Frequently Asked Questions Q. How does it work? A. A donor over a course of approximately 3weeks will self-inject
hormones to stimulate her ovarian production. She is closely monitored
by our physicians 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 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. The medications nor the procedure compromise the possibility
of becoming pregnant in the future, unless infection occurs which
is extremely rare. Our doctors take 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 an entire day free, however.
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 your self as to whether or not donation would
be possible for you and your work, school and personal schedule.
Q. How much am I paid? A. Donor fees vary by region and prior donation experience. Your fee will be discussed with you during your consultation with our staff.
Donors are paid their full fee upon completion of the cycle..
