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Quite a few of our previous egg donors have been kind enough to share their egg donation experience in reviews, testimonials, and videos. We are excited to share these personal egg donor stories with you!
“I donated my eggs for the first time with Donor Nexus and I do not think I could have had a better experience."
“I donated my eggs for the first time with Donor Nexus and I do not think I could have had a better experience. I am so grateful for Mackenzie, who is so sweet and makes the process so easy. She was with me the entire time, reminding me of my appointments and texting me after my appointments to make sure that I was okay. Also, the staff at HRC and the surgery center was all very nice and gentle with my blood draws and pelvic exams.
In regards to the process, the trickiest part was the self-injections, but I was given explicit instructions and video links that made the injections, simple and painless. As for my egg retrieval at the surgery center, I do not remember much of it, but it was painless and in good hands—the nurses were amazing. The only side effect I had from the entire egg-donor process was bloating from the medication and some more bloating from the procedure, but I think that was a small price to pay if it meant helping someone become a parent. I am satisfied in my decision to donate my eggs and would do it again with Donor Nexus.”
-Donor L.
"...provided me with every detail I was curious about and made me feel beyond comfortable with being a first time donor."
“I originally found out about Donor Nexus from a close friend of mine who worked with them & absolutely loved it. Becoming an egg donor meant more to me than just the compensation. I think as women, it has always been a dream of ours to become mothers someday. Becoming an egg donor meant that I was going to be able to help someone achieve that dream and bring happiness into other’s lives.
Donor Nexus made this process so easy for me. I filled out a questionnaire online and before I knew it, the team at Donor Nexus was already in contact with me, striving to get the ball rolling and simplifying every step for me. I was matched very quickly, within a month of signing up! Each appointment that was scheduled for me was very prompt and straight to the point. I really appreciated that!
Throughout the process if I had ANY questions at any moment, the sweet Mackenzie was only a text, call or email away. She provided me with every detail I was curious about and made me feel beyond comfortable with being a first time donor. As the time approached for me to begin the shots, I grew a little nervous wondering if they would hurt, or if I would even be able to do them myself. I was thoroughly instructed on how to do them and was informed that they are practically painless… They weren’t lying! The shots were beyond easy to give myself and I felt little to no pain at all!
The egg retrieval itself was a piece of cake. I was in NO pain whatsoever. My only side effect was mild bloating for about 2-3 days, which is completely normal and was expected. Mackenzie and the team at Donor Nexus were constantly by my side, checking in on me via texts and phone calls to make sure I was comfortable and well informed throughout the entire process. I am so lucky to have found such a great company to work with. I would do it 1,000 times over again!”
-Donor C.
"I look forward to helping more families in the future!”
“All my life I dreamt of becoming a mother. When I was about 7 months pregnant and loving every single moment of growing a beautiful life inside of me, I thought about women who could not experience this. I started to research what I could do to help and that’s when I came across egg donation. Right when I started reading about the whole process, I knew I wanted to do this and be a part of people’s dreams coming true.
I had a friend go through Donor Nexus so I decided to go online and fill out an application. Within a day Donor Nexus had reached out to me to explain the whole process of how everything works. About 2 months passed by and I got a text, email AND call from Mackenzie saying I had been matched and that we were just waiting on another intended parent for a shared cycle. About a month later I got another call saying we had another match and that time was now of the essence. We had multiple phone conversations to get me cleared to start the process. The day came when Mackenzie called to let me know that all medicine would be delivered to my doorstep the next day for me to start injections. This was my first time as an egg donor so I began to get a little stressed out. I knew that the intended parents dream of being able to conceive was now on me. I needed to take correct medications at a certain time every day at the time given to me. I did not want to mess this up! I wanted theses parents dreams to come true. I had some questions and Mackenzie was so great and replied very promptly. The whole injection process was a breeze.
On my retrieval day, I went in for the procedure and had such great medical care at HRC Fertility. All the nurses and doctors were very kind and helpful. Recovery was way easier than I thought it would be. My stomach was a little sore and I felt pressure but the very next day I was fine to go back to my everyday activities. About 2 weeks later, I found out that the intended parents were pregnant! Hearing the news made everything worthwhile. I look forward to helping more families in the future!”
-Donor B
"At the Doctor’s office the day of the retrieval I received the best medical treatment I think I ever have in my life!"
“Initially I became a donor because of the compensation benefits. I was looking for another job to supplement my income. I came across egg donation and began thinking of what an impactful decision this would be for a family wishing to conceive and having issues. I filled out the profile and within a few months had been selected by a pair of intended parents. This was my first time donating and I thought it was sort of unusual the parents wanted to meet me in person. Donor Nexus made it very clear that I in no way had to agree to this but if I was okay with it someone from Donor Nexus would also be in the room and help guide our conversation.
I agreed to meet them and am VERY happy I did. They were the sweetest couple and I really connected with them. They were immediately grateful for my willingness to meet them and also to be involved with this process. I left afterwards feeling extremely appreciated.
The process of the actual donation was a breeze for me. The injections for a few weeks prior to the retrieval were no big deal and never affected my daily life. At the Doctor’s office the day of the retrieval I received the best medical treatment I think I ever have in my life! They were all so kind and made sure I had met everyone… the Doctor, anesthesiologist, and all the nurses. Even Mackenzie from Donor Nexus was there! My recovery was super quick. I was never in any pain after I woke up, just bloated for about a week.
After the donation I received the kindest letter from the intended parents. It made a HUGE impact on me. They had not even found out if they had gotten pregnant yet and still were the most grateful people in the world. It was one of the most heartfelt letters I have ever read. They even referred to me as “their Fairy God Donor” And… they did end up getting pregnant!
I decided to do a 2nd donation which was very similar to the first in terms of ease. ALSO, I was able to make more money this time around because I was now a proven egg donor! I have decided to go for round three and I would highly recommend becoming a donor to anyone who would like to make a substantial amount of money while also deeply impacting a couple who desperately wants a family. In my opinion, it is the best gift that can be given and genuinely a beautiful thing!”
-Donor J.
"I actually received a thank you card from one family that I donated to and it made me feel so amazing inside that I started crying."
“When I first heard about egg donation, I was really interested in learning more about the process. I did some research and got really excited for my initial consultation. After I went to my consultation, I couldn’t wait to set up my profile and get started! I thought it was an amazing way to help people who couldn’t conceive and I knew it would be a wonderful feeling. A few months after I set up my profile, I got chosen to donate. I must admit, I was really nervous! Mackenzie was great at calming me down and letting me know that everything would be okay. She made me feel so much less nervous. Once I started my injections, I then got excited and anxious. I didn’t know how I’d feel throughout the process, but I soon realized it wasn’t bad at all! I knew I could get through it, and I knew I’d feel great afterwards knowing I was helping someone.
The closer I got to my donation date, the more bloated I started feeling. The doctor told me it was normal because I had so many eggs and my ovaries were stretched out. The donation process itself was pretty simple and I left the clinic with some minor cramping. I stayed in bed for a few days and drank Gatorade as I was told to do. It took about a week and a half for the bloating to go away and I felt fine after that. My first donation was in 2013 and I have done 5 cycles so far, soon to be 6.
Every single donation resulted in a happy ending…babies! Some were even twins! I actually received a thank you card from one family that I donated to and it made me feel so amazing inside that I started crying. Finding out that this particular couple had been trying for 8 years to conceive and that I helped them achieve their dream of having a child made me feel so warm inside. I wanted to donate over and over again! I am about to start my 6th and final cycle, and it’s a bittersweet feeling. I’m happy to have been able to help several families, but I am sad that this will be my last cycle. With all this being said, I definitely recommend anyone who is unsure if they would want to do this donation process or not, to do it. It really is minimally painful, and completely worth it!”
-Donor N.
"I highly recommend becoming a donor, you get to help others dreams come true and the compensation isn’t half bad either."
“Becoming an egg donor was one of the easiest decisions of my life. Being a mother myself, I couldn’t even imagine what the intended parents are going through with trying to conceive. When I first found out about egg donation, I was a little bit nervous, but very excited to be able to help others. I got my first match within a couple months after submitting my application and Mackenzie was always so helpful with any questions or concerns that I had, so the process was very easy for me.
A few weeks after my first cycle, I called Mackenzie to check the results of the potential pregnancies for the multiple couples and ALL 3 couples got pregnant!!! How awesome is that?! That’s when I realized I wanted to donate again as many times as possible. That moment made me feel like I was on cloud 9 and that those people now get to experience the best thing in life, being a parent. I’ve donated my eggs 4 times now (soon to be 5) and it’s been the best experience every time. I highly recommend becoming a donor, you get to help others dreams come true and the compensation isn’t half bad either. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
The process is different for everyone’s bodies, my body takes very well to the medication and I always have tons of eggs so my ovaries are obviously stretched out, so it takes me about a week after surgery to feel 100% again. The recovery time shortens after every surgery I’ve had and the pain is very minor cramping and bloating. The process is so rewarding, that the temporary pain is totally worth it! I hope this blog post is informative to others and more wonderful ladies decide to donate!”
-Donor D.
"Knowing that you helped someone start or add to their family is unlike any other feeling."
“Fertility, and specifically egg donation, is often a private topic. There are some articles online, but nothing really captures the joys and pains of donating your eggs. I have completed my second donation in six months and am looking into a third, and final, cycle with Donor Nexus.
Egg donation is an extremely rewarding process, as ultimately you are giving the potential gift of life. Knowing that you helped someone start or add to their family is unlike any other feeling. The minor discomforts are well worth the end result. However, any female looking into egg donation should be prepared for the process. Egg donation is a job. You must be prepared to sign on for all the elements of the process. Daily injections, eating right, not exercising, and abstaining from alcohol are all things expected of a donor. Dedication is key. Honestly, the daily injections are minimally painful and, when done correctly, have no bruising or bleeding. I almost look forward to my injections because it means I am one day closer to giving my eggs to the intended parents. Not all donors will react to the medication as I do but be prepared to gain a few pounds (easily lost after the donation). Personally, I had a rough recovery time after my first donation cycle. It took about three weeks for the bloating and discomfort to subside. I was extremely nervous for my second cycle.
Never be afraid to talk to your doctor or nurse about your body and how you are reacting to the medication. I tend to tough things out, but in this instance, it can be more harmful than helpful. My second cycle was almost pain free compared to my first, directly caused by my nurse and doctor listening to my needs and tailoring my medication schedule. If you have any unnecessary discomfort, tell your nurse right away. It makes the process so much easier on the body. I have learned more about female fertility and my body through egg donation than I could ever have been taught by textbooks. I would recommend egg donation to anyone, whether you know anything about fertility or not. Donating with Donor Nexus is the experience of a lifetime, an opportunity I am extremely grateful for.”
— Donor S.H.
"I literally woke up from the anesthesia the first time saying, 'let’s do this again!' The greatest part of it all is that you’re helping change someone’s life."
“I have donated my eggs twice now with Donor Nexus and I plan on cycling again when I can! Both times went a bit differently for me, but I seriously enjoyed each one of them. Yes, it can be a lot to deal with – daily injections, doctor’s appointments, and things you can & cannot do – but in the grand scheme of things it really isn’t so bad. The injections seem intimidating at first, but once you get the first one over with you realize it isn’t so bad. For me, the injections went for 2-3 weeks and I felt some bloating towards the second half of it, nothing extreme or unbearable.
As long as you’re making sure you’re taking care of yourself, fueling your body with protein & electrolytes and keeping healthy everything is all good! The procedure itself can also feel intimidating at first, but the nurses make you feel so comfortable and it’s over before you know it. I literally woke up from the anesthesia the first time saying, “let’s do this again!” The greatest part of it all is that you’re helping change someone’s life. I still don’t know if I want to have my own children or not, which is initially why I was interested in donating. I thought, there are so many people out there who are trying so hard to have children, but they just can’t do it on their own. I’m young & healthy, why can’t I help these people? I think it’s an amazing thing. So far, I haven’t heard if a pregnancy has come out of my donations, but I am so looking forward to the day that it does!”
-Donor A
"It was a beautiful process."
“Becoming an egg donor for Donor Nexus was such a gratifying experience for me. The entire process was so put together and organized, even when there were bumps in the road Donor Nexus’ staff was able to quickly and efficiently smooth out those bumps so that there was minimal to no stress on my part. Having so many doctor appointments allowed to me stay informed through the entire process especially since I live on the east coast and the Donor Nexus headquarters are in California. Living in a rural area made it hard to find a doctor’s office close to my home so I had to drive to the closest city which was 2 hours away for every doctor’s appointment or blood draw and Donor Nexus made sure I was reimbursed for all the gas I had to pay to get to and from appointments. I even went on a small beach vacation right before I was to fly to California for my egg retrieval and the girls assigned to my case worked around my schedule and found me a doctor’s office to get my blood drawn as close to the beach house we were staying at as possible. While I wouldn’t recommend following my lead and taking vacation right before an egg retrieval it is a prime example of how flexible and professional their staff is. They understood that I had a life outside of being an egg donor and wanted to help me work everything into my everyday life so that there was little to no change.
When starting the process of preparing my body for the egg retrieval there were very intricate steps to changing my diet and keeping my body healthy. For me this was the biggest change through this full process because I wasn’t used to having to look after my body so closely but after only a week or so the change in my diet became a routine and even after the retrieval I still keep to some of the healthy eating routines. Yes, being an egg donor will force you to make slight changes to your life in a small window of time but at the end of day it was an extremely fulfilling process. I have always wanted to give back in a personal way and to me this was the best way possible, especially since Donor Nexus makes sure all families and egg donors are one hundred percent ready for this big step through a rigorous screening process. Being an egg donor to me meant I could give back in a very personal way without being too involved. Now that I have donated some of my eggs to a very deserving family I would be very willing to donate eggs again if chosen by another prospective parent or set of prospective parents. Getting to fly out to California for 3-4 days and stay in a clean hotel close to the ocean was very generous of Donor Nexus, they treated me and my plus one with the up most respect and courtesy. They were able to get both of our plane tickets together and kept us in the same vicinity the whole time and once we had landed in California they gave us free time to explore in between doctor’s appointments. Seeing a new place and getting to do something special for other people made the experience very valuable to me. I hope that whom ever is thinking about becoming an egg donor really thinks hard about how they will feel about it in the future and considers their life style and if they feel like they can change unhealthy habits quickly. If so then don’t hesitate to call and talk to one of their lovely staff members about their program because for me, it was a beautiful process and I’m sure it will be for you as well.”
-Donor S
"...made me feel great that I could give someone the chance to have a child and to experience what I do everyday with my children at home."
“Being a first time egg donor, I didn’t really know what to expect through the whole experience. I knew what was going to go on based off what I was told and heard from some friends of mine. Going through the experience was very rewarding to me and made me feel great that I could give someone the chance to have a child and to experience what I do everyday with my children at home. Doing the shots and taking the medicine was no big deal for me because I knew I was doing it for all the right reason. The day of donation I was very nervous but once I got to the facility and talked to all the nurses and the doctor, they made me feel so comfortable. The process was very fast and I would definitely do it again in a heart beat for anyone!”
-Donor B
"My heart couldn’t feel more full. I’m so happy I made this experience possible for them and would do it again, if given the chance.”
“I recently completed my second egg donation cycle with Donor Nexus. It was slightly different from my first time around because I only had to give myself the injections for 14 days, instead of 22 days. In the grand scheme of things, even though I sometimes had to give myself 3-4 shots a day, I preferred the 14 day cycle. After a few days into the meds the doctor decided to up my Follistim dosage. It had me worried that maybe my body wasn’t responding to the meds or that I may feel more severe side effects. But everything went great. The only side effect I experienced during the cycle was bloating and very mild stomach cramps for a day or two after the retrieval. The doctor retrieved a total of 22 eggs from me and I just received the news that the IP is pregnant. My heart couldn’t feel more full. I’m so happy I made this experience possible for them and would do it again, if given the chance.”
-Donor J.
"I truly feel like I will be making a difference in the world."
“Egg donation is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. It started off with a simple interest. I’ve always loved helping people and thought this would be a great way to do so. I spoke with my husband to see his thoughts on this and he and I both agreed that this could be an incredible experience. I applied to Donor Nexus and within the month got an email letting me know they found me a match! I was ecstatic! I did my psychological screening and my medical screening. I was so nervous to see what the results may yield. It only took about an hour to complete each screening, but I had to wait a few weeks for my medical screening results.
Once I got the news that I passed, I was then able to move onto legal contracts. I was provided a lawyer who went over everything in detail with me. I got everything signed and began my medications. I must admit that I was nervous about this. I wanted to be sure I did everything perfectly. I had to self-administer injections for a total of three weeks before they did the retrieval. The only thing I can recommend is to be sure you keep good communication with your coordinator regarding medications and syringes. It’s better to give them notice and get what you need than to not realize until you’re completely out.
Then came the big day! I had no idea what to expect. This is considered surgery and it definitely feels like a real surgery. I was in a surgical room with a gown, cap and little booties. They put in an IV and the anesthesiologist came in to explain that they give me a medication that will put me to sleep for a very short period of time, but is very strong. I was told the procedure only takes about 15 minutes. I woke up a little later and my husband came into the recovery room to be with me, which was so comforting. I woke up for about 30 min, had some food and liquid, and was able to go home. The doctor let me know my results right away, so I was ecstatic everything went so perfectly! 29 eggs! It was better than I could have hoped. I know this will give the intended parents a very good chance of creating their baby. I haven’t found out the results of the intended mothers transfer yet, but I am really hoping for success. I truly feel like I will be making a difference in the world. I plan to do another egg donation in the future and hope to help create more families.”
-Donor S.
“I donated my eggs for the first time with Donor Nexus and I do not think I could have had a better experience."
“I donated my eggs for the first time with Donor Nexus and I do not think I could have had a better experience. I am so grateful for Mackenzie, who is so sweet and makes the process so easy. She was with me the entire time, reminding me of my appointments and texting me after my appointments to make sure that I was okay. Also, the staff at HRC and the surgery center was all very nice and gentle with my blood draws and pelvic exams.
In regards to the process, the trickiest part was the self-injections, but I was given explicit instructions and video links that made the injections, simple and painless. As for my egg retrieval at the surgery center, I do not remember much of it, but it was painless and in good hands—the nurses were amazing. The only side effect I had from the entire egg-donor process was bloating from the medication and some more bloating from the procedure, but I think that was a small price to pay if it meant helping someone become a parent. I am satisfied in my decision to donate my eggs and would do it again with Donor Nexus.”
-Donor L.
"...provided me with every detail I was curious about and made me feel beyond comfortable with being a first time donor."
“I originally found out about Donor Nexus from a close friend of mine who worked with them & absolutely loved it. Becoming an egg donor meant more to me than just the compensation. I think as women, it has always been a dream of ours to become mothers someday. Becoming an egg donor meant that I was going to be able to help someone achieve that dream and bring happiness into other’s lives.
Donor Nexus made this process so easy for me. I filled out a questionnaire online and before I knew it, the team at Donor Nexus was already in contact with me, striving to get the ball rolling and simplifying every step for me. I was matched very quickly, within a month of signing up! Each appointment that was scheduled for me was very prompt and straight to the point. I really appreciated that!
Throughout the process if I had ANY questions at any moment, the sweet Mackenzie was only a text, call or email away. She provided me with every detail I was curious about and made me feel beyond comfortable with being a first time donor. As the time approached for me to begin the shots, I grew a little nervous wondering if they would hurt, or if I would even be able to do them myself. I was thoroughly instructed on how to do them and was informed that they are practically painless… They weren’t lying! The shots were beyond easy to give myself and I felt little to no pain at all!
The egg retrieval itself was a piece of cake. I was in NO pain whatsoever. My only side effect was mild bloating for about 2-3 days, which is completely normal and was expected. Mackenzie and the team at Donor Nexus were constantly by my side, checking in on me via texts and phone calls to make sure I was comfortable and well informed throughout the entire process. I am so lucky to have found such a great company to work with. I would do it 1,000 times over again!”
-Donor C.
"I look forward to helping more families in the future!”
“All my life I dreamt of becoming a mother. When I was about 7 months pregnant and loving every single moment of growing a beautiful life inside of me, I thought about women who could not experience this. I started to research what I could do to help and that’s when I came across egg donation. Right when I started reading about the whole process, I knew I wanted to do this and be a part of people’s dreams coming true.
I had a friend go through Donor Nexus so I decided to go online and fill out an application. Within a day Donor Nexus had reached out to me to explain the whole process of how everything works. About 2 months passed by and I got a text, email AND call from Mackenzie saying I had been matched and that we were just waiting on another intended parent for a shared cycle. About a month later I got another call saying we had another match and that time was now of the essence. We had multiple phone conversations to get me cleared to start the process. The day came when Mackenzie called to let me know that all medicine would be delivered to my doorstep the next day for me to start injections. This was my first time as an egg donor so I began to get a little stressed out. I knew that the intended parents dream of being able to conceive was now on me. I needed to take correct medications at a certain time every day at the time given to me. I did not want to mess this up! I wanted theses parents dreams to come true. I had some questions and Mackenzie was so great and replied very promptly. The whole injection process was a breeze.
On my retrieval day, I went in for the procedure and had such great medical care at HRC Fertility. All the nurses and doctors were very kind and helpful. Recovery was way easier than I thought it would be. My stomach was a little sore and I felt pressure but the very next day I was fine to go back to my everyday activities. About 2 weeks later, I found out that the intended parents were pregnant! Hearing the news made everything worthwhile. I look forward to helping more families in the future!”
-Donor B
"At the Doctor’s office the day of the retrieval I received the best medical treatment I think I ever have in my life!"
“Initially I became a donor because of the compensation benefits. I was looking for another job to supplement my income. I came across egg donation and began thinking of what an impactful decision this would be for a family wishing to conceive and having issues. I filled out the profile and within a few months had been selected by a pair of intended parents. This was my first time donating and I thought it was sort of unusual the parents wanted to meet me in person. Donor Nexus made it very clear that I in no way had to agree to this but if I was okay with it someone from Donor Nexus would also be in the room and help guide our conversation.
I agreed to meet them and am VERY happy I did. They were the sweetest couple and I really connected with them. They were immediately grateful for my willingness to meet them and also to be involved with this process. I left afterwards feeling extremely appreciated.
The process of the actual donation was a breeze for me. The injections for a few weeks prior to the retrieval were no big deal and never affected my daily life. At the Doctor’s office the day of the retrieval I received the best medical treatment I think I ever have in my life! They were all so kind and made sure I had met everyone… the Doctor, anesthesiologist, and all the nurses. Even Mackenzie from Donor Nexus was there! My recovery was super quick. I was never in any pain after I woke up, just bloated for about a week.
After the donation I received the kindest letter from the intended parents. It made a HUGE impact on me. They had not even found out if they had gotten pregnant yet and still were the most grateful people in the world. It was one of the most heartfelt letters I have ever read. They even referred to me as “their Fairy God Donor” And… they did end up getting pregnant!
I decided to do a 2nd donation which was very similar to the first in terms of ease. ALSO, I was able to make more money this time around because I was now a proven egg donor! I have decided to go for round three and I would highly recommend becoming a donor to anyone who would like to make a substantial amount of money while also deeply impacting a couple who desperately wants a family. In my opinion, it is the best gift that can be given and genuinely a beautiful thing!”
-Donor J.
"I actually received a thank you card from one family that I donated to and it made me feel so amazing inside that I started crying."
“When I first heard about egg donation, I was really interested in learning more about the process. I did some research and got really excited for my initial consultation. After I went to my consultation, I couldn’t wait to set up my profile and get started! I thought it was an amazing way to help people who couldn’t conceive and I knew it would be a wonderful feeling. A few months after I set up my profile, I got chosen to donate. I must admit, I was really nervous! Mackenzie was great at calming me down and letting me know that everything would be okay. She made me feel so much less nervous. Once I started my injections, I then got excited and anxious. I didn’t know how I’d feel throughout the process, but I soon realized it wasn’t bad at all! I knew I could get through it, and I knew I’d feel great afterwards knowing I was helping someone.
The closer I got to my donation date, the more bloated I started feeling. The doctor told me it was normal because I had so many eggs and my ovaries were stretched out. The donation process itself was pretty simple and I left the clinic with some minor cramping. I stayed in bed for a few days and drank Gatorade as I was told to do. It took about a week and a half for the bloating to go away and I felt fine after that. My first donation was in 2013 and I have done 5 cycles so far, soon to be 6.
Every single donation resulted in a happy ending…babies! Some were even twins! I actually received a thank you card from one family that I donated to and it made me feel so amazing inside that I started crying. Finding out that this particular couple had been trying for 8 years to conceive and that I helped them achieve their dream of having a child made me feel so warm inside. I wanted to donate over and over again! I am about to start my 6th and final cycle, and it’s a bittersweet feeling. I’m happy to have been able to help several families, but I am sad that this will be my last cycle. With all this being said, I definitely recommend anyone who is unsure if they would want to do this donation process or not, to do it. It really is minimally painful, and completely worth it!”
-Donor N.
"I highly recommend becoming a donor, you get to help others dreams come true and the compensation isn’t half bad either."
“Becoming an egg donor was one of the easiest decisions of my life. Being a mother myself, I couldn’t even imagine what the intended parents are going through with trying to conceive. When I first found out about egg donation, I was a little bit nervous, but very excited to be able to help others. I got my first match within a couple months after submitting my application and Mackenzie was always so helpful with any questions or concerns that I had, so the process was very easy for me.
A few weeks after my first cycle, I called Mackenzie to check the results of the potential pregnancies for the multiple couples and ALL 3 couples got pregnant!!! How awesome is that?! That’s when I realized I wanted to donate again as many times as possible. That moment made me feel like I was on cloud 9 and that those people now get to experience the best thing in life, being a parent. I’ve donated my eggs 4 times now (soon to be 5) and it’s been the best experience every time. I highly recommend becoming a donor, you get to help others dreams come true and the compensation isn’t half bad either. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
The process is different for everyone’s bodies, my body takes very well to the medication and I always have tons of eggs so my ovaries are obviously stretched out, so it takes me about a week after surgery to feel 100% again. The recovery time shortens after every surgery I’ve had and the pain is very minor cramping and bloating. The process is so rewarding, that the temporary pain is totally worth it! I hope this blog post is informative to others and more wonderful ladies decide to donate!”
-Donor D.
"Knowing that you helped someone start or add to their family is unlike any other feeling."
“Fertility, and specifically egg donation, is often a private topic. There are some articles online, but nothing really captures the joys and pains of donating your eggs. I have completed my second donation in six months and am looking into a third, and final, cycle with Donor Nexus.
Egg donation is an extremely rewarding process, as ultimately you are giving the potential gift of life. Knowing that you helped someone start or add to their family is unlike any other feeling. The minor discomforts are well worth the end result. However, any female looking into egg donation should be prepared for the process. Egg donation is a job. You must be prepared to sign on for all the elements of the process. Daily injections, eating right, not exercising, and abstaining from alcohol are all things expected of a donor. Dedication is key. Honestly, the daily injections are minimally painful and, when done correctly, have no bruising or bleeding. I almost look forward to my injections because it means I am one day closer to giving my eggs to the intended parents. Not all donors will react to the medication as I do but be prepared to gain a few pounds (easily lost after the donation). Personally, I had a rough recovery time after my first donation cycle. It took about three weeks for the bloating and discomfort to subside. I was extremely nervous for my second cycle.
Never be afraid to talk to your doctor or nurse about your body and how you are reacting to the medication. I tend to tough things out, but in this instance, it can be more harmful than helpful. My second cycle was almost pain free compared to my first, directly caused by my nurse and doctor listening to my needs and tailoring my medication schedule. If you have any unnecessary discomfort, tell your nurse right away. It makes the process so much easier on the body. I have learned more about female fertility and my body through egg donation than I could ever have been taught by textbooks. I would recommend egg donation to anyone, whether you know anything about fertility or not. Donating with Donor Nexus is the experience of a lifetime, an opportunity I am extremely grateful for.”
— Donor S.H.
"I literally woke up from the anesthesia the first time saying, 'let’s do this again!' The greatest part of it all is that you’re helping change someone’s life."
“I have donated my eggs twice now with Donor Nexus and I plan on cycling again when I can! Both times went a bit differently for me, but I seriously enjoyed each one of them. Yes, it can be a lot to deal with – daily injections, doctor’s appointments, and things you can & cannot do – but in the grand scheme of things it really isn’t so bad. The injections seem intimidating at first, but once you get the first one over with you realize it isn’t so bad. For me, the injections went for 2-3 weeks and I felt some bloating towards the second half of it, nothing extreme or unbearable.
As long as you’re making sure you’re taking care of yourself, fueling your body with protein & electrolytes and keeping healthy everything is all good! The procedure itself can also feel intimidating at first, but the nurses make you feel so comfortable and it’s over before you know it. I literally woke up from the anesthesia the first time saying, “let’s do this again!” The greatest part of it all is that you’re helping change someone’s life. I still don’t know if I want to have my own children or not, which is initially why I was interested in donating. I thought, there are so many people out there who are trying so hard to have children, but they just can’t do it on their own. I’m young & healthy, why can’t I help these people? I think it’s an amazing thing. So far, I haven’t heard if a pregnancy has come out of my donations, but I am so looking forward to the day that it does!”
-Donor A
"It was a beautiful process."
“Becoming an egg donor for Donor Nexus was such a gratifying experience for me. The entire process was so put together and organized, even when there were bumps in the road Donor Nexus’ staff was able to quickly and efficiently smooth out those bumps so that there was minimal to no stress on my part. Having so many doctor appointments allowed to me stay informed through the entire process especially since I live on the east coast and the Donor Nexus headquarters are in California. Living in a rural area made it hard to find a doctor’s office close to my home so I had to drive to the closest city which was 2 hours away for every doctor’s appointment or blood draw and Donor Nexus made sure I was reimbursed for all the gas I had to pay to get to and from appointments. I even went on a small beach vacation right before I was to fly to California for my egg retrieval and the girls assigned to my case worked around my schedule and found me a doctor’s office to get my blood drawn as close to the beach house we were staying at as possible. While I wouldn’t recommend following my lead and taking vacation right before an egg retrieval it is a prime example of how flexible and professional their staff is. They understood that I had a life outside of being an egg donor and wanted to help me work everything into my everyday life so that there was little to no change.
When starting the process of preparing my body for the egg retrieval there were very intricate steps to changing my diet and keeping my body healthy. For me this was the biggest change through this full process because I wasn’t used to having to look after my body so closely but after only a week or so the change in my diet became a routine and even after the retrieval I still keep to some of the healthy eating routines. Yes, being an egg donor will force you to make slight changes to your life in a small window of time but at the end of day it was an extremely fulfilling process. I have always wanted to give back in a personal way and to me this was the best way possible, especially since Donor Nexus makes sure all families and egg donors are one hundred percent ready for this big step through a rigorous screening process. Being an egg donor to me meant I could give back in a very personal way without being too involved. Now that I have donated some of my eggs to a very deserving family I would be very willing to donate eggs again if chosen by another prospective parent or set of prospective parents. Getting to fly out to California for 3-4 days and stay in a clean hotel close to the ocean was very generous of Donor Nexus, they treated me and my plus one with the up most respect and courtesy. They were able to get both of our plane tickets together and kept us in the same vicinity the whole time and once we had landed in California they gave us free time to explore in between doctor’s appointments. Seeing a new place and getting to do something special for other people made the experience very valuable to me. I hope that whom ever is thinking about becoming an egg donor really thinks hard about how they will feel about it in the future and considers their life style and if they feel like they can change unhealthy habits quickly. If so then don’t hesitate to call and talk to one of their lovely staff members about their program because for me, it was a beautiful process and I’m sure it will be for you as well.”
-Donor S
"...made me feel great that I could give someone the chance to have a child and to experience what I do everyday with my children at home."
“Being a first time egg donor, I didn’t really know what to expect through the whole experience. I knew what was going to go on based off what I was told and heard from some friends of mine. Going through the experience was very rewarding to me and made me feel great that I could give someone the chance to have a child and to experience what I do everyday with my children at home. Doing the shots and taking the medicine was no big deal for me because I knew I was doing it for all the right reason. The day of donation I was very nervous but once I got to the facility and talked to all the nurses and the doctor, they made me feel so comfortable. The process was very fast and I would definitely do it again in a heart beat for anyone!”
-Donor B
"My heart couldn’t feel more full. I’m so happy I made this experience possible for them and would do it again, if given the chance.”
“I recently completed my second egg donation cycle with Donor Nexus. It was slightly different from my first time around because I only had to give myself the injections for 14 days, instead of 22 days. In the grand scheme of things, even though I sometimes had to give myself 3-4 shots a day, I preferred the 14 day cycle. After a few days into the meds the doctor decided to up my Follistim dosage. It had me worried that maybe my body wasn’t responding to the meds or that I may feel more severe side effects. But everything went great. The only side effect I experienced during the cycle was bloating and very mild stomach cramps for a day or two after the retrieval. The doctor retrieved a total of 22 eggs from me and I just received the news that the IP is pregnant. My heart couldn’t feel more full. I’m so happy I made this experience possible for them and would do it again, if given the chance.”
-Donor J.
"I truly feel like I will be making a difference in the world."
“Egg donation is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. It started off with a simple interest. I’ve always loved helping people and thought this would be a great way to do so. I spoke with my husband to see his thoughts on this and he and I both agreed that this could be an incredible experience. I applied to Donor Nexus and within the month got an email letting me know they found me a match! I was ecstatic! I did my psychological screening and my medical screening. I was so nervous to see what the results may yield. It only took about an hour to complete each screening, but I had to wait a few weeks for my medical screening results.
Once I got the news that I passed, I was then able to move onto legal contracts. I was provided a lawyer who went over everything in detail with me. I got everything signed and began my medications. I must admit that I was nervous about this. I wanted to be sure I did everything perfectly. I had to self-administer injections for a total of three weeks before they did the retrieval. The only thing I can recommend is to be sure you keep good communication with your coordinator regarding medications and syringes. It’s better to give them notice and get what you need than to not realize until you’re completely out.
Then came the big day! I had no idea what to expect. This is considered surgery and it definitely feels like a real surgery. I was in a surgical room with a gown, cap and little booties. They put in an IV and the anesthesiologist came in to explain that they give me a medication that will put me to sleep for a very short period of time, but is very strong. I was told the procedure only takes about 15 minutes. I woke up a little later and my husband came into the recovery room to be with me, which was so comforting. I woke up for about 30 min, had some food and liquid, and was able to go home. The doctor let me know my results right away, so I was ecstatic everything went so perfectly! 29 eggs! It was better than I could have hoped. I know this will give the intended parents a very good chance of creating their baby. I haven’t found out the results of the intended mothers transfer yet, but I am really hoping for success. I truly feel like I will be making a difference in the world. I plan to do another egg donation in the future and hope to help create more families.”
-Donor S.
Considering Becoming an Egg Donor?
We have more resources available for you linked below. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to our team and we will be happy to provide you with more information.
» Become an Egg Donor: Program Overview