THE EGG DONOR PROCESS
HOW TO BECOME AN EGG DONOR
At Growing Generations, we make it as simple as possible to become an egg donor. Each step of the way our specialists will support you and ensure you have a safe, comfortable experience.
5 STEPS TO BECOME AN EGG DONOR
You will begin by completing an online application that will ask you to share basic information about yourself as well as ensure you meet all the basic requirements to be an egg donor.
Once your application is approved, one of our donor specialists will schedule a video consultation with you. The entire conversation usually lasts about 30 minutes. In that time, we’ll give you an overview of the entire process, and you’ll have time to ask us any questions you may have.
Upon completion of your egg donation consultation, we will provide you with a few documents to sign electronically and ask you to provide photos, GPA and test score verification, and photo ID verification. We will also set you up with instructions to complete fertility testing. These tests will measure hormone levels to ensure your body will produce an ideal number of good-quality eggs. There will be no cost to you. The test is a great way to learn about your own fertility and assures prospective intended parents looking for an egg donor that they are selecting the best egg donor for their family.
After receiving the requested items, we’ll be able to make your egg donor profile available for intended parents to view online.
The most unpredictable aspect of egg donation is the time it takes to be selected by intended parents. Every intended parent is looking for a unique set of characteristics in their egg donor, and it may take time for them to find the right one. This phase could take a few days or months, but your admissions specialist will be with you the whole time. When you’re selected by intended parents, you’ll know they have spent all that time looking for the perfect donor, which happens to be you!
You will complete a screening process designed to make sure that the egg donation will be a safe and healthy process for you. Some IVF physicians will require testing on day three of your menstrual cycle. You will also complete a psychological and medical screening. At the same time, you’ll complete a legal agreement with the intended parents to outline the terms of the egg donation. We will connect you with an attorney who specializes in this area of law, and they will walk you through the contract.
After we receive your screening clearance and signed contract, you’ll begin the IVF cycle for your egg retrieval. The IVF clinic will put together a calendar with the dates of your appointments and a list of your medications. This usually depends on the start of your next period, and you may first need to begin a round of birth control pills. If you have any questions before applying to become an egg donor, please contact us at family@growinggenerations.com, and a member of our donor team will contact you directly. Growing Generations is always here to help and support you through your egg donation experience from the very first step to the last stage of your journey.
STEP 1
APPLY
STEP 2
ATTEND A VIDEO CONSULTATION
STEP 3
INTENDED PARENTS VIEW YOUR PROFILE
STEP 4
COMPLETE YOUR SCREENING AND CONTRACT
STEP 5
BEGIN EGG RETRIEVAL
TIMELINE AND OVERVIEW
The egg donation process is a little different for every donor. The two most significant factors are how long it takes an intended parent to choose you and your menstrual cycle. But overall, the entire process takes an average of
THE EGG DONOR PROCESS
TWO TO FIVE MONTHS TO COMPLETE AN EGG RETRIEVAL AFTER BEING SELECTED BY INTENDED PARENTS.
This general overview provides a more in-depth explanation of what to expect when you decide to become an egg donor with Growing Generations.
You will first fill out a simple online questionnaire before completing the egg donor application in its entirety. This form allows us to screen for various preliminary qualifications including questions we are required to ask you by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
After you submit your egg donor application, a member of our admissions team will review your information within one business day, and your next step is a video consultation.
The video consultation will last approximately 30 minutes. You’ll be able to utilize our easy online calendaring system through your online account to schedule your consultation. During your consultation, we’ll discuss how the egg donation process works, answer your questions, and address your concerns.
Once your egg donation consult is complete, we will provide you with a small to do list which includes reading over and electronically signing some documents. You will also receive instructions to complete fertility testing that will measure your hormone levels. Some of the items we need are:
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A copy of your photo ID.
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Pictures and a video for your online profile.
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GPA and test score verification.
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We’ll be able to make your egg donor profile available for intended parents to view in our online database after receiving all requested items. Once matched with intended parents, a case specialist will be assigned to you who will support and guide you throughout your egg donation cycle.
Prior to beginning your egg donation cycle, you will need to meet with a mental health specialist who will evaluate your psychological understanding of egg donation. You will also meet with an IVF physician to complete your medical screening where you will undergo blood tests and an ultrasound. The purpose of these tests is to look for anything unusual and make the best medical plan for you. It will take about two weeks to receive your medical screening results.
While waiting for your medical screening results, you’ll complete your legal contracts with the intended parents that outline the terms of the egg donation. You’ll have an attorney assigned to you, and they’ll help walk you through the egg donation contract. The legal contracts may take four to six weeks to complete. Your case specialist will notify your IVF physician once legal clearance has been issued. Legal clearance must be in place before you can begin injectable medications.
You will be issued an egg donation cycle calendar after completion of your screening process and legal contracts. The cycle calendar will include information on taking your fertility medications, which increase the number of eggs that will be released at the time of the retrieval, and the estimated date the egg retrieval will take place. The IVF clinic will review the medications and appointments with you to make sure you understand the instructions they provide. Cycle medications will be shipped to you.
At the beginning of the egg donation cycle you’ll go in for cycle monitoring appointments. Your monitoring appointments will take place at a clinic near you. These appointments will confirm your body is ready to begin the cycle and track your progress on the medications.
As we are near the time of the egg retrieval, you’ll be required to attend appointments at the IVF clinic directly until your procedure takes place, which may be up to 5-12 days. From the time you start the injectable medications to the time of your egg retrieval, the IVF cycle is about 2 weeks long. The IVF clinic and your case specialist will be there for you every step of the way.
The egg retrieval itself takes about 15-20 minutes. You’ll be required to stay in town for 24-48 hours after the egg retrieval procedure to give your body time to rest. You’ll usually have one final monitoring appointment after the retrieval.
Once your egg retrieval is complete, your specialist will follow up with you, obtain your egg donation records, and see if you’d be interested in donating again. Our goal is to make sure the donation process is enjoyable for you, and we love when egg donors return to our program. You’ll be able to take pride in knowing you have helped someone continue their dream of becoming a parent, which could not have been done without you.
DISCLAIMER
Egg donation involves a screening process. Not all potential egg donors are selected. Not all selected egg donors receive the monetary amounts or compensation advertised. As with any medical procedure, there may be risks associated with human egg donation. Before an egg donor agrees to begin the egg donation process, and signs a legally binding contract, she is required to receive specific information on the known risks of egg donation. Consultation with your doctor prior to entering into a donor contract is advised.