Egg Donation

The Donor Source

™ egg donation program offers one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive egg donor databases.

The Egg Donation Journey With Fertility Source Companies

The decision to donate one’s eggs or receive an egg donation to start or grow a family is the first step in a meaningful and deeply personal journey for the donor and intended parents. Although egg donation involves a similar process for every donor, each donor's experience is unique. At Fertility Source Companies, our job is to support our egg donors and intended parents during every stage of the egg donation process, from helping couples/individuals select an egg donor to supporting the donor through egg retrieval for in vitro fertilization (IVF).

What Is Egg Donation?

Egg donation is when someone agrees to donate their eggs to an individual or couple who wants to have a baby. The eggs are collected from the donor and then fertilized through IVF so that the ensuing embryo can be transferred to the recipient or surrogate.

The Egg Donation Process

The medical process of egg donation includes hormonal medication given via self-injection by the donor to stimulate the development of multiple eggs in a single ovulation cycle. Next, an ultrasound probe (i.e., a device that uses soundwaves to produce images) is inserted through the vaginal canal to guide a needle into the ovaries for egg retrieval. A gentle suction is then performed to remove the eggs from the ovaries for future fertilization via IVF. The donor is sedated during the egg retrieval procedure to ensure there is no pain sensation involved.

When Is Egg Donation Recommended?

There are several reasons a couple or individual opts for egg donation during the family planning process, including infertility, genetics, and LGBTQ+ and single-parent family building.

Egg Donation for Infertility

Infertility is a complex condition that can be caused by many underlying conditions and factors. In some cases of infertility, using a donor egg can significantly improve the chances of pregnancy. Some of these scenarios include:

Being born without ovaries
Surgical removal of the ovaries
Early menopause
Diminished ovarian reserve (i.e., a low number of eggs or non-viable eggs)
Reproductive conditions, such as endometriosis

Egg Donation for LGBTQ+ Family-Building

Egg donation often plays a key role in helping LGBTQ+ couples or individuals achieve their goal of becoming parents. The egg donation process is an essential part of family planning for many same-sex cis-male couples because they are unable to produce eggs. The medical process is the same as it is for heterosexual couples – a donor is selected, the eggs are retrieved, and the egg is fertilized via IVF, then implanted in a surrogate. Surrogacy is when a woman carries and delivers a baby for another individual or a couple. Fertility Source Companies also offers surrogate services, but for legal purposes, the egg donor and surrogate are always different people.

Egg Donation for Genetic Reasons

Some people have healthy reproductive systems but have a high risk of passing on genetic disorders (e.g., cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, etc.) to a baby. When one or both parents are genetic disorder carriers, egg donation can provide a safer choice for family planning.

Egg Donation for Single Individuals

When a single male wants to become a father, he can select an egg donor and a surrogate to carry the pregnancy. If the man does not have any fertility issues, his sperm can be used for fertilization allowing the man to become the genetic father. Single women may also opt for an egg donor if they have fertility issues or a genetic condition that would make getting pregnant with their own eggs a high-risk situation for the baby.

Who Can Become an Egg Donor?

Egg donors are individuals that are willing to provide their eggs to someone else. Intended parents typically work with egg donors through an agency, although some choose to ask a friend or relative. However, working with someone you know personally can often be legally complicated for everyone involved. Finding an egg donor through an agency makes the process easier by facilitating legally protected donor-intended parent agreements.

At Fertility Source Companies, our on-staff RN helps review medical records for our repeat egg donors so intended parents can ensure a great candidate. Before a woman can donate her eggs, she must pass a rigorous, comprehensive screening process. Screening for egg donors includes:

All Donor Applicants

Personality profile
Assessment of commitment level
Background checks
A thorough medical history
A lifestyle assessment (a donor must be a non-smoker, non-drug user, and of healthy weight and lifestyle)

Matched Donors Only

Mental health screening (e.g., psychological testing)
A complete physical exam
Medical testing to screen for genetic disorders, sexually transmitted and other diseases, blood type, drug use, and more
A fertility evaluation
Partner screening (for donor’s sexual partner, if required by your fertility center)

The Benefits of Becoming an Egg Donor

Becoming a parent is often considered one of life’s most rewarding experiences. Unfortunately, many people do not have the opportunity to become parents. Egg donation is much more than an agreement to undergo a medical process – you are providing one of life’s greatest gifts to an individual or couple struggling to have a child. Egg donation is a generous gesture of kindness and compassion that is not only fulfilling, but also rewarding. Egg donors are generously compensated financially and also receive a free, comprehensive medical exam. Being an egg donor provides an opportunity to help intended parents while receiving many benefits without adverse effects on one’s own fertility.