What to Consider When Choosing Egg Donor Clinics and How They Work
In some cases, couples are unable to conceive a child on their own. This can certainly be a source of emotional pain, stress and a costly journey toward parenthood. Fortunately, modern medicine has offered numerous avenues for people who need additional options in order to start their family. Egg donation is one of the most successful treatment options available that allows people to select a donor based on various characteristics.
Egg donor clinics are facilities in which individuals can go through the process of donating their eggs. The facility streamlines the process by offering medical and emotional support in order to best educate the donor about potential risks and what to expect during extraction.
Of course, it is important for people considering egg donation to fully vet a potential egg donor clinic before selecting it. You want to be sure that the clinic is in good standing and offers the appropriate amount of support from start to finish. You will want to be confident in your decision whether you are a donor or recipient of eggs. Here, we will examine additional information associated with egg donor clinics so you can make the most knowledgeable decision for your future.
How to Find the Right Egg Donor
Many specifics go into finding the right egg donor. Let’s examine some of the top consideration should keep in mind.
Are you sure?
First, you will want to be sure that you are emotionally ready to receive donated eggs. This process is incredibly personal and can be much more difficult to make than one may think. You want to be sure that you have given yourself adequate time to come to terms with this decision before moving forward.
Important Traits
One of the best things about egg donation is that it requires a complete physical and mental evaluation. You will have a significant amount of information about the donor. Typical information includes:
- Appearance
- Personality
- Education
- Career
- Ethnicity
- Religion
You can choose a person who blends well with what you are looking for.
Frozen or Fresh?
For some people, a big decision is whether or not to use fresh or frozen eggs. For instance, people who would like the potential of multiple babies should use fresh eggs. However, frozen eggs may be a better solution if you are not interested in waiting for fresh eggs. It all boils down to your family planning goals.
Cost
There are numerous fees associated with egg donation. The donor is usually paid between $5,000 to $10,000 to cover any lost income. Other fees you should expect to pay include:
- Legal coordination ($600)
- Egg donor attorney fee ($500)
- Egg donor psychological evaluation ($500)
- Egg donor insurance ($300)
- Escrow account management ($300)
Additional costs may apply and the amounts listed here are only based on averages.
Other Considerations
Typically, there are a few basic criteria that should be met in order to better the chances for success. The donor should preferably be under the age of 35, a non-smoker and they should have completed testing to ensure that they have a normal ovarian reserve. Additionally, they should have genetic screening and blood tests to determine family history and also tests to determine the status of sexually transmitted diseases.
Success Rate
Age can greatly influence the success rate of egg donation. Donors who are ages 21 to 32 are considered the prime years for egg donation. Donor-egg IVF has the highest success rate of any treatment, with 52% of treatments resulting in a successful pregnancy. However, while there may be some things that may increase the chances of success, there is no guarantee that egg donation will result in a successful pregnancy.
Potential Risks
As the recipient, you will not experience the same risks as the donor. You do not have to undergo the retrieval process or endure an invasive IVF procedure. However, there is a chance that the donation may result in multiple pregnancies, which have its own series of health risks.
This is why it is incredibly important to evaluate how many embryos you wish to the implant. On the one hand, more embryos mean an increased chance that at least one of them will be successful; however, there is a chance that every single embryo will be a success resulting in multiples.
Be sure to go over the pros and cons of numerous embryo implantation with your doctor. Ask questions about the statistics and understand the potential risk with that decision.
Overview
Egg donation can make someone’s dream of becoming a parent come true. However, there are many considerations you should keep in mind as you go through this process. Whether you are the donor or the recipient, this is a decision that should be made with careful consideration. For more information, reach out to your medical provider to learn more about the process and the choices that may be right for you.