Futures by Donor Nexus
The Donor Nexus Futures Program allows you to freeze your eggs for free when you donate half of the retrieved eggs to be used by another family. With a bonus of free storage until 2035, this is an incredible opportunity to save thousands on egg freezing while also helping others fulfill their dreams of parenthood.
Qualifications
To qualify for the Donor Nexus Futures Program, you must meet the following criteria. Please note, candidates may be subject to additional criteria to determine eligibility.
- First-time egg donor
- Between the ages of 24-32
- No major hereditary or genetic illnesses
- Healthy BMI
- Non-smoker
- Must pass pre-screening evaluations
Here's How It Works
Step 1: Application and Screening Process
After receiving your application and questionnaire, we will be in touch to share a detailed overview of the process and answer any questions you may have. Upon being accepted into the program, you will start with the egg donor screening process which consists of medical and psychological evaluations in addition to a legal consultation. Once you complete and pass the prescreening evaluations, you are ready to begin your cycle.
Step 2: Cycle Medications and Preparation
Next, you will have a baseline appointment to determine your personalized medication protocol. You will self-inject your cycle medications for approximately 12-14 days to help stimulate ovarian response. You will have a few monitoring appointments during this time. Next, we will cover all expenses for you and a guest to travel to and from our partner fertility clinic, HRC Fertility in Newport Beach, California, for the egg retrieval procedure.
Step 3: Egg Retrieval and Vitrification
The egg retrieval procedure itself only takes 20-30 minutes. You will undergo anesthesia and will be monitored by the physician and anesthesiologist. Lastly, all the retrieved eggs will be vitrified (frozen) with half being added to the Donor Nexus Egg Bank to be used by other families and half being stored for you. We will store the eggs at no cost until 2035, and you will have the ability to donate them in the future for reimbursement if you choose.
Additional Information/FAQ
Why should I freeze my eggs? »
Since fertility declines with age, freezing your eggs while you are younger helps preserve your fertility potential for the future. Essentially, when you are ready to use your frozen eggs, you will have the same chance at success of the age at which the eggs were frozen. Studies show that if eggs are frozen by age 35, the chances of success will be higher than the natural conception rate as the woman gets older.
Elective egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is growing rapidly in popularity as women postpone family-building into their mid-to-late thirties and forties. Many women feel that it is an empowering and proactive choice to make while they are young, so they are not confined to their biological timeline when it comes to starting a family, and can instead feel comforted knowing that their eggs are frozen for when they are ready.
Who qualifies to participate? »
Healthy women between the ages of 24-32 are encouraged to apply. Our team will determine whether a candidate is eligible based on a comprehensive questionnaire that we provide to you. Additionally, qualification will be contingent upon passing all medical and psychological pre-screening evaluations. To participate in the program, you must be willing to donate half of the retrieved eggs to be used by intended parents.
How many eggs will I get per cycle? »
On average, 24 eggs are retrieved with 21 being mature eggs that are suitable for vitrification (freezing). Of which, half will be frozen for you and half will be added to our egg bank to be used by intended parents. If an odd number of retrieved eggs are suitable for freezing, they will be split evenly with the “extra” egg being donated. Your reproductive endocrinologist will let you know how many eggs were retrieved shortly after the procedure.
With that being said, it's important to note that there are many variables that may affect outcomes – including your age, health, and the quality and quantity of the eggs that are retrieved. This is why we provide you with fertility tests during your pre-screening evaluations; these tests help us predict whether your body will have a good response before you start the egg freezing process. Although these tests can provide us with a strong indication that you will produce a good amount of eggs, they do not 100% predict your fertility or the outcome of the cycle.
Does this guarantee future fertility? »
This study by Oxford Academic concludes that patients who are similar to egg donors (average of 28.5 years old) are expected to have a 94% likelihood of having a live birth with 20 mature eggs frozen.
This same study, among others, shows that women who freeze their eggs before age 35 have a high chance of those eggs resulting in a live birth later on. The cited study shows that 10 mature eggs frozen before age 35 gives you a 75% probability of having at least one live birth. Even better, having 20 mature eggs frozen before age 35 increases your likelihood of having at least one live birth to 90%.
To increase your chances of success in the future, and especially if you want multiple children, you may want to consider completing multiple cycles to bank a good amount of eggs.
What medical testing is included? »
» Genetic carrier screening
- During the pre-screening evaluations, you will have the opportunity to consult with a genetic counselor and have blood work done to be screened for a wide range of genetic disorders. You will be provided with the results which give you invaluable insights for your family planning decisions in the future.
» Ovarian reserve fertility assessments
- Fertility assessments like AMH testing and specialized ultrasounds will provide insights into your current reproductive health and the amount of eggs you have.
» Infectious disease testing
- You will be 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.
» Any other required medical exams
- Depending on your specifics, we may order additional testing if necessary.
If you do not pass the prescreening evaluations, there is no cost to you.
Where will my eggs be stored? »
Your half of the eggs will be stored for you at the state-of-the-art laboratory at HRC Fertility Newport Beach. Established in 1988, HRC Fertility is a leading clinic in egg vitrification and consistently ranks among the top nationwide. So, you can rest assured that your eggs will be skillfully handled and maintained.
How long can I store my eggs for? »
You can request your portion of the eggs at any time for your own family-building needs. They will be stored through the end of 2035 at no cost to you. At that point, you may take over the annual storage payment if you wish to keep the eggs stored for longer or you can choose to discard them at any time. Additionally, you will have the ability to donate them in the future for reimbursement if you choose.
Who receives the other half of the eggs? »
The recipient families (referred to as intended parents) are couples or individuals who have been longing for a baby, often for many years, but are unable to conceive naturally for a variety of reasons. Thanks to your generosity, they will have a good chance of having this dream come true.
Many intended parents are couples or individuals who have been diagnosed with infertility, which affects 1 in 6 people globally. Additionally, same-sex couples and individuals seeking a single-parent family benefit from donated eggs to grow their families. There are also several medical factors that may lead a couple to use donated eggs, such as not wanting to pass on an inheritable disease, or even cancer survivors whose ovarian reserve was depleted due to their treatment.
Is the egg donation anonymous? »
The majority of egg donations are anonymous. It is unlikely that you will meet or know information about the intended parent(s). In the rare chance that an intended parent wants to meet you, Donor Nexus will contact you to ensure you are comfortable with a meeting (in person, by phone, or by video conference). If you are comfortable meeting with the intended parent(s), Donor Nexus will facilitate the meeting. Please indicate on your questionnaire if you are willing to meet with the intended parent(s).
*Please note that although our team adheres to the highest standards to maintain donor and recipient confidentiality when facilitating the cycle, with advancements in commercial genetic testing, we counsel our egg donors and intended parents to understand that we cannot guarantee permanent anonymity in the future.
Learn more about donating eggs:
Empowering Your Fertility Journey: Apply Today to Get Started
To get started, please fill out our preliminary application. Once we receive your application, our team will email you with the next steps and a detailed overview of what to expect. Thank you for your interest in the Donor Nexus Futures Program!
Apply Now »
Disclaimer: Egg donation involves a screening process and not all potential candidates are accepted into the program. As with any medical procedure, there may be a risk associated with egg donation. First, an egg donor must agree to begin the egg donation process and sign a legally binding contract. The donor is required to receive specific information on the known risk of egg donation. Consultation with your doctor before entering into an egg donor contract is advised. [Ca. Health & Safety Code 125325(a)] In addition, a summary of the egg retrieval procedure must be given to the egg donor before there is a binding contract. [Ca. Health Code 125325(b)].