The Egg Donation Process In 8 Steps
To some, the process “egg donation” sounds complicated. RSMC fertility clinic & egg donor agency from San Diego, CA sums up the whole process in 8 steps. Review these steps for greater understanding of the procedures for donating your eggs.
There are more than 20,000 egg donation cycles performed in the US annually. With this, you can be sure that the premiere fertility centers have turned egg donation down to a smoothly-running process. Also, Egg donation comes with assured anonymity. It offers the opportunity to make between $7,000 and $25,000 per donation. So, it is safe to say that there has never been a better time to explore egg donation.
Step 1: Become Aware of Egg Donation Opportunities
Growing up, you may have heard your mother and her friends talking about infertility. Infertility occurs when there is a hormone imbalance problem. It can be Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) which interferes with normal ovulation. Now as a college student, you may start to notice egg donor ads. From online ads to poster ads around campus, your curiosity about egg donation starts to increase. At some point, those overheard conversations start to make sense. Once the “ah ha” moment hits, you realize you can help someone overcome infertility without disrupting your life. Now just conduct a further research online and engage in conversation with women who have donated. It will make you realize that you do fit the egg donor criteria and can gain a financial benefit from donating your eggs. Now it’s time for you to start the application!
Step 2: Complete the Application
The application for egg donation process will ask that you provide personal information. These are about your educational background, hobbies, family history, blood type and medical history. Other components of the application include quality photos, as they are one of the most effective tools to match with intended parents.
Within your photo gallery, it’s important to add:
- At least one childhood photo
- A full body photo
- A current shot of head
Once the application is complete, you will receive an email notifying you whether our egg donor agency have accepted you into the egg donor program.
Step 3: Getting a Match with Intended Parents
We will create a profile from the information you provide on your application. Once your profile is ready, we will present it to the intended parents who are looking for someone matching your general profile. After the intended parents select you, we will move forward with the screening process of egg donation.
Step 4: The Screening Process
The screening process includes a medical and genetic screening, psychological evaluation, and background check. Before attending your screening appointments, you must pass the background check. Once you pass the background check, genetic testing will be conducted. Genetic testing is an effective way to identify any genetic abnormalities and receive information about your fertility. Both the medical and genetic tests take only a day to complete.
The psychological evaluation measures your behavior, personality and cognitive abilities. Unlike the medical and genetic screening, the psychological evaluation can be completed in your local area. If you aren’t located near RSMC egg donor agency – San Diego for the genetic and medical screening, the fertility clinic will provide transportation assistance.
Step 5: Legal Process for Egg Donation
After you are matched with intended parents, both you and the intended parents will sign an agreement with terms and conditions about egg donation process. You will have an attorney, who will represent you exclusively, to discuss the contracts with before signing and donating you eggs. The intended parents will have a separate attorney to prevent conflict of interest and fully protect both parties’ interests.
Step 6: In-Cycle Calendar, Injections and Monitoring
Once the previous steps are complete, the doctor will determine a date to start the process and create a medication calendar. Generally, you will start with birth control pills. It synchronizes your monthly cycle with the woman who will carry the baby. It can be either the intended mother or surrogate. You will then receive an easy to administer, small needle, daily injections of hormones. The hormone medications will go on for two to three weeks. Most egg donors start by taking Lupron injections for about 10-14 days to shut down ovulation. This will help the doctor control the timing of ovulation and egg maturation.
After the Lupron injections process is complete, you will start a daily injection of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH will encourage the development of multiple egg follicles. After tests reveal that the eggs are matured, ovulation is triggered through a single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This will then assist with the next procedure, egg retrieval.
Step 7: Egg Retrieval
The next step of the donation process is the Egg retrieval procedure. It occurs 34–36 hours after the HCG injection. The retrieval occurs at the fertility center. You will need to bring someone with you to help you get home since you won’t be able to drive after anesthesia. If you are flying in, you will need to bring a support person with you.
During the procedure, which usually takes around 20 minutes under light sedation, the eggs are retrieved through transvaginal ultrasound aspiration. Using a tube attached to an ultrasound probe, the doctor gently guides a suctioning needle into each ovary and removes mature eggs from the follicles.
The average egg retrieval nets between 10 and 18 eggs, enough for two or more IVF attempts. After the retrieval, you rest at the fertility center for an hour or two, just to make sure you’re recovering nicely. You are then free to leave and rest at home the remainder of the day.
Step 8: Post-Retrieval Check-Up
A post-retrieval check-up appointment will be scheduled at your fertility center or local medical office, whichever is most convenient for you. Congratulations! You’ve gone through the egg donation process. By donating your eggs, you have not only helped to build a family but helped yourself too.
RSMC fertility clinic – San Diego offers the safest egg donation experience through it’s in-house egg donor agency.
If you want a complete explanation of the procedure, please watch the video below from a premiere fertility center in San Diego, California.
