The first step is to complete a very detailed application, which initiates our screening process and serves as your introduction to the prospective parents. Once a couple has selected you as their anonymous donor, the egg donor agency will contact you to schedule some appointments for the following tests and evaluations.

a. psychological consultation

b. medical evaluation including a pelvic examination

c. consult with the clinical coordinator (she will explain your role as an ovum donor in the program and give you medical instructions to be followed)

d. blood draw to test for hepatitis, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STD's), and hormone levels. (If you are sexually active, your partner will also need to have blood drawn.)

If you pass the above screening, the next step will be to work at synchronizing your monthly cycle with the aspiring mother's. You will learn to give yourself daily injections, eventually the hormones will include fertility drugs. Your schedule will need to be flexible to accommodate the many appointments you will required to have to monitor your response to the hormones. The monitoring will include blood draws and ultrasound examinations. The fertility drugs you will be taking will cause you to produce several eggs and when they are mature enough, a procedure that takes the eggs from the ovaries is scheduled at the clinic.

The retrieval is performed vaginally and under an IV sedation. The entire retrieval takes about 30 minutes and requires 1-2 hours of postoperative recovery. You will not be able to drive for 24 hours.

Payment of Fees

For your time and efforts you will receive payment of $5,500 which is provided to you after the retrieval. You will receive a care call from the center 3 days after the retrieval.

Once the eggs are retrieved, the laboratory staff will begin the process of fertilization (the union of the sperm and egg). An embryo transfer will usually take place after the embryos have developed in the laboratory for three to five days. We will not know the outcome for at least two weeks following the transfer.