| As more and more women postpone having children | | | | can pick another donor without paying the fee again |
| until they are in their late 30's, many have come to | | | | if your first egg donor changes her mind or fails |
| the disappointing realization that they are unable to | | | | screening. |
| have children without help. According to a December | | | | 9. Aside from the agency program fee, you also |
| 2009 Center for Disease Control and Prevention | | | | send in the donor compensation fee. Your agency |
| report, about 12 percent of U.S. Women of | | | | doesn't release the funds to your donor until egg |
| childbearing age utilized the service of a fertility clinic | | | | retrieval is completed. Egg donor compensation fee |
| in 2007. In that year, 57,564 babies were born as the | | | | can range from $3,500 to as much as $35,000 |
| result of about 140,000 artificial reproductive | | | | depending on the agency and the donor. The |
| technology cycles performed in 430 clinics in the U.S. | | | | average compensation is $5,000 to $7,000. You |
| Many women who seek the help of artificial | | | | should keep in mind that it's unlawful in the U.S. to |
| reproductive technology are successful in having | | | | buy or sell human tissues. Therefore, the donor is |
| children through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) using their | | | | truly donating her eggs and not selling them. |
| own eggs. However, many cannot, due to the quality | | | | Whatever compensation you pay to the egg donor is |
| of their eggs. As a result, many turn to using donor | | | | for her time, discomfort and potential health risks. It's |
| eggs. | | | | against industry guidelines to offer more |
| Using donor eggs is a viable alternative if you cannot | | | | compensation to donors with special musical talents, |
| achieve pregnancy ung your own eggs. Here's a | | | | high SAT scores, or college degrees even though |
| step-by-step guide on what to do if you are | | | | many egg donor agencies promote that on their |
| considering using donor eggs to have children: | | | | websites. |
| | | | 10. Your egg donor agency then sends a match |
| 1. You first consult with a medical clinic specialized in | | | | package to your IVF clinic. The match package |
| fertility treatment to determine if you are physically | | | | contains the donor's personal identification |
| able to accept an embryo implant from IVF | | | | information, her profile, medical history and previous |
| procedures and carry a fetus to term. In addition | | | | donation records, if any. |
| your husband or male partner is tested for any | | | | 11. Your IVF clinic schedules a screening appointment |
| infertility issues. Your doctor recommends that you | | | | with your donor. This screening includes a physical, an |
| go through the IVF process with your own eggs first | | | | ultrasound, a meeting with a social worker, and a |
| before considering donor eggs. | | | | psychological evaluation as well as a MMPI test. |
| 2. If your own eggs are not viable, your other option | | | | 12. If your donor passes screening, you will contract |
| is to use donor eggs. Some fertility clinics keep their | | | | with an attorney specialized in assisted reproduction |
| own database of egg donors while other clinics work | | | | to draw up a legal agreement with the egg donor. |
| with outside egg donor agencies. Generally, donors | | | | You also pay for a second attorney to assist the |
| from your fertility clinic are local so the selection can | | | | egg donor to finalize the agreement. |
| be somewhat limited. Egg donor agencies offer a | | | | 13. After the egg donation agreement is signed, your |
| wide selection of donors from across the country | | | | donor will be provided with injectable hormones to |
| that can broaden your choices. | | | | stimulate egg production. Meanwhile, you are given |
| 3. After you register with an egg donor agency, you | | | | hormonal injections to synchronize your cycle with |
| can study detailed profiles of donors online. Donor | | | | the egg donor. |
| profiles can include their general personal information, | | | | 14. Your donor will be monitored by your clinic or |
| hobbies, profession, physical characteristics, ethnicity, | | | | another medical facility for progress including frequent |
| childbearing history, medical history and physical traits | | | | blood tests and ultrasound. Depending on her |
| of the donor and her family members. | | | | progress, an egg retrieval appointment is scheduled |
| 4. Most intended parents select donors based on | | | | about four to six weeks from the initial screening. |
| physical characteristics that are similar to the intended | | | | 15. After egg retrieval, viable eggs are fertilized and |
| mothers. If you have green eyes and curly brown | | | | allowed to grow into embryos. One or two embryos |
| hair, you might want to select a donor with green | | | | are then implanted into your uterus and the rest are |
| eyes and curly brown hair. Some intended parents | | | | usually frozen for future implantation. |
| try to design their future babies with donors chosen | | | | 16. Meanwhile, when the egg donor agency confirms |
| based on beauty, talents or academic achievements | | | | with the IVF clinic that egg retrieval is completed, the |
| instead of physical resemblance. | | | | donor compensation fee is remitted to the egg |
| 5. You should only consider using donors between the | | | | donor. |
| ages of 21 to 30. The quality of eggs usually goes | | | | Using donor eggs is a wonderful alternative to |
| down for donors over age 30. | | | | achieve pregnancy and experience the birth of your |
| 6. In 99% of the cases, egg donation is anonymous. | | | | own child if you're unable to get pregnant with your |
| Occasionally, the intended parents and the egg donor | | | | own eggs. The option of using donor eggs in the IVF |
| mutually agree to disclose their identities to one | | | | process has come a long way. Tens of thousands of |
| another. This is called an open donation. | | | | women have chosen this path to pregnancy in the |
| 7. Once you've selected your potential egg donor(s), | | | | last 20 years. |
| you will contact the agency to inquire of their | | | | Approximately ten days after embryo transfer, you'll |
| availability. | | | | return to your clinic to hopefully receive news of a |
| 8. The egg donor agency contacts the donor and | | | | positive pregnancy outcome. Countless little miracles |
| ascertains that she is available. You sign an | | | | have been born to loving, deserving parents through |
| agreement with the agency and pay their program | | | | the beautiful process of egg donation. |
| fee. The agency fee is typically non-refundable. You | | | | |