It takes a very special and altruistic person to consider becoming an egg donor. Because of people like you, individuals and couples can fulfill their dream of having a family. Congratulations on taking this first step in helping others achieve their happily ever after! 

About Donor Nexus 

Donor Nexus is a premier egg donor agency located in Newport Beach, California. We partner with leading fertility clinics throughout the United States to provide our egg donors with exceptional care. Our Case Managers are caring and will be your advocate throughout the entire process, start to finish. 

We have an overview of our egg donor program outlined for you below. If you prefer, you can also download a PDF with all the information:

DOWNLOAD PDF

 

How to Become an Egg Donor 

Step 1: Fill out the provided questionnaires. Be sure to be thorough and show off your personality. The intended parents are going to see your answers. Be sure to use spell check too! 

Step 2: Find 10-15 photos of yourself from all stages of your life- infancy, childhood, teenage, adulthood. Also submit at least 1 full body photo of yourself now. Any photos of your family and siblings are good too. These photos will be included on your online profile for intended parents to look at, so please make sure they are appropriate. Intended parents like to see photos from graduation, extra curricular activities, anything that gives them an insight of who you are. 

Upon receiving your questionnaires and photos, we will review your application. If you are accepted into our program, we will upload your profile onto our extensive database and are open to answering any questions you may have regarding the egg donor process. 

If you are accepted into our program: 

1. Recipient individuals and couples are able to search our database on what their particular needs are (ethnicity, education, personality, etc).  

2. Upon selection, we’ll begin your initial appointments (pre-screening). Pre-screenings consist of a psychological evaluation, a genetic consult, legal consult and medical evaluation. 

• The psychological evaluation is done primarily to make sure that you are emotionally ready to perform what is required as a donor. Also, to get insight into your personality. You will also be sent an PAI test to complete beforehand which consists of ~300 questions. 
• The genetic consult is to go over your family history of any illness and disease. 
• The legal consult will give you the opportunity to speak with an attorney to review your donor contract so you understand your rights and responsibilities moving forward. 
• The medical evaluation is completed during your menstrual cycle at the designated fertility clinic. The evaluation includes a transvaginal ultrasound, extensive blood work, a physical, and injection training so that you will know how to inject your medication when the time comes. 

 

The pre-screening process can take up to 2 months depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. 

3. Once the pre-screen process is completed and cycle dates have been determined, you will begin your medications. The doctor will base your protocol on your medical evaluation results. Depending on the type of protocol, you will be on medications from 10-12 days. Most protocols start with a medications called Menopur and/or Follistim/Gonal-F . This is generally taken for about 12 days, by self-injection, once a day.

4. You will then visit the fertility clinic for a baseline blood test and a transvaginal ultrasound in preparation for the next phase of medications. 

5. Once the baseline results are in, the doctor will instruct you to begin the stimulation medications. The stimulation medications are given once a day via injection for about 10-12days. 

6. The doctor will have you visit the designated fertility clinic about every other day between 7:30am and 9:30am during the stimulation phase of medications. The appointments are brief and consist of a transvaginal ultrasound and blood draw to determine how you are responding to the stimulation medications. The doctor will view the results of the transvaginal ultrasound and blood work and determine whether you need to change the amount of stimulation medication you are on. 

*This is a very crucial part to the process, appointments must be completed at a certain time of the day so we can receive same-day results to ensure your medicine protocol is at a safe dose for you! You are responsible for scheduling your own appointments ahead of time and arriving to your appointments on time. 

7. Toward the end of the stimulation phase, when your hormones have reached the appropriate level, the doctor will instruct you to take your final injection, called the “trigger” shot. The “trigger” shot will be Lupron/Leuprolide, hCG or a an combination of the two.  This gets your ovaries ready for your procedure. 

• The day after you trigger, you will have a blood test to make sure the trigger shot worked. This is called an “LH test.

 

8. About 34-36 hours after you give yourself the “trigger”, you will be at the designated fertility clinic for your egg retrieval procedure. The procedure is performed in the clinic. You will be under monitored anesthesia care. Most donors feel and remember nothing from their procedure. You are closely monitored by both your physician and anesthesiologist throughout the procedure. You will be given a detailed explanation of the process from your nurse when you begin the process. 

9. About an hour later you will be awake and ready to go home. Most donors return to work/school the following day. 

• If your cycle is out of state, you can bring a companion with you so you are not alone during and after your procedure. If you are unable to find a companion, a nurse will be hired for you. 

 

Important Notice: Please know egg donors are unable to smoke/drink while taking cycle medications because it diminishes egg quality. Egg donors will also need to abstain from sexual intercourse while on medications to avoid pregnancy and STDS, and will also be checked periodically throughout their cycle to ensure they are not taking any illegal substances. If a donor tests positive for any of the above, it is automatic disqualification. 

If you have any questions about your application, feel free to email our Case Management team, at eggdonors@donornexus.com or call/text them directly at (949) 433-5635.

Thank you for considering becoming an egg donor. Our clients (intended parents) appreciate your selfless effort! 

*Egg donation involves a screening process and not all potential egg donors are selected and not all selected egg donors receive the compensation amount advertised. 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)].