Deciding Between First-Time and Proven Egg Donors Oct 09, 2023 | by Lucy Solie-Vilker, Program Director

As you browse our online egg donor database, you will notice that some egg donors are categorized as "Proven Egg Donors" whereas some are listed as "First-Time Egg Donors". In this blog, we provide an overview of what exactly this means and the benefits of each to inform you of your options when participating in one of our donor egg programs.   

First-Time Vs. Proven Egg Donors

First, let's quickly explain what these terms mean.

First-Time Egg Donors:

First-time egg donors are women who have been accepted into the Donor Nexus egg donor program but have not yet completed an egg donation cycle.

Proven Egg Donors:

“Proven” means the donor has previously completed an egg donation cycle that resulted in a successful egg retrieval. The donor may have donated once or several times. 


Benefits of Choosing a Proven Egg Donor

Sometimes, fertility doctors may recommend selecting a proven egg donor for various reasons. The main advantages of choosing a proven donor are based on the donor’s experience; she has already completed a cycle so she knows what to expect and her body has already proven to respond well to the cycle medications and egg retrieval. With these factors taken into consideration, proven egg donors tend to request higher compensation than first-time egg donors. 

Success Rates Are the Same for First-Time and Proven Egg Donors

Overall, there is no difference in success rates between first-time egg donors and proven egg donors once the eggs are retrieved from the donor. A first-time egg donor does not have lower fertilization rates or lower pregnancy rates than a proven donor. 

However, First-Time Egg Donors May "Screen Out" Before Beginning the Cycle

With that being said, it is possible that a first-time egg donor may not pass her prescreen evaluations before beginning the cycle medications. Donors may get disqualified for various reasons, such as having low AMH levels, a carrier status that is incompatible with the sperm provider (i.e. if both are carriers of cystic fibrosis), or a positive drug or STI screen. 

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Benefits of Choosing a First-Time Egg Donor

Did you know that there are benefits to choosing a first-time egg donor as well? Every donor was once a first-time donor, and below we share some of the advantages of choosing a first-time egg donor with Donor Nexus.

  • Flexibility in Scheduling and/or No Waiting Time
    • Since proven egg donors are often in high demand, it’s not uncommon for the intended parent(s) to have to wait for their chosen proven donor to cycle. 
    • It is important to note that there are not as many proven egg donors available and oftentimes these donors are matched for a subsequent cycle while they are still in a cycle. 
  • Affordability
    • First-time egg donors generally have lower compensation than proven egg donors. This means the overall cycle costs will be less expensive when using a first-time egg donor.
  • Accommodating 
    • Most first-time donors are eager to get started and willing to accommodate the cycle schedule that works best for you.
  • Broadening Your Search
    • By including first-time egg donors in your selection process, you are broadening your search and therefore increasing the chances of finding a match that meets your most important criteria. 

Additional Category for Both First-Time and Proven Donors: Premier Program

You will find egg donor profiles labeled as "Premier First-Time Donor" or "Premier Proven Donor". This means that the donor is participating in our Premier Egg Donor Program.

We’re Here to Help You Every Step of the Way

We hope this information was helpful to you as you navigate through the process of choosing an egg donor. If you have any additional questions, our team is always here to help.

 

Additional Resources:

 

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