Frequently Asked Questions for Egg Donors
General and Contacts
How do I become an egg donor with Circle Surrogacy?
Please review and read all the requirements listed in detail below, then apply online here.
How long does the whole process take?
Time lines vary. There is no guarantee that you will be chosen as an egg donor, but you could also be chosen within days of being accepted into our program. Most intended parents at Circle Surrogacy also require a gestational surrogate, so even after you are matched there can be a waiting period while your intended parents are being matched with a surrogate. Although the donation itself lasts only 3-4 weeks, commitment to the process is typically 3-4 months.
How many times can I donate with Circle Surrogacy?
Most of our clinics will only allow an egg donor to participate six times. However, we can only rematch you if the previous donation resulted in a pregnancy or a successful retrieval.
What kind of emotional issues are there with donating?
Emotional experiences vary throughout the process. The decision to donate should be well thought out before you proceed with screening and matching. You are welcome to talk with the social workers who conduct your screening about any specific concerns or questions. You may experience moodiness from the medications; however after the donation, most of our egg donors enjoy the extreme pride and joy of having given such an incredible gift.
I have more questions, who do I contact?
If you have any other questions about egg donation, email our Egg Donor Coordinator, Liz Connor (econnor@circlesurrogacy.com).
Requirements
What are the requirements for being an egg donor with Circle Surrogacy?
Successful egg donor candidates meet the following criteria:
- Between 20-29 years of age (up to 31 for experienced donors),
- Body Mass Index (BMI) of no higher than 28 (calculate your BMI here),
- No more than one occurrence of the same cancer in family history (except leukemia and lung),
- No heart disease under age 55 in family history,
- No use of illegal drugs or cigarettes, or alcohol abuse,
- No psychiatric hospitalizations.
- Minimum of high school degree (college degree preferred)
- Applicants of all ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
- Must be comfortable with giving yourself daily injections.
What are the age limits on being an egg donor? Why?
Egg donors in our program must be between 20-29 years of age. The reproductive endocrinologists and clinics that we work with set the standards. We do, however, accept previous egg donors up to the age of 31. Please email our Egg Donor Coordinator (econnor@circlesurrogacy.com) for instructions on how to apply if you are a previous egg donor over the age of 29.
I am adopted. Can I still be a donor?
Yes, if you know your biological families health history. Unfortunately, if your adoption was closed you may not be able to provide us with all of the necessary medical information.
If I don’t live in the United States, can I donate my eggs for Circle Surrogacy families?
No. We’re sorry but we only accept egg donors who reside in the United States.
Does your family have to be supportive of you as an egg donor?
Yes. We feel it is important to realize the very large impact this donation could have not only on the lives of potential intended parents, but also on your life. With that in mind, we often encourage known donations so the intended parents can meet you to see more of your personality than is revealed in the application. Your health history may change years from now and you would want keep the intended parents to whom you have donated informed. Many of our couples are same-sex couples and often prefer a known donor, which can help to relay honesty and dispel the mystery of the child's birth story in the future. Finally, we want you to be aware that even if you prefer to have an anonymous donation, information technology is constantly evolving and there is no guarantee you would remain anonymous. We would hate to disrupt your life and potentially cause a negative situation for you and the child in the future if the child were to search for you. Given all of this, we also feel strongly about discussing your intentions to donate with your family. We hope you realize we advocate this for your sake as well as for the sake of the child potentially brought into the world and do not wish to cause any relational difficulties in your life in the future. That said, there are ways our agency can stay in touch with you if you prefer an anonymous donation.
Screening
How many and what kind of pictures do you want me to submit?
Five pictures in all, one of which needs to be a recent close-up of your face and one needs to be a recent photo of your full body. If you choose, childhood photos or photos of your children or family are also welcomed. Please try to limit to ten pictures at maximum. Keep in mind that these photos are the first impression intended parents will have of you when they are selecting a donor. They are looking for the best representation of physical attributes to help them find an egg donor who is right for them.
The application to be in your program is very long. Why do you need all this information?
Most of the information on our application is requested by the IVF clinic for its screening. We also use the information for matching purposes with the intended parents and the information helps the couples and singles in our program learn about you.
Matching
Will I have to travel or can you match me with local intended parents?
We
work with intended parents who have chosen clinics throughout the United States.
Where you travel will depend on where in the country the intended
parent has decided to use for an IVF clinic. This is where you will
travel twice. We will disclose that information prior to matching, so you
will be aware of potential travel. We can certainly try and match you
only locally, but that will decrease your chances of being chosen as an egg
donor, to only those couples working with a IVF center in your area.
Do I as a donor choose who I donate to or does Circle choose for me?
You do. After a couple or single intended parent in our program shows interest in working with you, we send you their redacted profiles for review so that you can decide if they are a good fit for you.
What are the differences between anonymous, semi-anonymous, and known donation?
The matching for each process is the same and you are able to review a redacted profile for the intended parents, as they are able to view yours. In an anonymous donation, you would not have open contact or communication with the couple or single you agree to donate to. The contracts would use only first names and all information would be exchanged through our agency. We ask that you keep our agency informed of all changes in your health history and keep your contact information up to date.
- Semi-anonymous or identified donation is when you donate your eggs and limit the amount of information that is shared. For example, you can decide you do not want to exchange information but may want to meet in person at our office.
- In a known donation, we can set up communication between parties and you can carry on the relationship to your agreed upon level of comfort. For example you can meet and exchange information to be in touch in the future if necessary or can form a friendship and have consistent contact. Our social workers will discuss this further and answer any questions in your screening.
How do I know which kind of contact is best for me?
Once your application form is fully completed and you pass that portion of screening, you will be in touch with one of our social workers for continued screening. They will help you decide which is best and what you are most comfortable with.
Does Circle Surrogacy do more known or anonymous donations?
We do more varying levels of known donations than anonymous.
I see on your website that you have a donor database. Do we have to have our information on the website?
No. You do not have to be listed in the database. But it gives our intended parents and many other families more opportunities to learn about you being their potential donor.
Financial
How do I decide what fee is right for me?
Our first time donors generally receive a fee of $8,000 whereas experienced and successful donors will receive a higher fee. It can also vary based on certain characteristics that are harder to find such as a professional degree, etc. The social worker who screens you will be happy to discuss suggested fees based on the norms of our agency.
Total payments to donors in excess of $8,000 require justification and sums above $10,000 are not appropriate; Circle Surrogacy complies with guidelines set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) for egg donation compensation.
Who is responsible for all the bills?
The family that you donate to will be responsible for medical bills, travel bills and other expenses related to the donation.
Do I have to have medical insurance?
It is recommended that all people have medical insurance but if you don't you can still be a donor in our program. The intended parent you are matched with will purchase complications insurance for you.
Medical Process
Can you briefly tell me what the process is like?
Medications are given to suppress the menstrual cycle and ovarian stimulation medications are given to stimulate the production of eggs. Most of these medications are injections and are self-administered for 3-6 weeks (this can vary) until retrieval. The retrieval is done vaginally with a catheter under a mild intravenous (IV) sedation. The retrieval takes about 20 minutes with about an hour in the recovery room. Afterwards you may experience some mild cramping, bleeding, or bloating.
What kinds of medications are used?
Medications are used to coordinate cycles, suppress ovulation, stimulate follicles, and to trigger release of eggs. Examples of these include birth control pills, Lupron, Ganirelix, Follistim, Gonal-F, Menopur and HCG. These may be used in different combinations depending on the clinic and physician and some of the medications can be known by various names.
Are there any complications that I need to be aware of?
Most people experience limited to no complications. You can experience minor discomfort after the procedure, or symptoms associated with your natural cycles, such as headaches, moodiness, or cramping. There have been a very small number of extreme cases of hyperstimulation. Although it has never happened in our program, there is a need to disclose that there have been very rare and extremely limited cases of infertility or death.
Will donating affect my own fertility?
No relationship between egg donation and future fertility has been clearly established, although research is continuing. Egg donation does not deplete your ovarian reserve. Each month you release a number of eggs, but only one comes to maturity, generally. The hormones administered in the donation process stimulate more than one to reach maturity. Women in their 20s have hundreds of thousands of viable eggs, although the number diminishes over time.
Do you have any more information that I could research on my own about the medications, possible complications, and the process of donation?