How Egg Donation Works: A Step-by-Step Guide

Key Takeaways

• Egg donation is a carefully guided medical process that helps individuals and couples build their families.
• Donors go through screening, hormone stimulation, and a brief egg retrieval procedure.
• The process is safe, structured, and supported by fertility specialists every step of the way.

How Egg Donation Works

Family building doesn’t look the same for everyone. Thanks to assisted reproductive technologies (ART), there are now more ways than ever to grow a family—including egg donation. If you’re considering becoming a donor or recipient, here’s what the process involves and how each step works.

What Is Egg Donation?

Egg donation is when someone voluntarily donates their eggs to help another person or couple build their family. Egg donor services can support many types of families, including same-sex male couples, individuals who cannot produce eggs, single parents by choice, and couples experiencing infertility related to egg quality or quantity.

Egg Donation, Step by Step

Step 1: Screening and Eligibility Requirements

Before donating eggs, potential donors go through a thorough screening process to ensure their eggs are healthy and suitable for use. This includes medical, physical, and psychological evaluations.

Typical requirements include:

• Being between 21 and 32 years old
• BMI within certain parameters to ensure safety of treatment
• Overall good health
• Not smoking or using nicotine products
• No history of drug or alcohol abuse
• No significant genetic or mental health conditions

Step 2: Hormone Stimulation and Monitoring

The next step involves stimulating the ovaries with hormone injections to encourage multiple eggs to mature at once. Normally, only one egg fully develops during a menstrual cycle. With hormone therapy, many eggs can mature at the same time.

Throughout this phase, the donor is closely monitored with ultrasounds and blood tests. When the eggs are ready, a final injection helps them reach full maturity before retrieval.

Step 3: Egg Retrieval Procedure

The egg retrieval procedure is a short outpatient process, typically lasting 30 to 45 minutes. It’s performed under mild sedation for comfort. Using ultrasound guidance, the physician retrieves the eggs with a fine needle.

After retrieval, the eggs are frozen or fertilized immediately, depending on the intended use.

Step 4: Recovery and Aftercare

After the procedure, donors rest at the clinic for an hour or two before going home. Some may feel mild cramping or bloating once the anesthesia wears off. Most people return to normal activities within a day or two.

Conclusion

Egg donation plays a meaningful role in helping families grow. If you’re considering donating eggs or exploring donor eggs as part of your fertility treatment, reach out to your care team at San Diego Fertility Center to learn more about the process and next steps.

FAQs About the Egg Donation Process

What is egg donation?

Egg donation is when a healthy person donates her eggs to help another person or couple build their family.

Who can become an egg donor?

Donors are typically between 19 and 32 years old, have a healthy BMI, and meet specific medical and lifestyle criteria.

How long does the egg donation process take?

The process usually takes two to three months from the initial screening through egg retrieval.

Is the egg retrieval procedure painful?

The procedure is done under mild sedation, so donors don’t feel pain during it. Afterward, they may experience some mild cramping or nausea that typically subsides quickly.

What happens after egg retrieval?

Most donors recover within one to two days and can then return to their normal routines.

Clinically reviewed by Alyssa Schoenemann, RN