
It is important that you understand what is required of you as an egg donor prior to fully committing to the egg donation process. An outline is provided below reflecting the steps taken during an egg donation cycle. We will review the entire process with you once you have completed an application to become an egg donor.
Once you have been selected...
- Your availability to participate in the cycle is confirmed.
- Egg Donor Select will send you contracts to review, sign and return prior to the initiation of the cycle.
- You will attend a psychological evaluation in order to determine your readiness to participate in an egg donation cycle.
- We will assist you in scheduling your initial medical evaluation with the physician performing the procedure. This will include a medical evaluation, including a blood draw and an ultrasound.
- Your monthly cycle is synchronized with the recipient’s via use of birth control pills.
- You will administer the down-regulation medications for approximately 8 to 10 days.
- You will administer follicle-stimulating hormones for approximately 10 to 12 days
- You will attend approximately 5 monitoring appointments.
- A final injection, designed to induce ovulation, will be administered
approximately 36 hours prior to retrieval. Your treating physician will provide
you with your specific instructions.
- The retrieval procedure will be scheduled at the recipient’s
infertility clinic.
- Your compensation will be mailed to you the day after retrieval.
- Within a week of retrieval, you will mail all your
accrued expenses to Egg Donor Select. A reimbursement check will be mailed to
you within two weeks of receipt.
Glossary
Psychological Evaluation
The Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory (MMPI) is the most commonly
performed test of mental health professionals in the United States. It is comprised
of a series of questions with yes or no answers. The evaluation aids psychologists
in determining the personality and emotional traits of the individual being examined.
The results of the evaluation will help the psychologist and physician determine
if egg donation is recommended for the donor candidate.
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Contracts
Our contracts are designed to protect all parties involved in the egg donation cycle.
The donor has the option to speak with an attorney well-versed in infertility law.
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Down Regulation Medications
These medications are used to prepare the ovaries for stimulation with fertility
medications.
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Follicle Stimulating and Luteinizing Hormones (Gonadotropins)
Injections of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) play
key roles in the development and maturation of follicles.
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Monitoring Appointments
These mandatory appointments are generally scheduled in the early morning and are
approximately 15 minutes in length. The donor’s blood is drawn to measure hormone
levels and / or the donor will undergo an ultrasound to monitor follicular growth.
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Final Injection (hCG)
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) stimulates the body’s normal LH surge, causing
the final maturation of the eggs. This medication, sometimes referred to as the
“trigger shot,” will cause ovulation approximately 36 hours later.
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Retrieval
The egg retrieval (aspiration) will take place at the recipient’s clinic. The donor
is administered anesthesia. The follicles are retrieved via an ultrasound-guided
needle.
The retrieval process usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Due to the affects of
anesthesia, the donor will need to be driven home and rest the remainder of the
day. Most donors return to work or school the day following the retrieval.
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Accrued Expenses
The donor will be reimbursed for all expenses relating to the cycle such as mileage,
parking and travel expenses, including airfare, lodging, automobile rental and a
per diem food allotment should the cycle be outside the donor’s general metropolitan
area.
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