The Donor Cycle

Egg donors can expect to have somewhere between four to eight visits to Your Practice Name. If a donor is from out of the area, and travelling for the cycle, two or three of these visits can be made at a nearby clinic.

Once chosen, a donor makes an initial screening and consultation visit to Your Practice Name. The donor will have blood is drawn and be tested for infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and some genetic disorders. An up-to-date Pap smear will be conducted, as well as a urine screening to test for any drug use.

The doctor will interview the donor and perform a trans-vaginal ultrasound. The best time for this is on day three of the menstrual cycle. Multiple blood draws and trans-vaginal ultrasounds will be performed throughout the donor cycle. A long narrow transducer is inserted into the vagina covered with a condom for sterility. A gel is placed i the condom to transmit sound waves and onto the outer surface for lubrication. The process should be painless and feel similar to a Pap smear.

In most cases, to start the donation cycle, the donor will take birth control pills for about ten days, then lupron injections for about ten days, which slows down menstruation. Lastly, a Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FTS) is given by injection for another ten days.

For about three weeks the donor will be receiving injected hormones by a small needle, usually in the thigh or lower abdomen. Donors can typically give themselves the shots or have a friend assist them since the shots are simple to give.

When the eggs are mature, the donor returns for egg retrieval. This is usually done in the clinic and takes about 20 minutes. Under light sedation, the eggs are retrieved vaginally with a long needle to eliminate possible scarring.

The donor should be taken home by a friend soon after the process. She will want to rest for one day but can resume normal activities by the following day. We will be sure to let the donor know if a successful pregnancy results from her donation.