The Egg and Embryo Donation Processes
Here's some general information about the process if we decide we're a good fit and want to move forward:
Egg Donation:
1) Donor Screening: The screening process includes filling out a questionnaire with information on personal and familial health history, a general physical exam, a psychological screening, blood tests for common sexually transmitted diseases (required by the FDA even though no sexual contact takes place during the process) and genetic disease carrier screening via blood and/or saliva testing.
2) Fertility Testing: On the second or third day of her next menstrual cycle, the egg donor will then go to a local fertility clinic to have a vaginal ultrasound to count the number of follicles present and to a lab to check fertility hormone levels with a blood test.
3) Legal Contract: If the results of the above testing are good, we will both sign a legal contract to establish that the donor is a donor and not a parent under the law and that the donor will have no parental rights or responsibilities (ie. the donor can't be sued for financial support of the child, the child can't sue for inheritance rights from the donor's estate, the donor will not be listed as a parent on the birth certificate, the donor will not have custody or visitation rights, etc.).
4) Donation Cycle: During the donation cycle, the egg donor will go to a fertility clinic for a vaginal ultrasound and to a lab for hormonal blood tests every 2-3 days from the second day of her menstrual cycle until the egg retrieval (approximately 10-14 days total). She will also give herself injections of fertility medications during this same period of time. The appointments can be done at a local fertility clinic during the first part of the cycle and then a few days prior to the retrieval she will travel to Los Angeles, California and continue to be monitored every 2-3 days until the egg retrieval (on approximately the 14th day of her cycle). The donor will then remain in Los Angeles for 24-48 hours before returning home. The donor will be required to obtain a negative covid test 48 hours prior to the egg retrieval. Egg retrieval is an outpatient procedure that is done under IV anesthesia. The retrieval itself usually takes less than 30 minutes but the egg donor will be in the clinic for about 2-3 hours total including preparation time and recovery time after coming out of anesthesia.
All of the donor's medical, legal and travel expenses will be paid by the intended parent. It is unlawful to buy or sell human body parts (including eggs, sperm and embryos), so the donation itself is technically a gift, but it is legal to compensate donors for their time and inconvenience. Thus the egg donor will be compensated $10,000 for her time and inconvenience.
2) Fertility Testing: On the second or third day of her next menstrual cycle, the egg donor will then go to a local fertility clinic to have a vaginal ultrasound to count the number of follicles present and to a lab to check fertility hormone levels with a blood test.
3) Legal Contract: If the results of the above testing are good, we will both sign a legal contract to establish that the donor is a donor and not a parent under the law and that the donor will have no parental rights or responsibilities (ie. the donor can't be sued for financial support of the child, the child can't sue for inheritance rights from the donor's estate, the donor will not be listed as a parent on the birth certificate, the donor will not have custody or visitation rights, etc.).
4) Donation Cycle: During the donation cycle, the egg donor will go to a fertility clinic for a vaginal ultrasound and to a lab for hormonal blood tests every 2-3 days from the second day of her menstrual cycle until the egg retrieval (approximately 10-14 days total). She will also give herself injections of fertility medications during this same period of time. The appointments can be done at a local fertility clinic during the first part of the cycle and then a few days prior to the retrieval she will travel to Los Angeles, California and continue to be monitored every 2-3 days until the egg retrieval (on approximately the 14th day of her cycle). The donor will then remain in Los Angeles for 24-48 hours before returning home. The donor will be required to obtain a negative covid test 48 hours prior to the egg retrieval. Egg retrieval is an outpatient procedure that is done under IV anesthesia. The retrieval itself usually takes less than 30 minutes but the egg donor will be in the clinic for about 2-3 hours total including preparation time and recovery time after coming out of anesthesia.
All of the donor's medical, legal and travel expenses will be paid by the intended parent. It is unlawful to buy or sell human body parts (including eggs, sperm and embryos), so the donation itself is technically a gift, but it is legal to compensate donors for their time and inconvenience. Thus the egg donor will be compensated $10,000 for her time and inconvenience.
Embryo Donation
1) Donor Screening: The screening process depends on the procedures of the clinic where the embryos are stored and the clinic where the transfer occurs. In most cases the clinic where the embryos are stored will send a report to the recipient's clinic with information about the embryos for the recipient's clinic's approval. Usually most of the screening tests have already been done in the past, but in some cases clinics can require filling out a questionnaire with information on personal and familial health history, a general physical exam, a psychological screening, blood tests for common sexually transmitted diseases (required by the FDA even though no sexual contact takes place during the process) and/or genetic disease carrier screening via blood and/or saliva testing.
2) Legal Contract: If my clinic approves the donated embryos, we will both sign a legal contract to transfer ownership of the embryos (embryos are treated as "property" under the law). The contract also establishes that the donors are donors and not parents under the law.
3) Shipping the Embryos: Depending on the procedures of the clinic where the embryos are stored and what makes the most sense for the situation, the embryos can be shipped to my clinic in Los Angeles for a transfer in Los Angeles or I can travel to the clinic where the embryos are stored for a transfer there.
It is unlawful to buy or sell human body parts (including eggs, sperm and embryos), so embryo donation itself is generally considered a gift. In most cases recipient families pay the legal costs for both parties (donors and recipients), medical costs of any new screening tests and the costs to release and ship the embryos. I am happy to discuss financial details with any family with whom I am exploring matching.
2) Legal Contract: If my clinic approves the donated embryos, we will both sign a legal contract to transfer ownership of the embryos (embryos are treated as "property" under the law). The contract also establishes that the donors are donors and not parents under the law.
3) Shipping the Embryos: Depending on the procedures of the clinic where the embryos are stored and what makes the most sense for the situation, the embryos can be shipped to my clinic in Los Angeles for a transfer in Los Angeles or I can travel to the clinic where the embryos are stored for a transfer there.
It is unlawful to buy or sell human body parts (including eggs, sperm and embryos), so embryo donation itself is generally considered a gift. In most cases recipient families pay the legal costs for both parties (donors and recipients), medical costs of any new screening tests and the costs to release and ship the embryos. I am happy to discuss financial details with any family with whom I am exploring matching.