Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How does it work?
A. A donor over a course of approximately 3 weeks will self-inject hormones to stimulate her ovarian production. She is closely monitored by the Fertility clinic throughout this process. Once her eggs are “ready”, she is scheduled for a procedure to remove them from her ovaries. This procedure is done under sedation in an outpatient setting. Most donors return to work or school the following day.
Q. Does it hurt?
A. During the stimulation phase, a donor might experience PMS-like symptoms, some bloating and minor irritability. The procedure is done under sedation so a donor will not experience pain during the procedure. After the procedure, a donor will generally feel groggy from the sedative and may experience some spotty bleeding and / or cramping. This usually goes away after a few hours.
Q. What are the risks?
A. The primary risk is a condition called Ovarian Hyper-stimulation Syndrome. This is relatively rare (1-3% of IVF cases). Careful monitoring is done by your physician to avoid this possibility. Symptoms include weight gain and a feeling of extreme bloating. Also, as with any procedure, a risk of infection exists; you will most likely be given antibiotics to avoid this.
Q. How long will it take?
A. Once a donor is in cycle, the process is quite short, approximately 2-3 months from selection to the retrieval procedure. However, before beginning this process, a donor must be “selected” by an infertile couple or individual and this can sometimes take several months.
Q. Will my future fertility be affected?
A. No. Neither the medications nor the procedure compromise the possibility of becoming pregnant in the future, unless infection occurs which is extremely rare. The Fertility clinic takes every precaution to ensure your comfort, health and safety throughout the process.
Q. Will I meet the parents or the baby?
A. No. The egg donation arrangement is a confidential one. Most donors never meet their recipients. All information regarding all parties is kept confidential.
Q. Will I miss a lot of school or work?
A. Hopefully not. Most appointments are scheduled for early in the morning so a donor will have as little disruption to her schedule as possible. The procedure will require 1-2 days entirely free for testing, orientation and retrieval. It is very important that you recognize the level of responsibility required in making and keeping these appointments, and in doing so, be very honest with yourself as to whether or not donation would be possible for you and your work, school and personal schedule.
Q. How much am I compensated?
A. Donor fees vary by region and prior donation experience. Your compensation will be discussed at your interview with MyDonor. Donors are compensated fully upon completion of the cycle.
Q. Do I need an attorney?
A. Your signed Informed Consents with the agency and clinic are the basic agreements you need. Some families prefer to use an attorney to draw up another legal contract. In that case, the family will pay for a separate attorney to represent you.
If you don’t see your question listed above, contact us.