Donor Egg 101: A Guide to Using Donor Egg Banks for Intended Parents
This Donor Egg 101 Guide is designed to walk you through the egg donation process, so you know what to expect as an intended parent using donor eggs. Of course, there are many more details to each step of the way, which we will go over with you to make sure you feel fully informed. This guide provides a basic overview of the egg donation process for intended parents who are interested in donor egg banks and have chosen to use SIMPLIFY.
Step #1: Fertility Evaluation and Egg Donation Consultation
The first step is to receive a comprehensive fertility evaluation and diagnostic testing from your fertility clinic. If the screening results show that egg donation is a good treatment option for you, then the next step is to schedule a consultation with the SIMPLIFY team. During your initial consultation, we go over what you’re looking for in a donor and provide access to our donor database.
Step #2: Select Your Donor Egg
Once you’ve decided to use a donor egg, the next step is to select the donor themselves. Egg donor databases allow for you to search by different physical and background traits, such as hair color, height, ethnicity, or level of education. You may be able to see childhood photos of the donors and learn about their interests or achievements and details about their family history.
The SIMPLIFY donor database has high-quality, diverse donors with detailed information on their health and family history, education, and personality, so you can feel very informed about this important decision. If you are not sure what you’re looking for in a donor, we are happy to provide guidance to help you narrow your search.
Step #3: Logistics & Paperwork
After choosing your donor egg, you will sign various consents and make your payment. This way, all the logistics are taken care of before beginning the fertilization and embryo transfer process.
Step #4: Fertilization & Freezing
When it’s time to move forward with the process, you will send a frozen sperm sample (either from your partner or a sperm donor) to the egg bank laboratory, which is used to fertilize the chosen donor egg. The resulting blastocysts (an early stage of the embryo) will be frozen and sent to your fertility clinic.
At SIMPLIFY, all our donor eggs are fertilized and frozen at our partner clinic, Pacific NW Fertility (PNWF), which has exceptional success rates for fertilization and blastocyst formation. We offer a unique Two-Blastocyst Guarantee, which increases the chances of a successful transfer and pregnancy.
Step #5: Cycle Preparation & Embryo Transfer
Leading up to the transfer procedure, your fertility specialist will prescribe you different hormone treatments to suppress ovulation and prepare your uterus to receive the embryo. You will also receive ultrasound and blood tests to determine when your uterus is ready for the embryo transfer, and start taking progesterone to support the pregnancy.
The embryo transfer itself is an in-office procedure done at your fertility clinic. Your doctor will pass the embryo through a thin tube inserted into your uterus through the cervix. This procedure is relatively quick and painless, and you won’t need to take pain medications or be under general anesthesia.
Step #6: Monitoring & Pregnancy
After the embryo transfer, you will continue taking hormones to increase the chances of successful implantation and pregnancy. About 10-12 days after the transfer, you will take a pregnancy blood test to determine if the embryo has successfully implanted. If the test is positive, you will continue the hormones for the first several weeks of pregnancy. If the test is negative, your fertility doctor will discuss next options with you, including trying again with another embryo. Whatever the result, we are here to provide additional information and support along the way.
Have more questions? Curious about the available donors at SIMPLIFY? Begin your journey to parenthood by scheduling a consultation today.