Donor FAQ

The egg donation timeline varies depending on the several circumstances such as egg donation arrangements and whether the intended parents require a gestational surrogate. An egg donation cycle is typically 6 -8 weeks long. However ultimately this is dependent on menstrual cycle synchronization between the egg donor and the intended mother (or surrogate). This timing of cycles can sometimes delay the start of the egg donation cycle, causing the entire process to last longer.

For more information on the egg donation process, click here.

Women typical has a pool of about 400,000 follicles by time of puberty and only about 400 of them will reach maturity and be ovulated. The hormones administered in the donation process actually helps stimulate unused eggs that would otherwise be destroyed so egg donation does not deplete your follicle reserves and you will be able to have children after donation.

Yes, however guidelines set forth by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) will only allow a woman to donate her eggs to a maximum of 6 times. If you decide to participate again after the first donation, the process will be more efficient and less time consuming since you will have already completed the screening portion of the process.

Egg donors can expect to earn between $8,000 and $15,000. This compensation varies based on a number of considerations, which will be discussed during your consultation. The generous compensation opens many doors of possibilities where you can continue your education, assist with auto and home payments, travel abroad, or personal goals and dreams.

An egg donor will not have to worry about any expenses as your intended parent is responsible for all egg donor costs and expenses incurred as a result of an egg donation cycle, including medical expenses, insurance, attorney fees, and travel expenses.

It is recommended to have medical insurance, but you can still be an egg donor without a egg donation-friendly policy as the intended parents you are matched with will purchase insurance for you.

Emotional experiences will vary from person to person. When you begin taking injectable medication to prepare for egg retrieval, you can expect your hormones to cause a bit of moodiness, similar to PMS during your monthly period. Feel free to share your questions and concerns about the egg donation process with one of our Egg Donor Specialists, we’re always here to guide and support you.

Before starting your application to become an egg donor with Giving Tree Surrogacy & Egg Donation, make sure you take a moment to look over our basic requirements to become an egg donor. These requirements are put in place by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure for the health and safety of all parties involved. It’s important you understand these requirements and ensure you meet them.

Next, you will be required to share information about not only your medical history, but also that of your parents, grandparents, and siblings. It will be extremely important you are accurate and detailed when you are completing your application to become an egg donor as this will not only impact your application, but could also have an impact on the health of a future baby created using your eggs.

Guidelines for age limits for egg donors are set forth by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the health and safety of the egg donor. Additionally, minimum age requirements are set to protect the reproductive health of the donor and to make sure she has developed the maturity to understand the commitment of choosing to participate in an egg donation cycle. The maximum age is set to ensure the quality of the donor oocytes (eggs) is still optimal. As women reach their mid to late 30s, egg quality as well as egg quantity diminish.

Ultimately, being on birth control will not stop you from becoming an egg donor. However, the type of birth control you are using will dictate the amount of time it will take before you will be able to successfully pass screening. If you are currently using birth control pills, the patch, the Nuva ring, or the Copper T, non-hormonal IUD, you will be able to become an egg donor. If you’re using any form of hormonal implant, injection, or hormonal IUD (such as the Mirena IUD) you will need to discontinue use and wait until you have two normal and consecutive menstrual periods. We recommend you consult with your primary care physician before making any changes to your birth control regimen.

Absolutely. Having your tubes tied (tubal ligation) does not prevent you from applying and becoming an egg donor. Even when tubes are tied, the ovaries will still aspirate eggs before being released by the body.

Deciding to be an egg donor is a major decision that often goes more smoothly with the emotional and physical support of loved ones. We strongly recommend you have a discussion with your loved ones about your motivation for becoming an egg donor and help them understand the process so they can be educated and ready to support you.

There are 3 primary types of donation: anonymous, semi-anonymous, and known.

Anonymous donation is when there is no contact or communication between the egg donor and intended parents. The process for matching is the same and you are able to review a profile for the intended parents, as they are able to view yours. The amount of information displayed in the profile is linked to which type of donation is chosen.

Known Donation is when all parties wish to have some sort of interaction to to learn more about one another. Semi- anonymous egg donation is when you decide how much information you wish to share and exchange. Most donor matches are anonymous. Regardless of which type you choose, we will work to maintain everyone’s privacy to the extent they wish while also working with those who are interested in a more open arrangement.

At Giving Tree Surrogacy & Egg Donation, we believe egg donors should be able to decide whom they help. In cases of anonymous donation, you will be presented minimal information on the intended parents. This information includes marital status, where they live and what clinic they are working with. In cases of known donation, communication or a meeting with a Giving Tree Egg Donor Consultant as a mediary can also be arranged.

Medications will be given to help coordinate cycles, suppress ovulation, and stimulate follicle growth. An IVF physician, also known as a reproductive endocrinologist, will determine what medications will be given. The most common include birth control pills, several forms of gonadotropins, and follicle stimulating hormones. These medications taken for fertility treatment and egg donation are used throughout the world and have undergone rigorous testing for effectiveness and safety by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S.

No, surgery is not required. The egg retrieval is done vaginally under a mild intravenous sedation. You can expect to be in the IVF clinic for approximately three hours with the procedure itself taking 20 – 30 minutes and 30-60 minutes needed for you to rest post-procedure. You might experience some fatigue and mild to moderate abdominal cramping afterwards. You will be asked to go home and remain on bedrest for the rest of the day after your retrieval procedure.

The retrieval process is performed under sedation so you feel no pain. You can expect some fatigue, and mild to moderate cramping and bloating following the procedure. The IVF clinic’s staff will answer all questions regarding discomfort, often recommending bed rest and Tylenol.

You should plan to travel at least a couple times during the egg donation cycle. This will include initial medical screening with the IVF physician and again during the egg retrieval procedure. All travel expenses will be covered by the intended parents.