How Does the Egg Donation Process Work?
For many who are unable to conceive, using donor eggs has the power to make all of their family dreams come true. While different agencies will have different approaches, the egg donation process is generally comprised of three key stages.
Finding an Egg Donor
This phase typically begins with a simple search. At West Coast Egg Donation, for example, we provide an online donor candidate database that prospective parents can browse. The best way to explore our database is to register for full access. Not only will this allow you to digitally get to know our egg donors in detail, but it will also allow us to reach out to you and offer assistance if needed. Once you’ve identified the egg donor you want to work with, we will connect with her to confirm availability and coordinate schedules. After all of the logistical details are handled, you will be sent a formal agreement along with information about the next steps in the process.
Egg Donor Screenings
The next step is for the egg donor to undergo a series of medical evaluations. This includes physicals, drug screenings, testing for infectious diseases, genetic testing and submitting a complete family history. Egg donor candidates must also undergo a psychological evaluation to prove that they are emotionally and psychologically equipped to handle the egg donation process. Once all these tests and screenings have been completed and the results are approved, legal contracts will be drawn up for you to review and sign. When all the legal process is complete, the actual medical procedure is ready to begin.
Egg Donation Procedure
Next, the donor’s ovaries will be stimulated through self-injections of a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for approximately 11 days. During this time, the donor will be monitored by your physician approximately every other day. When the physician determines the time for egg retrieval, using ultrasound for guidance, the eggs are then retrieved and fertilized via in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Once the eggs are retrieved and fertilized, they are now embryos that will continue to develop over a 4-6 day period. At this point, an embryo can be transferred to the recipient or surrogate. If the embryos are to undergo PGS Testing, they will be frozen for future transfer once the results are received.
Getting Started with West Coast Egg Donation
While using an egg donor is a complicated process, we at West Coast Egg Donation are dedicated to providing our clients with personalized support and helping them navigate this exciting chapter in their lives.
To learn more about our approach, contact us today!
