
Egg Donation Timeline
Read through an in depth timeline of egg donation.(download a quick reference pdf at the bottom of this page)
1). Choose your donor - This can take anywhere from a few days to months.
The time it takes to match with an egg donor is completely in your hands as the IPs.
You may be searching more than 50 agency databases on your own or you could work with a Search Consultant to help you find a donor more quickly. Custom Fertility does a full search of the databases using your criteria and sends you a refined list of candidates that meet your unique criteria.
When choosing criteria, it helps to consider your criteria in terms of “must haves” and “would be nice to have”. You can check out our blog post about choosing your criteria here.
You will be seeking the donor who checks your “must haves” and who resonates for you on some of your “would be nice to haves”.
Helpful hint: So many factors contribute to your child’s makeup, personality and appearance. Keep in mind your goal of wanting your baby, healthy, happy and as soon as possible versus getting slowed down by highly detailed criteria, as hard as this feels now:)
2) Record Review: This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
Once you find a donor you are interested in matching with, the agency will facilitate having the donor's records sent to your clinic. This will be any past donation records if you are matching with a previous donor.
If your donor is a first time donor, the doctor will only have the donor’s profile to reference for approval.
All clinics have different timelines for record review. You can consult with your doctor or nurse coordinator to get a better picture of the amount of time this step will take.
3) Contract with agency to officially match: This takes just a few days.
You will have a chance to review your agency agreement/retainer, a fee estimate sheet and the agency's timeline for payment of fees and funding escrow. You can also schedule a virtual meeting to discuss any of this with the agency representing your donor. They are the experts on their policies.
The agency agreement isn’t your legal contract with your donor, as this comes later in the process. A Third Party Fertility lawyer is not necessary for this step, but some IPs feel an added sense of security engaging them now.
If you would like to have your attorney review this contract, you will incur an additional fee and some added time to this step. Most agencies and search services provide referrals for you since you do need a Third Party Fertility Attorney.
4) AMH Testing - 7-10 days
In the event you have chosen a first time donor, there probably isn’t any fertility data for the doctor to review. If it’s possible, I recommend asking if you can have your donor’s AMH test done before you move to the contract phase.This requires a simple blood draw and can be done at a local lab.
If her AMH is less than 2.0 or greater than 10.0 these can be red flags and an indication that you should find a different donor. Anti-müllerian hormone is only one indicator of fertility. Your doctor will be the best source of information during this piece of the decision process.
Clinics typically wait for this result before moving on to next steps in the process.
5) Psychological Evaluation: 2-3 weeks
Most clinics require the donor (and sometimes the IPs as well) to complete a psychological evaluation. This helps inform the donor about the process as well as to screen your donor for any undiagnosed mental health issues. They can gauge her level of honesty in reporting on her profile and help talk through any emotions she might be having about the donation process.
Most donors pass the psychological evaluation. They have already spoken to their agency many times before getting to this step. Agencies have already done their own vetting before making the donor available for matching.
Clinics typically wait for results before moving to the next step…
6) Genetic Testing: 2-3 weeks
The agency will be in contact with your clinic for this step.
A genetic test is often shipped directly to the donor’s home. This test is either a spit collection or a simple blood draw kit that the donor can manage on her own without a trip to the doctor’s office or lab.
This test determines the donor’s genetic carrier status for a large number of diseases. If the donor does have positive indicators for any diseases, it is not always cause for alarm. If your doctor has any concern about your egg donor’s test, they will be sure to have the sperm donor have the same genetic test done. Your doctor will verify that the donor will be a good match before moving forward. We want to know that they do not share the same carrier status, which is when it increases risk of the offspring having the disease.
Most clinics wait for results before moving to the next step.
7: Genetic Counseling/Summary: 1-2 weeks
If the donor’s genetic testing indicates a carrier status that is concerning, some clinics ask for the donor (and often, the IP’s) to have a counseling session with a Genetic Counselor. This gives both parties an opportunity to discuss the findings and any concerns.
The summary from a genetic counseling session will include a deeper dive into much of the donor’s family health history. They will also create a family tree with family members and any health issues going back to the grandparents.
Most clinics wait for the report before moving to the next step.
8). Initial Testing: 1-4 weeks
Your clinic will likely require your donor to come in for an extensive day of testing. This testing includes drug, nicotine, STD, and pregnancy testing. Additionally the doctor will perform an ultrasound with follicle count, blood work, and any other test/procedure they deem important to move forward in the process.
This appointment is the final medical gateway the donor must pass before you can move into the legal process.
Most clinics wait for results before moving to the next steps.
9). Legal Documents Between IP’s and Donor: 1-6 weeks
Now is the time to contact a third-party attorney. If you already have one, that’s great!
​
If not, we can work together to find someone who is a great fit for you.
Next, you work with your attorney to clarify your wishes for the journey. Once you have discussed all of your choices and finalized your decisions, your attorney drafts the contract. It is important to understand that all legal fees, both for your attorney and the donor’s attorney, are paid for by the IP.
​
The contract includes your choice for an open, anonymous, or semi-anonymous donation, the donor’s compensation, any travel restrictions, and if you would like the possibility to enlist her for a future cycle.
The donor and her attorney will get a chance to review the document and suggest any changes. The contract is reviewed between the two attorneys until everyone is happy with it.
The last and most exciting part - the contract is signed! (There may be celebrating involved…)
10). Calendar: A few days
Once all of the above is complete, your clinic creates a detailed calendar / timeline for the donor. This describes all of the specific medications, injections and guidelines for the donor to follow in preparation for egg retrieval.
This ideally will be created within one week of the legal contract completion.
11) Cycle Medications and Monitoring: 2 weeks
During this period, your donor will be following the instructions on her calendar and any other guidance from the doctor.
Often, the clinic will allow the donor to visit a clinic local to her for monitoring appointments. This allows the doctor to observe how the development of the eggs / follicles is proceeding without incurring any additional travel fees. If changes to the medications are needed, your doctor oversees this and requests changes to be made.
12) Donor Travel To Clinic For Retrieval: 3-10 days
Your donor will travel to your clinic with a companion during this time. This can be between 3-10 days based on the requirements of your clinic. The donor will attend any required monitoring appointments at your clinic leading up to retrieval day.
Once retrieval is complete, the donor will remain local for at least 24 hrs to be sure that she is stable. If cleared by your doctor, she will return home and the clinic will continue with your embryo creation and a plan for transfer!
