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What is egg donation?
Egg donation is a generous and life-changing act that allows women to help individuals and couples struggling with infertility achieve their dreams of parenthood. At Pacific Northwest Fertility, our carefully managed program guides egg donors through every step of the journey with expert care, compassion, and support. The process involves a comprehensive medical evaluation, personalized care, and a seamless experience from start to finish. By donating your eggs, you’re not only giving the gift of life but also creating lasting connections and making a significant difference in someone’s future.
Understanding the egg donation process
Egg donation offers a high success rate and is a promising option for many, including heterosexual couples, same-sex couples, and single intended parents. The process begins with IVF preparation, followed by selecting an egg donor and, if needed, a gestational surrogate. After retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer, our dedicated team at Pacific Northwest Fertility carefully monitors each step to ensure the best possible outcome.
Once you’ve applied, we will schedule your medical pre-screening appointment. This visit will include a physical and gynecological exam, including a vaginal ultrasound, blood and urine testing, drug testing, and genetic testing. This appointment is also a great time to ask one of our medical providers any additional questions you may have about the process.
Since egg donation uses in vitro fertilization, you will undergo the first few steps of the IVF process. Here is an overview of your responsibilities during the IVF process:
- First, you will start an approved birth control medication.
- This will be followed by two weeks of injectable fertility medications that will stimulate the ovaries.
- After two weeks of medication, you will come in for egg retrieval. This is a minimally invasive procedure (transvaginal oocyte aspiration) that will take place at our facility. Because of the anesthesia given during the procedure, you won’t be able to return to work or school the day of the retrieval, but most donors return to non-strenuous activities the following day.
- After the egg retrieval, your part of the process is complete!
Following the egg retrieval, eggs will either be frozen or combined with sperm at our fertility clinic. If embryos result, they will be cultured for several days, and then transferred to the uterus of the parent or gestational surrogate. All eggs and embryos resulting from this procedure, whether transferred or frozen, belong to the recipient (and their partner, if applicable). If the embryos result in a successful pregnancy and a child is delivered, the recipient(s) will be the legal parent(s) of the child.
Once you’ve applied, we will schedule your medical pre-screening appointment. This visit will include a physical and gynecological exam, including a vaginal ultrasound, blood and urine testing, drug testing, and genetic testing. This appointment is also a great time to ask one of our medical providers any additional questions you may have about the process.
Since egg donation uses in vitro fertilization, you will undergo the first few steps of the IVF process. Here is an overview of your responsibilities during the IVF process:
- First, you will start an approved birth control medication.
- This will be followed by two weeks of injectable fertility medications that will stimulate the ovaries.
- After two weeks of medication, you will come in for egg retrieval. This is a minimally invasive procedure (transvaginal oocyte aspiration) that will take place at our facility. Because of the anesthesia given during the procedure, you won’t be able to return to work or school the day of the retrieval, but most donors return to non-strenuous activities the following day.
- After the egg retrieval, your part of the process is complete!
Following the egg retrieval, eggs will either be frozen or combined with sperm at our fertility clinic. If embryos result, they will be cultured for several days, and then transferred to the uterus of the parent or gestational surrogate. All eggs and embryos resulting from this procedure, whether transferred or frozen, belong to the recipient (and their partner, if applicable). If the embryos result in a successful pregnancy and a child is delivered, the recipient(s) will be the legal parent(s) of the child.
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