Egg donation and fertility treatments have made it possible for couples who otherwise would not have been able to have children to achieve that goal. The egg bank and clinics assist many women with infertility and members of the LGBTQ+ community who desire to create a family by connecting them with a reliable egg donor.

Once you have decided that becoming a parent through egg donation is the best option for you, you will need to select an egg donor. Perhaps the most difficult decisions are yet to come. How do you find the appropriate egg donor for you? Where do you begin when picking a donor from the egg donor database? This decision−making process has been divided into this article that you might face at various stages of the egg donor search procedure.

Are You Emotionally Prepared To Proceed With Donated Eggs?

Simple query − challenging response. Nobody chooses to use donated eggs for childbirth carelessly. Couples have frequently had several unsuccessful therapy attempts by this point, which can be stressful for both partners’ physical and mental well-being. Do you need more time to contemplate, consider, or perhaps, even grieve? If so, give yourself a break and take as much time as you need before making crucial choices. However, other people could be impatient to move on to the next stage and not want to wait any longer.

Do You Prefer Fresh Or Frozen Donor Eggs?

Should you attempt to undergo a cycle using fresh donor eggs from an egg donor cycle synchronized with your own? Should you deal with an agency that finds egg donors and pairs you with them? Fresh donor eggs can be a preferable option if having more eggs is crucial to you establishing a family.

On the other hand, frozen donor eggs could be a better option if you are sick of waiting and do not want a lot of extra eggs or embryos (and higher prices). You can obtain a predetermined quantity of donor eggs from women who have undergone thorough testing and screening, ready for use whenever you need them. You do not have to wait for an egg donor to finish her screening before synchronizing your schedule with hers. Additionally, there is less chance of unpleasant last-minute surprises like a failed screening test or fewer eggs than expected being removed from your egg donor.

What Qualities Do You Look For In An Egg Donor?

Many people wonder “How to choose an egg donor?” early on in their search for an egg donor. Before you get bogged down with specifics like your egg donor’s eye color and personality, there should be some minimum prerequisites to put in place. Egg donors should undergo a thorough screening procedure that includes questions about their physical and mental health, family medical history, genetics, and other factors. It should go without saying that passing this screening is the most crucial requirement. You may rest easy knowing that the donors of frozen donor eggs have previously undergone screening, allowing you to concentrate on other factors that are essential to you.

Medical & Family History

Almost always, expectant parents search for someone who is young, healthy, and has an unnoticed “family health history”. In many cases, prospective parents would screen out sperm donors’ comparable familial illness if the donor providing sperm has a specific health condition (such as depression, diabetes, or drug addiction) of concern.

Physical Appearance & Ethnicity

Many people frequently concentrate on the donor’s race, ethnicity, religion, or, occasionally in a related manner, their outward appearance. Finding a donor who might come from the family of an intended parent is a common desire. It could blow up in subtler characteristics like their grin or more obvious ones like their height, physique, or eye color.

Donors tend to be underrepresented by certain ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and religious affiliations (such as Black, Japanese, Jewish, and Muslim). It is simpler to identify with agencies that concentrate on particular groups or have a presence in a specific area.

You will usually see photographs of the donor, but experts warn that those photographs may contain cosmetic treatment that does not reflect the donor’s “natural” look. It is a great idea to ask for infant pictures and images of other family members.

Hobbies, Interests & Career

If you are especially passionate about a particular hobby, it can be appealing to find an egg donor that shares this too. It gives you and your egg donor another thing in common. You may have particular hopes for your child’s future and want an egg donor with a specific level of education or job. Every egg donor’s profile includes a description of their occupation.

Personality

After discovering physical characteristics, personality comes into play. All egg donors provide it through personal profiles so you can get a sense of who they are as people. If it is essential to you, this might assist you in finding an egg donor who has the same philosophy and way of life as you.

Verifying Information 

In the end, it is unclear who confirms the information the intended parents use to decide. It can vary depending on the state, the region, and who is involved in the donor selection. However, the procedure is often according to this pattern in nations like the United States.

Psychological Examination

If the donor seeks a donation with a clear conscience and without pressure, a licensed, impartial mental health expert will provide a recommendation (typically organized by an agency or third party). The clinic receives the recommendation for approval.

Physical Examination

To assess if the donor will generate enough eggs that will be safe to keep and transfer, a doctor will do a Pap, STD panel, ultrasound, and bloodwork. The examination is done under the supervision of an obstetrician−gynecologist or at your fertility clinic to examine the results.

Evaluating Intending Parents 

In addition, prospective parents may have to undertake psychological testing, which examines a row of topics, including how they would see their unborn child and themselves (conceived with donor eggs). A clinic will review an infectious disease screening conducted on the parent who donated their genetic material and provide its permission. 

Willingness to Maintain Ongoing Communication

It is often against the law for donors to stay in touch with donor egg families. Some expecting parents look for donors eager to remain connected throughout the consideration process, be available to answer questions as the child grows up, or keep in contact until the child is 18 years old.

This choice is already included in the procedure in other countries, such as the United Kingdom. Donors are aware that their children can legally ask for their donor’s identity once they turn 18 and may then decide to reach out to them.

Attitude Toward The Child

Some individuals find it challenging to comprehend utilizing an egg donor and severing their genetic ties to a child. Many people worry that they start to regard the child as not their own and that they won’t recognize themselves reflected in their face. It is a vision that many couples find frightening. An egg donor who is a sister or cousin can guarantee a genetic link between a parent and baby. However, asking a family member to provide eggs involves trade-offs and is usually not feasible.

Instead of trying to find an egg donor whose physical characteristics are the same as yours, you should think of each one as a unique individual with their qualities. After all, merging the genomes of two individuals always has unexpected outcomes.

If you are still having trouble deciding, speak with experts like Ovogene, that have years of experience in this industry and aid in reducing your list of options.