How to Donate My Eggs – a Step-by-Step Guide for Egg Donors
If you come up with the question ‘How to Donate My Eggs?’ and want to know more about the process – we are going to explain it in simple terms. Let`s start with a step-by-step overview and look through the application stages.
How to Donate My Eggs – Step-by-Step Explanation?
If you think of becoming an egg donor and ask ‘how to donate my eggs’, you might feel confused about the whole process and unsure whether you are ready for it. The best way to understand how egg donations happen is to break the process down into separate steps.
- You apply to become an egg donor.
- We review your application.
- If your application is accepted, you make it into our donor database and eventually become selected by intended parents.
- You undergo medical screening.
- Paperwork is done to legalize the egg donation process.
- You start the injections necessary to enable egg retrieval.
- The actual egg retrieval happens.
Now let us take a closer look at the medical screening phase so that you are fully aware of everything that is going to happen once you decide to become an egg donor and reach that stage. We hope that you will find this information helpful in preparing yourself for this important step on your egg donation journey.
So I Made it to the Medical Screening Phase, What Now?
Once you have registered your application with an egg donor agency of your choice and got accepted into the agency’s database of donors, you’ll have to wait for a couple of intended parents to choose you. Normally, it only takes one to two months, but depending on each individual case, the waiting might last a little longer. Once you are approved by the intended parents, it is time for the next step – your medical screening.
Normally, donors undergo medical screening at a fertility clinic chosen by the intended parents. All tests and examinations that you will go through during this stage aim to make sure that you are physically and mentally healthy, and thus medically eligible to become an egg donor. Once you have obtained medical clearance, you can go on to the next step and take care of the legal paperwork with your agency’s lawyers.
What Happens During the Medical Screening Phase?
Unfortunately, we cannot give you an exact answer to this question, because every fertility clinic has a particular protocol for screening potential egg donors. In some clinics, you will be able to go through the whole screening process during a single day, while others may require you to come to multiple appointments. However, it is much more common for fertility clinics to organize the fertility screening process so efficiently that it only requires a single appointment. That way, you will be able to get your medical screening within as little time as several hours.
Most reputable egg donor agencies have experienced staff who will be glad to help you get through the screening process. They will most likely have worked with your intended parents’ fertility clinic, so they will be able to provide you with hands-on information and tips. You can ask them questions regarding your future screening to better understand the process, and you can also ask them for help in arranging the appointment.
Since we cannot give you an exact description of all exams and tests you have to undergo, we are going to provide an extensive list which covers every examination you can expect a fertility clinic to demand of you:
- a physical exam;
- vaginal culture sample test;
- blood tests to check for hormone levels and infectious diseases;
- special blood tests to check whether you are carrying any genetic diseases;
- an internal ultrasound exam
The last procedure involves a special ultrasound probe being inserted into your vagina. While this may sound alarming, the internal ultrasound exam is actually not painful at all. It may be a little uncomfortable though, like the sensation you might have while having a pap smear test performed.
What Is the Outcome of the Medical Screening Phase?
Following the medical screening itself, most fertility clinics usually schedule a meeting with an experienced nurse who will talk to you about birth control methods and how your usage of them may affect your egg donation. It is during this meeting that you can find out more about the medications you will have to take for the most part of your egg donation cycle.
Possible Tests
Also, in some clinics, you will have to take special standardized psychological tests and have an appointment with a mental healthcare specialist to have your mental health evaluated. The mental health evaluation may take place as part of your medical screening or as a separate appointment.
It is clear that potential egg donors are always screened thoroughly. It helps to make sure that the donation is safe and beneficial both for them and the future parents. You can expect the doctors at the fertility clinic to ask you a lot of questions. They will also carefully examine every aspect of your health and well-being.
If you are physically and mentally healthy, you will be granted medical clearance. Thus, you will proceed to the next stage of your egg donation. Bear in mind that the medical screening process is a crucial part of your egg donation journey. Do your best to maintain a positive attitude toward it. Moreover, you should prepare yourself for the screening to the best of your ability. The staff at your chosen egg donation agency will be happy to help you out with that. Make sure to ask them all the questions you might have. This will facilitate the medical screening process for yourself, and for your intended parents, too. They may not be taking part in this step directly, but they already have high hopes for you, and they want you to complete your medical screening as quickly and successfully as possible.
What Can I Do to Be Ready for the Medical Screening?
We are going to give you some tips for your preparation for the screening. Therefore, you won`t run into any unpleasant surprises and will make the most out of the experience.
How to Donate My Eggs – Find Clinic Location
First of all, make sure to find out the exact location of the fertility clinic. Do it beforehand and plan your way there. You will probably be nervous on the day of the screening as it is. So there’s no need to add additional stress by failing to find the clinic. Doing some research in advance will help you come to your appointment in time. This leads us to the next tip: don’t be late for your appointment. This may be common sense, but it still bears repeating.
How to Donate My Eggs – Eat Well, Sleep Well, Avoid Alcohol
Second, take special care of your body during the medical screening step. Get a good night’s sleep before your screening appointment, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Also, make sure to avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, and tobacco in the days prior to your screening.
How to Donate My Eggs – Ask Questions
Third, use medical screening as an opportunity, and not just treat it as a necessary evil. You can ask the doctors and nurses all medical questions that may be bothering you regarding the screening or your future egg donation. The healthcare professionals are there to not only evaluate your health but also help you be prepared for the final important steps.
Don’t be shy or embarrassed about asking any “uncomfortable” or “silly” questions – you need to know as much as you can to feel calm and confident about the procedure. Besides, you’re most likely not the first person with such thoughts and concerns, so the doctors and nurses have already heard your question not once and have no problem answering it.
Be Honest and Mentally Prepared
Finally, be mentally prepared for the coming medical screening. You will need to be honest with the doctors about your own and your family’s medical history because that information could be crucial in deciding whether it is safe for you to donate eggs. Be ready to get through multiple blood draws and physical pelvic exam.
Many egg donors also find that the screening process tends to last longer than they expect it to, so don’t have anything else planned for the screening day. It is always a good idea to have a snack and a water bottle with you. Also, you may want to bring a book or something else to occupy your mind within case you have to wait.
When Am I Going to Receive My Medical Screening Results?
You can expect to get your screening results within 2-4 weeks after your screening appointment. This may not seem like a lot of time. However, it is definitely a stressful period of time for the intended parents. They will work with you and hope for a good outcome.
Having obtained medical clearance, you will proceed to the legal step of your egg donation. It aims to formalize and regulate the whole process. Once that quick and rather standard procedure is done, you can start taking the medications. The medications are necessary for the eventual egg retrieval.
Summing It Up
We hope that you now feel better prepared for your future medical screening. ‘How to donate my eggs?’ is no more a hard question. Now we wish you the best of luck on your egg donation journey. And sure, if you have any additional question – don`t hesitate to contact our experts.