Starting your search to find an egg donor may feel a little overwhelming at first, and you're likely going through many emotions as you begin.
Here are the key steps in your egg donor search:
First, you’ll create an account for access to Circle’s donor database. You’ll be able to browse profiles of potential donors and see which ones catch your eye. Many intended parents begin by looking for certain physical traits they’re seeking in their child (such as hair or eye color), which we make sure donors clearly capture in their profile photos. It may be a little daunting at first, but you’ll get more confident as you go - and our team will always be available to offer expert guidance.
Next, you can delve deeply into a donor’s questionnaire. This is an in-depth profile she submits describing her personality, interests, background, etc. It will also note if a woman has 'proven fertility' - meaning she has given birth to a healthy child, or her donated eggs have led to successful pregnancy for other intended parents. By the time you move on to the next step, you should feel very comfortable and familiar with the candidate.
The Circle team is very enthusiastic about ‘known egg donation’ - meaning we encourage the intended parents and the person donating eggs to be open with their identity and stay connected with each other - from matching to pregnancy and beyond. Occasionally, however, you’ll see an anonymous donor profile. We understand that donating eggs is a very intimate procedure, and some egg donors and intended parents have good reasons for wanting to protect their identity. We respect and support this decision.
Whenever you’ve settled on a potential donor that you feel connected to, just let your journey coordinator know. They’ll help you set up a Skype call, so you can get to know each other even better. Then you might have an in-person meeting before you make the ultimate decision. The whole process is very flexible, and depends on what you’re comfortable with.