Donor FAQ |
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Why are donors needed? Most commonly the female partner did not respond well to fertility treatment using her own eggs: failed In Vitro Fertilization, or artificial insemination or failed pregnancy after transfer of embryos into her uterus, or she has low hormone levels due to age, premature ovarian failure or prior illness.
There are instances where the perspective parent(s) are a single man or a same-sex couple (two men or two women).
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How much will I get paid?
Compensation for completion of cycle is the current and customary fee plus expenses, or a higher fee if you are of a unique ethnicity, have other special traits, or are a repeat donor. This is paid after completion of the cycle. By law (section 6041 (a) of hte Internal Revenue Code and section 1.6041-1(a) pf Income Tax Regulations), a 1099 tax form must be sent to you for the service fee paid.
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What are the covered expenses?
Covered expenses include travel expenses (mileage, bridge tolls, parking, air fare), childcare, notary/fax/postal fees, and gross lost wages. Receipts must be attached to the expense report which should be sent within 10 business days from the date of the retrieval for full and timely reimbursement.
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How many times may I donate?
The fertility physician must recommend that you can donate again and if you are willing you may donate a total of six (6) times. Sometimes certain physicians will allow a donor to complete more than six retrievals because of the donor’s unique traits/ethnicity, or because a recipient couple need to use the same donor again to have another genetically related child when the donor has already completed six retrievals.
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How long does the cycle take?
It takes approximately 2-3 months from the date you and a recipient couple agree to work together until retrieval. Sometimes this can be delayed if a medical issue arises with the recipient or surrogate, at which point we or the medical clinic will contact you to be sure the delay does not conflict with your schedule.
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How long will it take me to be matched?
This is not something we can determine. We will promote you to all recipients and give copies of your profile and photos to those recipients that express interest in you. Some donors have been matched with recipients within one week of applying, others have taken as long as one year. While you are waiting to be selected, we will call you at least every 2 months to confirm that you are available and to confirm your current address and phone number(s).
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What are the side effects, if any, from the medication?
Usually donors do not notice side effects from the first medication, called Lupron. Most donors feel PMS like symptoms after taking the second series of hormone injections of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Donors (or their friends) typically complain of moodiness, stomach bloating, breast tenderness, and tiredness.
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What are the risks?
There is little risk associated with egg donation procedures. Tens of thousands of cycles have been preformed around the world, and to date results of studies have found that are no long-term detrimental effects.
There is small risk (1 in 100) of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). When this occurs, the ovaries become over stimulated and ovarian follicles enlarge with fluid. If there is significant abdominal distention, the donor will be hospitalized.
The odds of infection are slim, about 1 in 1000. However, because there is a possibility of infection, most fertility physicians prescribe a preventive dose of antibiotics.
All recipient couples must pay for accident/excess insurance to cover the donor’s cost of medical treatment for any adverse reactions to egg donation procedures or medication.
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Do I need to have health insurance?
No. If you have health insurance that will be applied before claims are filed with the secondary/accident insurance. All recipient couples must pay for accident/excess insurance to cover the donor’s cost of medical treatment for any adverse reactions to egg donation procedures or medication. The accident insurance covers a period of time when any treatable side effects would occur and it only covers injuries directly related to the egg retrieval process.
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Does the retrieval hurt?
To help your ovaries produce multiple eggs, you will need to self inject or have a close friend inject you with a couple of different hormones. These are daily injections administered by a short, narrow needle, similar to a diabetic sized needle. Most donors report little to no discomfort at the injections sites (the upper thighs and fatty tissue over the upper stomach).
Before the retrieval you are given a light analgesic agent and will go into a twilight sleep for the procedure which is a trans-vaginal aspiration of the ovaries by an ultra sounded guided needle. Some donors have complained of mild cramping and abdominal distention for a few days post-retrieval. All uncomfortable side effects are resolved with the first menstrual period after the retrieval.
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If I donate, can I get pregnant in the future?
All currently available information shows that there is no decrease in a donor’s ability to get pregnant after completing a normal retrieval. Instead donors are at high risk of getting pregnant from the stimulation of her ovaries because residual eggs will be left when the fertility doctor cannot reach all of her egg filled follicles.
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Can I donate if I’ve have had an abortion?
Yes, an abortion does not eliminate you as a candidate. In fact, it proves your fertility and the retrieval procedure is quite similar to the surgical abortion procedure.
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Can I have intercourse during the three-month process?
The fertility physician will instruct you to abstain from sexual intercourse from the date of your first FSH injection until the dates of your first post retrieval menstrual period. It is recommended that you take the birth control pill with this period to normalize your hormones and to prevent pregnancy if you are having sexual intercourse.
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Do you need donors like me?
Yes! Recipients of every nationality are looking for donors who match their characteristics. All healthy young women between the ages of 21 -30 are invited to apply.
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Do I need to have proven fertility?
No, we do not require that you have proven fertility (i.e. delivered a baby, previously pregnant).
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Are there height or weight restrictions?
Fertility physicians require donors to be height/weight proportionate. Medication dosage is based on the donor’s body mass and if the donor is too heavy or too thin the hormones will not be absorbed properly and the cycle will be canceled.
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Where are the fertility doctors located?
Fertility doctors are usually located in major cities across the United States, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland.
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How many appointments are necessary?
The number of appointments that you will have depends on how fast your ovaries respond to the hormones. All donor candidates are required to come to our office for an initial meeting or if they are out-of state donors they must have a phone interview with us. All donors must meet a therapist for a psychological evaluation. After completion of these two appointments, you must have the MSA and baseline ultrasound.
The remaining appointments will be scheduled according to how quickly you stimulate. You will know the date of first appointment for the ultrasound viewing of your follicles and based on how fast the follicles are growing, the physician will tell you to return in one to two days. Be prepared to come in 2-3 days in a row just before the retrieval. |
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Do I have to live in the San Francisco Bay Area?
No. We work with donors residing in the San Francisco Bay Area and other cities in the United Sates. |
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Will donating affect my lifestyle? If so, how?
Yes, small changes may need to be made to your current lifestyle. No heavy lifting or strenuous exercise is allowed during the month of the retrieval.
Due to an increased risk of pregnancy, abstaining from sexual intercourse during the stimulation is required. If you have a partner, discuss this in advance to avoid any conflicts.
You must be able to take injections as scheduled and to keep time sensitive appointments with the fertility physician. After the initial consultation with the physician, most appointments are in the morning. You must take the entire day off on the day of the retrieval and have someone stay with you in case of a post retrieval problem.
You must refrain from obtaining any body piercing or tattoos for six months prior to the retrieval. |
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Am I required to meet the recipients? If so, why?
No. We do, however, encourage you to meet the recipient. This meeting is facilitated at our office and you are paid for the meeting. Most commonly, a couple wishes to meet a donor when they have two top choices and they cannot make a decision based on information provided.
Other couples wish to make a small, yet personal, connection with their donor. Many recipients strongly feel that it is impossible to obtain an accurate portrayal of a donor’s personality solely through the profile.
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How do recipients choose a donor?
Recipients have their own criteria for choosing egg donors. Most often level of education, clean health history and similar physical appearance are the top 3 priorities. The recipients appreciate as much information as you can provide, thus making it very important that you answer the donor application in detail.
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Can I register with more than one agency?
No. Once you’ve been activated in our donor pool we ask that you “retire” yourself from any other donor pools you may be in. This eliminates the possibility of two different recipients choosing you at the same time.
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* Disclaimer - Please Read
Jacquelyne Gorton, Nurse Attorney and her staff are not medical providers and therefore recommend discussing all potential risks and side effects with the physician in charge of your retrieval. We provide educational information and this should not replace any information received from the physician. It is very important to ask any and all questions of the medical provider.
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