Recipient Parent FAQ
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How do I choose an egg donor?
Each couple has their own criteria for their ideal egg donor. You and your partner (if applicable) can determine criteria for donor candidates by reviewing important characteristics of egg donors as listed on the Recipient Confidential Information Form sent to you prior to your first meeting.
Most recipients look for donors who have similar physical features to the female partner, as well as a similar educational background and a healthy family history. Other recipients, look for donors with proven fertility, and others choose the donor that “just clicks” when they see the donor’s photo. It is truly up to you and we are here to assist you to find that perfect match.
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What if I don’t find “the one” when I come in?
We frequently add donors to our donor database, and upon your request we will send you photos of the incoming donors that meet your criteria. After your initial inquiry, we ask you to send in a completed Confidential Information Form and a photo of you and your partner so that we can help you find an appropriate donor.
We often place specific ads on Craig's List, or in local college papers, with your unique donor requirements. To help you find that perfect match, we will give you sample ads, assist you in writing your specific ad, and we will e-mail profiles to you at no additional cost.
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Will I meet my prospective donor?
That is your own personal choice. Recipients choose to meet donors when they have two potential candidates and cannot decide which donor is more suitable. Couples want to meet prospective donors so as to experience their potential donor’s personality, to learn more details about the donors’ family history, and to impress upon donors how much they value their commitment to the donation process.
Occasionally a donor will ask to meet with recipient parents prior to agreeing to work with them. A standard protocol is followed and questions are welcomed.
All meetings are facilitated in our office with the guidance of a staff member. The donor describes her childhood, her favorite high school subjects and activities, her career pursuits and why she wants to donate. Recipients describe their background, how they met, why they asked a donor to meet with them, and any questions either party may have of each other. The donor is paid for her time and travel for this meeting.
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Must I have chosen a fertility doctor prior to choosing an egg donor?
We do request that recipients have met with a fertility doctor and had initial medical testing and psychological evaluations completed prior to meeting with prospective donors. However, if you have not yet chosen a doctor we are more than happy to refer you to highly reputable fertility physicians in and outside of the San Francisco Bay Area.
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What information about me/us will the selected donor get?
We give the donor a limited amount of information about recipients. We tell the donor your first name and city of residence, age range, possibly even the general type of work you do, and the name/location of the fertility physician that you are working with.
If you meet your donor as facilitated by our staff, it is up to you to share only the information about yourself that you feel comfortable providing. |
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What are the estimated costs in working with our agency?
- $4,300 (Local) or $4,800 (Int'l) Agency Administrative Fee
- $7,500 to $10,000 Donor Service Fee
- $1,200 Maximum for Local Donor Expense Reimbursement (includes $50 Gift)
- $5,000 Maximum for Out-of-State Donor Expense Reimbursement (includes $50 Gift)
- $400 Accident Insurance Cost
- $100 per Background Check if requested
- $240 for 1st Psychological Evaluation plus additional cost if your clinic requires personality testing
- $300 if donor requests attorney representation for review of contract
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Does your agency fee include the cost of drafting an Ovum Donorship Service Contract?
Yes, we provide you with a contract that is in compliance with current laws and is specific to the donation history of your donor. Since it is illegal to purchase tissue (eggs) the donors are being paid for their service no matter how many eggs are retrieved.
We provide sample contracts and answer questions regarding enforceability of terms and provisions but we can not represent you in reviewing the contract. Any donor or recipient that requests independent representation is referred to an attorney with expertise in Fertility Law.
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When do Recipient Parents have to pay the entire administrative fee and total donor costs?
Recipient parents do not sign a contract with the agency until their selected donor has passed her psychological screening. Because Jacquelyne Gorton has a Masters in Psychiatric Nursing and was a therapist, we are very thorough in our screening of donor candidates. A donor rarely fails to pass her psychological evaluation; in 2004, all of our donors passed their psychological screen.
The balance of the administrative fee (minus the $500 paid) is due after the donor passes her psychological evaluation before the contracts are drafted. In addition to the administrative fee, all of the donor’s fees must be paid and the parties must be in contract before the donor’s first appointment with the fertility clinic.
After the clinic receives the donor’s psychological report, recipient parent(s) and donors are required by all fertility clinics and our agency to be in contract with all fees paid before the donor’s first appointment with the fertility clinic.
If the donor does not pass the medical screen, we will refund all of the donor’s fees and the balance of the administrative fee will be applied toward our administrative work in finding the recipient parent(s) another suitable replacement donor.
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What is the philosophy of your agency?
Our philosophy is to be responsive and responsible in helping you find a donor that is the best match for your needs and desires. We realize what an emotional process dealing with infertility is and our goal is to support you through the donor process so that it can be one of the most incredible experiences of your life.
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If we want to work with you, what do we do next?
Please take a look at our donor database which contains a brief description and a photo of each donor. You can request a password to the database by contacting us by phone or email.
We recommend that you make an appointment to learn about our donor screening and recruitment process and to review the health histories and photos of our donor pool. We are located in San Rafael across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.
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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. |
