Donor Information

Screening Process
What to Expect
Protocol For Egg Donation
Egg Retrieval

Screening Process

The donor requirements for Oocyte Donation include:

Donors must be between 20-32 years old
Donors must have regular menstrual cycles and normal ovarian reserve testing
Donors must complete required screening information
Donors must participate in blood test screening, to include HIV, Hepatitis B and C and Syphilis
Donors must participate in cervical culture screening to include Gonorrhea and Chlamydia
Donors must undergo psychological screening

To become an egg donor, you must:

Complete the Donor Oocyte Health History form and return it to Fertility Specialists of Houston with your address and telephone number.
Once this information has been reviewed and it has been determined that you are eligible to be an egg donor, you will be contacted by the Program Coordinator to schedule further screening.
Screening will include a review of your past medical history and family history, a physical examination and tests to ensure general health and the absence of infectious diseases (AIDS, hepatitis, syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia).
Potential donors also undergo psychological screening which includes a visit to a psychologist and personality testing.
Unless you are disqualified during the screening process, you will be paired with a recipient, and a time to begin your egg donation cycle will be determined. You will not meet the recipient and you will not know if a pregnancy occurred from the recipient's cycle.

What to Expect

Egg donors will experience some discomfort, inconvenience, and medical risk during the in vitro fertilization cycle. You will receive up to three hormone shots a day, frequent vaginal ultrasounds, blood tests, and finally a surgical procedure to remove the eggs. Egg donors are compensated financially for their time, discomfort, and risk. Although rare, it is possible that a donor who has not been through IVF before may respond poorly to medications. This could result in cancellation of the cycle before aspiration of the eggs. If this occurs through no fault of your own, your compensation will be prorated as determined by our Program.

Protocol for Egg Donation

The actual egg donation cycle will usually require approximately 5 weeks of your time. A typical protocol to stimulate oocytes will require you to be put on birth control pills (OCPs) for 2-3 weeks, and then you will begin a medication called Lupron. Lupron is used to suppress ovarian hormone production and synchronize your cycle with that of the recipient. This injection will be given every day for 2-3 weeks. You can give these shots to yourself if you would like to do so.

You will then begin daily injections of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) for 10 to 12 days. These medicines stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs and helps mature them. All injections during this process must be given at the same time every night. It is very important that you not miss or skip a dose. If you are late for a dose, please take it as soon as you remember.

After you have been on FSH/LH for four days, you will need to come to our office for a blood test and ultrasound each morning by 11 a.m. when instructed. These blood tests and ultrasounds will determine the proper time for us to remove the eggs you will be donating.

Egg Retrieval

The egg retrieval is performed in the IVF laboratory in our office. You will be given light anesthesia to prevent pain. The procedure involves passing a thin needle through the top of the vagina and into the ovary. Light suction is the applied to remove the eggs from the ovary. The procedure is usually over within 30 minutes.

Recovery is very quick and the majority of patients are able to leave within two hours after egg retrieval. You will not be able to drive yourself home, so you must arrange for somebody to take you home. You can expect to feel sleepy for the rest of the day. Most donors can return to their normal activity the following day.

It is very important that you comply with the following restrictions during your treatment.

You should use no medications other than Tylenol or that prescribed by the Program physician.
The donor should be on one-a-day vitamins.
Any medicines required for other illnesses should be discussed with our staff.
You cannot smoke or drink alcohol and caffeine should be limited to one beverage per day.
You must abstain from intercourse or use barrier contraception (condoms) during the time you are on medications and for the month following egg retrieval.
After beginning FSH/LH, exercise should be done in moderation only (walking is preferred)

In Conclusion

Fertility Specialists of Houston will do everything we can to make this time easy for you. It is important to remember that the couple who will be the fortunate recipient of your eggs is investing a great deal of time, money, and emotion in the process. Please follow instructions very closely, never skip your medicine, and always be at your scheduled appointments at the appropriate time. These steps are crucial in order to have a successful cycle.