Egg Donor Program

Donor Information

It takes a special kind of woman to be willing and able to share the gift of fertility with an infertile woman. Helping others to achieve their dream of having a child can be a deeply gratifying and even life-altering experience. At AFS, we value the magnitude of this gift. Our staff is dedicated to providing a nurturing setting and ensuring that our donors have a safe, caring, and positive experience.

In order to qualify to be an egg donor at American Fertility Services, you must reside in the tri-state region. You must be able to come to the Manhattan location, during business hours, for a series of screening interviews and for the medical procedures that are involved with the egg donation process.

To be an egg donor at AFS, you must be between 21 and 32 years old. You will be asked to complete a personal and medical history questionnaire and to participate in medical and psychological screening. The purpose of this screening process is twofold: to make sure that being an egg donor will not be difficult for you in any way, and to determine that you are medically and genetically suitable as an egg donor. Your participation, and the information you provide, will remain completely confidential. There is no cost to you for any of the screening tests, nor are you required to have health insurance coverage to participate in AFS's egg donation program.

If you have more questions about becoming an egg donor and the process of egg donation, you may wish to read Donors' Frequently Asked Questions.

If you want to apply to be an egg donor, you can download our Health And Family History Form (you will need to have Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer, which you can download for free). You can also call to speak with Dr. Galina Karpenko, Medical Director, Egg Donor Program, at 212-750-3330 or email us at eggdonation@americanfertility.com.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is there an age requirement to become an egg donor?

We require that our egg donors be between the ages of 21 and 32.

2. What side effects, if any, will I experience from taking fertility medication?

Most egg donors go through the process with no side effects; some, however, may feel bloating, pelvic discomfort, or moodiness.

3. How will egg donation affect my personal lifestyle?

Once you have begun taking medications, you need to ensure that you have protected sexual intercourse (using condoms) for the duration of the donation cycle. From start to finish you are likely to have 8-12 visits to the doctors' office - the majority of these visits occur during the two weeks before egg retrieval. Monitoring visits (while a donor is in cycle) will take place early in the morning (between 7:30 and 10:00 a.m.) so it's necessary to live within commuting distance of our facility.

4. Will I be more or less fertile after egg donation?

You will be more fertile in the month following egg donation than you normally are. After one month, you will return to your normal fertility status. Once you have stopped injecting the fertility medications, they will no longer affect your body or remain in your system.

5. How does egg donation affect my fertility status for the future?

Egg donation does not appear to have any long-term effects upon fertility.

6. What are some of the medical risks or complications associated with egg donation?

Egg retrieval is always performed under ultrasound guidance. However, there is always a slight risk that a needle may puncture the surrounding tissue or organs, causing injury, bleeding, and/or infection. There is also a small risk (less than 3%) of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. During ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, the ovaries become enlarged and fluid may collect in the abdominal cavity, causing bloating, and in some cases severe pelvic discomfort and/or pain. Hospitalization may be required if ovarian hyperstimulation progresses to a severe state. In addition, some studies have suggested (although it have not been proven) that certain ovulation drugs may be associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer; research in this area is ongoing, however, and recent data discounts this risk.

7. How long does an average cycle normally take?

Preparation for the cycle of egg donation actually takes longer than the cycle itself. We first must find a recipient couple or woman that matches with the donor candidate-this may be immediate or it may take some time, depending upon the recipient's particular heritage, physical appearance, and other characteristics. Once a match has been made, you can expect the screening process to take at least three weeks from the time we perform the physical examination and send out the blood work. The actual cycle of egg donation takes approximately two and a half to three weeks from the start of menstrual cycle suppression (which usually begins on day 2 after the start of a menstrual period and involves taking birth control pills and/or Lupron) to the day of egg retrieval.

8. Will the recipient couple or woman who receives my eggs ever find out who I am?

If you sign up for the anonymous egg donation process, the recipient couple or woman will not find out your identity. They will know characteristics about you, but not your name or any other information that could lead to your identification.

9. What is involved in taking infertility medication?

The medications you will need to take in preparation for egg donation are self-injectable medications. You will be required to give yourself injections (the nurse will teach you how to do this), in the thigh or stomach (areas that are generally less sensitive). You will take injections once daily for about two to three weeks before egg retrieval. A nurse will be available 24 hours a day to help you, should you require consultation after office hours.

10. Will I be put under general anesthesia for egg retrieval?

During the egg retrieval, an anesthesiologist will administer light anesthesia (conscious sedation) through an intravenous drip (IV). The procedure generally lasts from 10 to 30 minutes. After the egg retrieval, you may experience light to moderately severe pain, although most patients tolerate the procedure very well. You will be instructed to rest for 24 hours after egg donation and to avoid driving a car during that time.

11. How many eggs does the average donor produce?

The average donor produces 12-15 eggs, but egg production depends upon the individual and how they respond to the medication. The number of eggs produced by a donor can be as few as five or as many as 35 or more.

12. Will I experience a lot of pain or bleeding after egg retrieval?

No. You may experience some discomfort similar to menstrual cramps directly after the procedure of egg retrieval, but these should dissipate within hours of the procedure. You may also experience light spotting, but you should not have heavy bleeding and you should call us immediately if you begin to bleed heavily or have acute abdominal pain, as this would be highly unusual.

13. How long is the recovery time after an egg retrieval?

AFS recommends modified bed rest at home for 24 hours after egg donation. After that, you may resume all your usual activities.

14. How long will it take for my body to return to normal after egg retrieval?

You should expect a menstrual period within 14 days after the egg retrieval. The first period is likely to be unusually heavy compared to your average period, but this is to be expected, and is a side effect of the stimulation medication. Following the next menstrual cycle, your body should be completely back to normal.

15. How often can a donor donate?

In order to maintain your continued good health, we suggest that you limit yourself to no more than 4 donations in your lifetime. Each cycle of donation should also be at least three months apart in duration to allow your body to return to its own rhythm before disrupting that rhythm again for donation. Some IVF clinics will suggest you can safely donate 6 or even 10 times, but we would rather take a more cautious approach-disrupting the body's natural rhythm again and again may put you at greater risk for developing uncontrolled hyperstimulation syndrome or other undesired side effects.