Egg Donor Screening

Our Egg Donor Screening Process

At Donor Nexus, we are committed to providing both our intended parents and egg donors with the best possible experience. Below, we share our egg donation screening process which each donor must complete before beginning a cycle. As you will see, it is a fairly extensive screening process. It is important that we perform each of these steps to ensure the best possible outcome for both the egg donor and intended parent(s).

Egg Donor Screening Evaluations

All egg donors listed on our online database have completed comprehensive health and FDA questionnaires, and have been interviewed by our team. All donors with frozen donor eggs available in our egg bank have already completed all screening evaluations outlined below. For a one-on-one egg donation, we will initiate the remaining screening evaluations once a donor is selected by intended parent(s).

1. Medical Evaluations

The medical evaluation is often completed on days 1, 2, or 3 of the egg donor’s menstrual cycle at the intended parent’s designated fertility clinic. If your selected egg donor lives out of state, your physician may require her to fly in for a one-day medical screening. At times, the physician will not require the donor to fly, specifically if the donor has cycled before. We will orchestrate the donor’s travel arrangements and/or any pretesting that needs to be completed at a fertility clinic close to the donor’s home.

The medical evaluation includes:

• An ultrasound assessment of the uterus and ovaries

• Ovarian reserve testing:

To ensure that the egg donor is a top producer of eggs, the donor has ovarian reserve testing done which consists of a blood test looking at follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and an antral follicle count (AFC). The antral follicle count is a special ultrasound where the examiner counts the number of resting eggs the donor has. These three tests allow us to reject any egg donor not likely to have a good response to fertility medication, greatly reducing the risk of poor response or poor egg quality.

• State Mandated Infectious Disease Screening & STI Testing:

The egg donor is screened for HIV 1 and 2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HTLV 1 and 2, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea as well as other health screening labs. 

• Drug Screening:

The egg donor is screened for drug use, including opioids (heroin, morphine, prescription narcotics), cocaine, amphetamines, and marijuana.

• Genetic Carrier Panel:

The egg donor is interviewed by a certified genetic counselor to identify egg donors who may have an increased risk for genetic diseases. The genetic counselor then recommends any specific tests needed for that specific egg donor based on her family history and ethnicity. In addition to these specific tests, the egg donor also is screened for cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, Fragile-X, and a multitude of other genetic diseases. The results of both the genetic counselor’s report as well as the blood tests are available for review by the intended parents. Learn more in this blog post: What if My Ideal Egg Donor Is a Genetic Carrier?

• Physical Examination:

The egg donor will undergo a standard physical examination to ensure that she is healthy. We also perform a pap smear if the donor hasn’t had one done in the last 12 months. 

• Consultation with the Physician or Nurse Practitioner:

The donor will receive injection training to prepare for injecting medications. The donor will also be interviewed and examined by a board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility subspecialist.

• Comprehensive Medical Questionnaire:

The medical questionnaires will be used to determine the family history of the donor.

 

2. Psychological Evaluations

The donor will have a psychological evaluation with a therapist to ensure the egg donor is emotionally ready to perform what is required of her as a donor. Additionally, the donor will complete an online 300-point personality assessment.

 

3. Legal Consultation

The donor will have a legal consultation with a designated reproductive law firm that allows the egg donor to speak with an attorney to review her contract so she understands her rights and responsibilities before, during, and after her cycle.

Egg Donor Prescreening Timeline

The prescreening evaluations can take up to 3 months to complete, depending on the donor’s menstrual cycle. The donor may or may not be put on birth control pills.

 

 

We're Here to Support You Every Step of the Way

We take pride in the services we provide to our intended parents and the care we provide to our egg donors. Approximately 1 in 4 egg donors will be disqualified during the screening process. Although it may be discouraging to have your donor "screen out", these evaluations are in place to keep the donor safe and maximize your chances of success. Once the egg donor has been medically cleared and completed all screening evaluations, she can proceed with a cycle. The intended parent(s) can request a copy of the prescreen evaluations with all identifying information removed.

If you have any additional questions, please contact our team and we will be happy to assist you.

Additional Resources:

 

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We are always here to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to start your journey!