Egg donation is an act that can make a tremendous difference in someone else’s life. While the process will involve taking some medications, being able to help hopeful parents through assisted reproductive technology can be exceptionally rewarding. If you’re thinking about donating your eggs, the guide below discusses how to become a donor and how to prepare for the procedure.

How Do I Become an Egg Donor?

To promote the best possible outcomes for egg recipients, donors must undergo screening. Fertility centers seek donors with healthy, drug-free lifestyles, so getting ample exercise and eating well can ensure you’re a good candidate.

Other screening may be performed to ensure you’re eligible for egg donation, which could include genetic testing, as well as other types of lab work and screenings. Based on the findings of your test results, the center will match you with a recipient.

How Do I Prepare for Egg Donation?

In a fresh egg donation cycle, the donor’s menstrual cycle is coordinated with the recipient’s through the use of special fertility medications. As the donor, you may go on birth control to regulate your cycle, then receive a set of injectable medications to prepare your ovaries for developing more eggs than it normally would in one cycle.

You’ll take medications daily and will be monitored routinely via ultrasound, which will allow doctors to track the maturity of your developing follicles. Your egg retrieval will be scheduled for roughly 10 to 12 days after the start of your fertility medications.

What Is the Retrieval Process Like?

The egg retrieval is a quick procedure in which the doctor will remove as many mature follicles as possible using a small needle while you’re under anesthesia. You’ll need to schedule a ride for after the procedure and may want to take the rest of the day off from work or school. You may be able to resume normal activity the next day or shortly thereafter.

If you’re considering egg donation as either a recipient or a donor, contact the Diamond Institute for Infertility & Menopause in Essex County, NJ. With three convenient locations, our trusted center has more than 40 years of experience and specializes in fertility services, including artificial insemination and IVF. Find out more about what to expect from egg donation and other procedures on our website or call (973) 761-5600 to schedule a consultation.