Initial Intake
If it is determined that you meet the requirements to join our Egg Donor Program based on the information provided in your application, our Egg Donor Team will send you an invite to participate in our Egg Donor Intake Webinar. This webinar lasts about 30 minutes and will ensure that you are thoroughly educated on all facets of Egg Donation before moving forward.
After completing the webinar, you will be expected to provide a minimum of twenty (20) high-quality photos that can be shared with potential Recipient Parents, a copy of your photo ID, and a copy of your most recent pap smear. If you have donated previously elsewhere, we will also need to get a copy of your donation records for review.
Once we have those items on file, we can then send over documents to be reviewed and signed electronically. We then add your profile to our database as an active and available donor.
The Matching Process
Family Source arranges anonymous, semi-open, and open/known egg donations. There are some major differences between the types of egg donation and it is essential that you choose the route that you are most comfortable with. Many Donors are open to all three types of donations, but this is a very personal decision.
If you choose the closed anonymous route, you will not be given any information about your Recipient Parent/s; however, we are happy to inform you as to whether or not a pregnancy occurs.
If you choose to do a semi-open egg donation, once potential Recipient Parents express interest in you as their Egg Donor, you may be given some very basic information about the Recipient Parents such as their first names and ages.
If you choose an open Egg Donation, once the Recipient Parents express interest in you as their Egg Donor, you will meet with them via video conference or in person, email, as well as share contact information with one another. An open egg donation arrangement is one in which all parties agree to have a relationship with each other and to keep the lines of communication “open”, potentially throughout the life of the child/ren born via the egg donation.
Regardless of the type of Egg Donation you choose, you will be expected to follow the pre-egg retrieval protocol per the reproductive endocrinologist’s instructions including medication directions and doctor’s appointment commitments.
The Screening Process
The initial screening process takes place to ensure you are in healthy physical condition and to confirm that you are a good candidate for egg donation.
The medical screening portion includes evaluation of your current fertility health by checking hormone levels and completing a transvaginal ultrasound. and testing for genetic diseases. You will also undergo testing genetic mutations, HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) as required by the FDA.
In addition, you will be required to undergo a psychological screening. You will meet with a clinical psychologist who specializes in third party reproduction and be administered a psychological assessment test.
Family Source will coordinate health insurance and life insurance policies for you. These policies will ensure that you are covered should you experience any medical problems due to the egg donation procedure.
Upon clear results of the screening process, you will work with one of our agency-recommended attorneys to review your contract. This legal phase must be completed prior to you beginning any injectable medications to prepare for the egg retrieval.
The Egg Donation Cycle
Family Source will review with you all of the information provided by your physician to be certain you understand the cycle and medication instructions, as it is imperative that all directions are followed precisely.
Following is a summarized version of the medication protocol, which will vary based on the individual Donor and physician.
A New Life Begins
The Recipient Mother (or Gestational Surrogate) will have labs completed approximately 8-14 days after the embryo transfer to determine the pregnancy results. Although you are officially done with your egg donation role, this is the beginning of a much-desired dream for your Recipient Parent/s and a reason for you to feel completely proud and fulfilled that you have shared this most beautiful gift.