What Does Egg Donation Involve?

The first step is to evaluate your health and prepare you for the medical procedures. Egg donor applicants will have an interview with the Jossie Eaglin, Executive Director. This visit is designed to answer your questions concerning the egg donation process and to make sure that this is an appropriate program for the egg donor.  Once selected to donate, egg donors will see a Reproductive Endocrinologist for a medical history, physical exam, pap smear, vaginal ultrasound, and lab work. These tests are to make sure that they have no undiscovered health problems and are a good candidate for egg donation. Laboratory tests will be performed to evaluate fertility, check for common illnesses, and determine genetic carrier status.

Administration of “Fertility Medication”

Fertility medications are used to help a woman’s ovaries produce roughly 10 to 30 eggs. Some of the fertility medication is a purified form of the natural hormones your body uses to regulate the production of eggs each month. Since experience tells us that women who are taking fertility medication may have a tendency to ovulate their eggs away before the doctor can harvest them for the in-vitro process, the fertility clinic will be closely monitoring egg donors during this timeframe to prevent premature ovulation.

Fertility drugs are inactivated by the digestive system and must be given by injection. Generally, egg donors take their shots at home and find that they are not particularly uncomfortable. In most cases these drugs are given over the course of 10-14 days. Egg donors can expect  three to five visits, that must be scheduled in the mornings, for blood tests and ultrasound pictures of the ovaries. This is to follow the effects of the fertility medications on the egg production.

The “Egg Harvest” Procedure

A minor outpatient surgical procedure is performed to remove eggs from the ovaries for the in-vitro fertilization process. To perform an “egg harvest” the doctor uses the picture made by an ultrasound machine to guide a special needle through the vagina and into the ovaries. Eggs are removed one at a time during the course of five to ten minutes.

The comfort and safety of our egg donors are our prime concern. To make sure egg donors feel no pain, they will be given some form of anesthesia. This may vary among clinics. Ideally, egg donors can expect to be at the clinic for at least two hours. Policies vary from clinic to clinic.

The egg harvest procedure is performed in the early morning. In many cases donors are completely back to normal by the afternoon. Most women tell us they are a little sore for one or two days after the procedure.

Lastly, the harvested eggs are taken into the in vitro fertilization laboratory.  They are cleaned, inspected, and fertilized with sperm from the recipient’s husband sperm or sperm donor. Three to five days later the embryos are placed into the uterus of the intended mother, surrogate gestational carrier or they are frozen for future use.

Psychological Evaluation

The psychologist’s main goal is to make sure that the donor is a reliable individual. Egg donors will undergo a clinical interview and testing with a licensed psychologist. The counselor will go over the emotional, psychosocial, and legal aspects involved in egg donation. This will ensure egg donors are making an informed consents in the process.

Genetic Consultation

The genetic counselor’s main goal is to learn about an egg donor’s genetic make-up. In addition, the counselor will recommend certain genetic testings that are based from the egg donor’s family history, personal health history, and ethnic background.