Egg Donor Screening Process Step By Step | Guide 2023

Learn all about the egg donation screening process and get your questions answered by professionals. We can guide you step by step through this process. Read the ultimate donor egg process for screening now. 

Egg Donor Screening Process Step By Step

Thinking about becoming an egg donor?  We’re here to support you! 

You are potentially embarking on a very exciting journey which will have a lifelong effect on another family. Egg donation is a very fulfilling experience—but with that being said, it is also a complex journey and a large commitment. Because of this, there is a very involved screening process for egg donors, which was put into place to protect everybody involved: the donor herself, her intended parents, and of course, the coming baby.

 Many potential egg donors come to us with questions or concerns about the egg donation screening process. We created this guide to help break down the egg donor screening process step by step, and address some frequently asked questions we hear at Extraordinary Conceptions. Remember, if you have any further queries, our team is waiting to answer your questions.

Breaking Down the Egg Donation Screening Process

1. Application

All egg donors must successfully complete our application process. This involves a few “mini-steps.” 

First, you must confirm that you are eligible to complete this process. Once you have indeed confirmed this, you can fill out the application online at your convenience. You will be asked to answer many questions about your lifestyle, medical history, and family. You will also be required to provide 15 photographs of yourself throughout your life.

2. Matching 

Once your application is processed and accepted, your profile will go live on our egg donor database. From this moment, Intended Parents will be able to view your information and photos. If a family shows interest in having you as their donor, they will contact our team, and you’ll get a call from us. 

3. Screening

Now that you’ve matched with a family, it’s time to begin screening and testing. This is one of the most involved steps of the donor egg process, and can take up to 6 weeks to finish.

Before moving onto the next step, all potential egg donors must complete a full physical exam, drug and STD screenings, blood tests, genetic testing, a background check, and a psychological evaluation. 

4. Legal

Once you have been medically and psychologically cleared to be a donor, you and your Intended Parents can proceed with the legal side of things. This process is in place to protect everybody involved in the egg donor process: you, your Intended Parents, and baby. 

This step of the donor egg process requires both you and your Intended Parents to work with your own separate attorneys to create a comprehensive legal contract. This contract will cover everything involving the terms of your agreement. Typically, this takes around 3 weeks.

5. Medication and Monitoring

After the contract has been signed, it’s really time to get the ball moving! As an egg donor, you will be expected to stimulate egg development through the administration of daily injections. During this time, you will be required to visit your doctor regularly for monitoring, and may be asked to undergo blood tests and/or an ultrasound.

6. Retrieval

The time has come for your egg retrieval! This procedure is minimally invasive, and typically lasts under 60 minutes.You will be given a mild sedative for the procedure and expected to rest for about 30 minutes onsite before going home to recover. 

7. Recovery

It’s time to relax—you did it! Generally, donors are asked to take it easy in the days following their procedure, and may experience cramps. You can expect to receive your financial compensation within two weeks. 

How Long Does the Egg Donation Process Take?

You can expect the process to last around 12-16 weeks, but exact details will depend on individual circumstances, like your personal health, needs surrounding your legal agreement, and how long it takes to find a match.

Is Egg Donation Painful?

While some donors experience cramping after their procedure, or bruising at the needle site, most don’t report much pain.

In some rare cases, the egg donation process can lead to pain or complications. Some women experience discomfort as a reaction to their fertility medications, or experience complications during the retrieval, such as infection or bowel injury. Enlarged ovaries may also lead to torsion and abdominal pain. Please note that complications like this are rare.

Learn More Today!

If you’re ready to begin the egg donation process yourself, get in touch with our team. We have all the resources you need to have a fulfilling and seamless egg donor experience. We are so excited to meet you—email [email protected] today!