Healthy women between the ages of 20 and 29 who are non-smokers and can provide personal and medical information as well as family health history are considered optimal as egg donors.  Women who donate feel tremendous gratification and are enabled to do many things with financial rewards given to them for performing their Donor responsibilities.
 
 
From around the nation and internationally, Recipients can review information about numerous Donor candidates determining who best matches their selection criteria. After selecting their Donor, the Future Parents initiate the legal process and the Donor begins the psychological, genetic and medical screening.  Alternative Conceptions facilitates communications, procures insurance and makes payments to the Donor as responsibilities are accomplished.  As this process develops, many Donors are also given the opportunity to travel, in the case of distant Future Parents.

By a legal contract with the Donor, the Future Parents receive all the eggs produced in one treatment cycle. Invitro fertilization with a Donor gives at least a 50-60% chance of delivering a baby.  We treat our Donors with sensitivity, respect and dignity. We want the Donor experience to be personal, confidential and memorable.  Although some risk to the Donor exists, it is kept to a minimum by our qualified staff.

Usually the donation is anonymous, although the recipient knows the donor by her first name and has pictures of her as well as the completed questionnaire.  There may be situations where the recipient wants to meet her donor, in such cases, if the donor is willing, a meeting will be arranged.

 Donors are needed for women who:

·         are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to a viable delivery

·         are without ovaries due to a medical condition

·         have non-functioning ovaries due to premature ovarian failure

·         have infertility due to poor egg quality or age

·         have a genetic condition they do not wish to pass on

The recipients pays for all the donor's related fees, including medical expenses and travel. They also pay the donor's compensation.   Compensation is paid to the donor at the time of retrieval for her time and inconvenience rather than for the eggs.

Broad exclusionary factors like age, family genetics, number of sexual partners, and history of drug use can eliminate candidates when we do our initial interview.  Prospective donors will be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire and return it with a variety  of photographs.  The donor will be asked for personal references and for the name of her personal physician so medical records can be obtained.  The questionnaire will be reviewed and additional clarification might be requested.  The donor will also be required to provide proof of their blood type; this could be a copy of a Red Cross blood donation card. A personal or group session will be scheduled to provide more information and allow questions to be asked.  When all information is reviewed and verified, the donor’s profile will then be shown to potential recipients with similar characteristics.  

During the process Donors are required to do the following:

·         Consult with an attorney to complete a contract

·         Meet with our psychologist to take a test, the MMPI, which detects personality disorders, and have an interview to review the results and discuss issues related to egg donation

·         Consult with a geneticist to review your family health history.  A report is written with recommendations for appropriate genetic testing.

·         Meet with her recipient’s doctor and staff.  Some of the usual screening tests he or she might order are: blood tests for common sexually transmitted diseases or any screening recommended by the geneticist, pelvic exam including pap smear, cultures and ultrasound and urine tests for toxic substances.

The doctor and his staff will discuss possible side effects of medications, procedures, and other important information with the donor.  Cycle cancellation can occur if it is thought that the donor might be at high risk for certain complications or if the donor has had an unusually low response to the medications.

·         Follow precise instructions about self administering injections, most of which are subcutaneous (short needles).

·         Keep medical appointments which can occur daily at the end of the three week medical treatment.

·         Have eggs retrieved vaginally by an ultrasound guided needle while receiving intravenous anesthesia.   A short period of observation will follow prior to discharge.

Specially trained nurses and reproductive specialists administer and monitor treatment throughout the process and follow up period. We treat our Donors with sensitivity, respect and dignity. We want the Donor experience to be personal, confidential and memorable.             

The recipients are synchronized with the donor and kept informed of her progress.   The recipients support the donors with positive thoughts and good wishes.  The compensation paid to the donor does not begin to fully reflect the immense gratitude they feel.  Their deep appreciation and good wishes for this special person continue for many years.
 
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