Egg Donation Process – How Donating Eggs Works Step-by-Step
The egg donation process involves thorough screening of donors, hormone treatment, egg retrieval and a short recovery period. Egg donors from European Egg Bank are closely monitored by specialists to ensure a safe, transparent and fully supported experience.
What is egg donation?
Egg donation is when a female donates egg cells to a person who cannot or does not want to use their own eggs to have children. This might be because of infertility, the risk of passing on genetic conditions, or previously unsuccessful fertility treatments. Donor eggs are typically fertilised in a lab environment using IVF techniques and then transferred to the recipient’s uterus to continue developing.
Who can donate eggs?
Egg donors must meet certain age, health and lifestyle criteria to donate. They must also undergo a comprehensive screening process to ensure egg quality. While the precise criteria may vary between clinics and countries, European Egg Bank applies the same rigorous requirements regardless of where donors are recruited.
Fertility tests and screening
Our egg donors must undergo comprehensive screening that includes:
- Ultrasound scans to assess womb health.
- An AMH ovarian reserve test to measure egg availability.
- Blood tests to screen for infectious and hereditary conditions.
- Psychological screening to evaluate donor suitability.
Why do people become egg donors?
Donors from European Egg Bank become egg donors for all kinds of reasons. Some do so altruistically, wanting to help others have a family. Some donors are inspired to donate because a relative or friend struggled to conceive and required donor eggs. Generally, women donate their eggs because they believe it is the right thing to do.
Step-by-step: the egg donation process
The egg donation process begins with an initial consultation, followed by donor screening and counselling. When approved to donate, the donor will begin hormone treatment to stimulate follicle growth. The eggs are then retrieved and frozen until required for treatment.
Application and initial consultation
Medical screening and counselling
Hormone treatment and ovarian stimulation
Monitoring and trigger shot
Egg retrieval procedure
Recovery after egg donation
Is egg donation painful?
Egg retrieval is not painful as the donor is sedated for the procedure. However, donors may experience mild discomfort post-procedure as the ovaries recover. Similarly, donors who are not comfortable with needles may experience a little pain during the stimulation phase as daily injections are necessary.
Does donating eggs affect fertility?
Research suggests that egg donation has no adverse effects on the donor’s fertility. While females are born with a limited number of eggs, donors have been screened to ensure a healthy ovarian reserve. Around 10 to 15 eggs are collected per donation cycle – a number that won’t impact fertility in the long run.
Risks and side effects of egg donation
Egg donation is a safe and rigorously supervised process with many clinical safeguards in place to protect donors. However, like any medical procedure, there are risks and potential side effects.
Legal considerations
The legal rights and rules surrounding egg donation vary from country to country. For instance, whether a donor can be open or anonymous depends on national legislation. Furthermore, egg donors never have legal rights or responsibilities to children conceived using their eggs. If you have any questions about the legal landscape, you are always welcome to contact us.
Frequently asked questions about the egg donation process
Clinics typically collect between 10 and 15 eggs per collection cycle.
Whether or not a donor-conceived child can contact their donor depends on the type of donor and the rules in the country where the treatment took place. With ID release donors, a donor-conceived child can request identifying information about the donor. However, while this information can be shared, the donor is not obligated to any contact with the child. With No ID release donors, no identifying information can be shared with the child.
Yes, you can typically donate eggs up to four times. However, clinics often limit the number of times a single person can donate to protect their health.