Egg Donation Process for Recipients

Selection of Donor

Choosing a donor is an important step in the process, and a uniquely personal decision. We have several resources, including a psychologist with expertise in fertility and family building, to assist you.

You have the option of choosing a donor from the UCSF Center for Reproductive Health in-house donor pool, or from an outside agency. You may also have a known donor, such as a relative, friend or acquaintance, who you'd like to work with. Your reproductive endocrinologist can help you determine if your known donor is a good candidate.

If you're working with our in-house donor pool, our ovum donor coordinator will arrange a time for you to view donor profiles. You'll have access to information about the donor's background, medical history, educational level and family history. You'll also have the option of viewing photographs of the donors. Our in-house donors have undergone extensive screening, and we'll discuss any relevant findings from the screening process, including genetic screening and testing, mental health screening, infectious disease results and physical findings.

Once you've chosen a donor, the donor coordinator will confirm that she's free to go through the egg donation process during the time period requested. Then, information about your donor will be given to your doctor and nurse coordinator and your cycles will be synchronized.

If you select a donor from an outside agency, the agency will send information about the donor to our office for cycle coordination.

For more information, see our FAQ about how donors are screened and selected.

Synchronization

The donor and recipient's cycles must be synchronized so that the recipient's uterine lining will be ready for implantation when the donor's eggs are retrieved and fertilized. This is usually accomplished by administering birth control pills.

When the cycles are synchronized, the donor takes medications to stimulate the growth and maturation of a group of eggs. She's then monitored by ultrasound and blood tests for 10 to 14 days, until the eggs are ready to be retrieved. Meanwhile, you will be taking different medication to prepare your uterine lining for implantation of the embryos.

Egg retrieval and Embryo Transfer

Once the donor's eggs reach maturity, an egg retrieval is scheduled. Your partner or sperm donor will provide a sperm sample on the day of the egg retrieval for insemination of the eggs. When the embryos reach the proper stage for transfer — usually day three — you will return to the clinic for transfer to your uterus.

We typically recommend transferring one or two embryos from donor cycles. The decision of how many embryos to transfer will be discussed in detail with you by your doctor. The transfer of a single embryo reduces the risk of twins. Additional high-quality embryos from the cycle can be frozen and preserved to use at another time.

Deciding to Use Ovum Donation

Donor ovum can be a wonderful way for couples who can't conceive on their own to become parents. Nevertheless, deciding to pursue it can be a difficult process. Patients often come to this decision over time, after thinking hard about what becoming parents really means to them. Couples may consider other options, including adoption or not having children. Our psychologist is available to help you work through your thoughts and feelings about your various options.