Become an Egg Donor

Once these steps are finished, our panel of physicians and medical professionals review all of the information collected and determine if the applicant is a good candidate. If accepted, the new egg donor’s anonymous profile will be placed into our secure database for individuals and couples to review.

During the four-week egg donor cycle, we require you to abstain from intercourse, alcohol, recreational drugs and other medications not approved by our medical team. We also place some limitations on exercise during that time period.

When completing an egg donation cycle side effects vary from person to person. Some women experience minor to no discomfort and others are more greatly impacted by the process. A very small percentage (less than 10%) may have irritation at the injection site, headaches, bloating, mood changes, nausea or rarely vomiting. The medications are taken for an average of 8-12 days. The symptoms generally stop within one to two weeks of stopping the medications. Other more rare side effects are infection, bleeding, and Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). Let’s talk about each of those risks:

To lower your risk of infection, you will be treated immediately after your retrieval (minor surgery) with an antibiotic. A serious infection could affect your ability to become pregnant in the future. However, less than 1% of women experience a serious infection during the egg donation aspiration.

You may experience a very small amount of bleeding from your egg retrieval surgery (a tablespoon at most). The chance of significant bleeding is extremely small, less than 1% (1 in 100). The risk of possibly damaging pelvic organs during your retrieval is even lower.

Some women who receive medication to stimulate the ovaries develop swelling of the ovaries and fluid collection in the abdominal cavity within a few days after the egg collection. This generally resolves during the following week. Our physicians carefully monitor your response to the medications through blood tests and ultrasounds to prevent a very rare complication of the medications called Ovarian Hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). OHSS is an increase in fluid collection in the abdomen that may require treatment after the retrieval. The risk of having serious complications due to OHSS is less than 1%. At ORM Fertility the egg donor medication regimen is designed to minimize the risks of OHSS.

–Oral contraceptive pills are used to suppress your ovaries and prepare them to grow your eggs.  Possible side effects include breakthrough bleeding, mood changes, nausea.

–Dexamethasone tablets are a low dose steroid used to improve egg quality.  Possible side effects include difficulty sleeping or insomnia.

–Low dose Aspirin (81mg) is used to improve blood flow to the ovaries.  Possible side effects include stomach upset, increased bruising or bleeding with injury.

–Gonadotropin injections (Menopur and Follistim or Gonal-F) are a combination of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) used to stimulate the growth and maturation of the eggs.  Possible side effects include headache, abdominal bloating, fluid retention, or mood changes.

–Ganirelix injections are a GnRH antagonist used to prevent premature LH surge and prevents ovulation during the ovarian stimulation.  Possible side effects include transient redness, itching, or irritation at the injection side.

–HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) or Lupron/HCG combination (trigger shot) is used to stimulate the final maturation of the eggs and prepare the eggs for retrieval and is the final injection in the egg donation process.  Possible side effects include irritation at the injection site, lower abdominal discomfort or mild cramping.

While all ORM egg donors enter our program as anonymous, it is important to understand that the majority of intended parents want to have additional contact with their donor. You may choose if you are open to additional contact or if you wish to be matched only for anonymous donations. Contact may come in many different forms. This could mean a one-time, facilitated meeting or an exchange of emails. The most common request is for the donor to sign up for the Donor-Sibling Registry, also known as the DSR. The DSR is a website that allows for anonymous future contact between the donor and their recipient family using their donor number only.

Throughout the screening and donation process, costs associated with donor testing and the donor cycle are covered along with travel for out of town donors. Also, all egg donors are enrolled in an egg donor insurance policy at the start of the donation cycle. This insurance covers you in the event of a complication resulting from your donation where additional medical care is needed.

1^st Donation: $7,000

2^nd-3^rd Donation: $8,500

4^th-6^th Donation: $10,000