Emotional Readiness: Are you ready to tackle the serious topics of egg donation, including making thoughtful decisions, navigating the screening process, and understanding your own health and genetics? This journey requires emotional maturity and commitment.

Time Commitment: Egg donation is not a quick process. You’ll need to manage medical appointments and have time to travel to the destination for the egg retrieval itself. Make sure you’re comfortable fitting these commitments into your schedule and that you have the time to dedicate to the process. 

Support System: Check your support! Having a supportive network can make a big difference. It’s great to have friends and family who can cheer you on. Also, find out what kind of support the agency offers. At Emerald, our team includes coordinators who have been through the process themselves and are here to guide and support you every step of the way.

Future Contact and Genetic Ties: Think about whether you prefer a closed, semi-open, or open donation. Consider that with today’s social media and DNA testing, future contact with intended parents or donor-conceived individuals is more possible, making anonymity less certain.

Health and Safety: It’s important to thoroughly understand what’s involved in each step of the donation process. Research the potential side effects and risks. Ask questions if you are unsure. Consult our detailed webpage on the process and what to expect at each stage.

Future considerations: Consider how becoming an egg donor means you might have genetic ties to future children born from your donation. Think whether you’re comfortable with the possibility of discussing these ties with future partners and potentially your own family if you plan to have children of your own one day.

Did you know you are born with about one to 2 million eggs! When you reach puberty, your ovaries have around 400 thousand eggs left. Every month 15-20 eggs mature inside the follicles inside your ovaries. However, usually, only one follicle reaches maturity while the rest are discarded by your body.    

When you donate your eggs, the medication used fully develops all of the eggs in your follicles that are naturally available in that particular cycle. In short, no more eggs are removed than what your body naturally puts out.

A 2012 study in Belgium found that egg donation does not reduce your chances of future pregnancy. It was found that of the 60 women who tried to conceive after donating eggs, 57 were able to conceive without external help. Of the remaining three who required fertility treatment, two sought treatment due to their partner’s infertility.

However, there are serious possible complications such as OHSS or Ovarian torsion that could affect your future fertility. Please read our egg donation process page to understand the possible risks for each phase of the journey.

Carrier screening for egg donors involves testing to determine if you carry genetic mutations that could potentially be passed on. Understanding your carrier status not only helps intended parents make informed decisions about their family planning journey but also empowers you with valuable insights into your own genetic health and family history.

Absolutely! At Emerald, you always travel with a companion. But here’s the difference: your companion is an expert in the form of an egg donor coordinator. Let’s face it, what can your friend do in the case of an emergency situation or if the cycle isn’t going as planned?

Your expert companion is well-versed in egg donation related emergency protocols, has direct access to our medical director, understands clinical environments, and knows medication and stimulation protocols inside out. They also know the destination well and are always up for an adventure. This ensures your safety and gives the intended parents peace of mind, knowing you’re in capable hands.

• Screening Scan: To assess your resting follicle count and ensure you meet both the clinic’s requirements and the intended parents’ individual needs.
• Pre-Stimulation Scan: To check for cysts and confirm that you are ready to begin stimulation.
• Local Monitoring Scan: To evaluate your response to the medication and determine if any adjustments are necessary.
• Two International Monitoring Scans: These scans track follicle growth and help decide the best time to administer the trigger shot.
• Post-Retrieval Scan: To ensure everything looks good before you’re cleared to fly home.

Scans are conducted alongside hormonal blood tests to provide a comprehensive assessment throughout the cycle.

You can only do a cycle when you finish breastfeeding. However, you may complete your profile & we will make a note.

How does donating affect breastfeeding?

1. The drugs and hormones pass through the breast milk onto the baby. 
2. When you are breastfeeding your prolactin levels are elevated. 
3. You need to have a regular period to qualify.

It is fine to be using birth control pills, the patch, an intrauterine device or a vaginal ring as long as you have a regular period. However, the following will halt the process: 

1. Implant – you will need to have this removed and wait for about two weeks for your hormone concentration and thus your menstrual cycle to regulate.
2. Injection – you will need to discontinue this to allow the medication to exit your system and your regular period to commence before you can start the donation journey. This will take about 3 months.

Your recipient will pay for your medical expenses, flights, visa, food allowance and accommodation. You are only responsible for your contraceptive pill, transportation to the airport and personal site seeing activities at the destination.

There’s no crystal ball to predict that. When it comes to matching, two key factors come into play: the needs of the intended parents and, of course, you. While we can’t control the former, we certainly have a say in how you’re presented.

Our role is to provide the platform and make the decision a tad easier for intended parents, but without effort, don’t expect the spotlight.

At Emerald Donors, we’re not here to sugarcoat it – presentation isn’t optional, it’s essential. Your success as an egg donor begins with completing your application, which will formulate your profile, with gusto. We’re talking clear photos that showcase your journey from your childhood to recent snapshots. Your answers should reflect your vibrant personality, and provide details of your family history. And let’s not forget the pièce de résistance – your donor video.