Egg Donation: Five Questions Intended Parents should ask about their Donor

Intended parents considering egg donation options to fulfill their dreams of conceiving a child have plenty of questions about the egg donation process.

Egg donation enables a woman to receive eggs donated by another woman through assisted reproduction technologies, known as ART. Egg donors must adhere to a number of guidelines and meet certain qualifications before she can donate eggs (oocytes) for use in in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.

Egg donation isn’t the same as surrogacy. A surrogate is a woman who carries a developing baby in her womb for a woman physically unable to carry a baby. An egg donor donates only eggs, which are then fertilized and implanted in a prospective mother’s uterus through IVF techniques, and she carries the baby through pregnancy.

Choosing an egg donor goes beyond simple health screening. We’ve put together a list of the most commonly asked questions by our clients about their egg donor concerns to help you along the way to processing, reviewing, and finally, selecting your egg donor.

Five questions to ask about your egg donor

Every egg donor at the California Center for Reproductive Medicine (CACRM) undergoes a rigorous screening process. This process encompasses more than the physical health of the donor. We also compile a donor’s family genetics, medical histories, educational background, and other important information to ensure the best possible matches.

Psychological health and wellness

Egg donors must undergo rigorous examination and screening processes to determine not only physical health, but mental and emotional health as well. Below you’ll find a shortlist of the types of questions our prospective parents want to know:

• What is the educational background of the donor?
• What are some of the donor’s hobbies or interests?
• What does the donor do for a living?
• Is there any history of drug or alcohol use or abuse?
• Does the donor have any past or ongoing family issues?
• Has the donor taken any psychological/personality tests prior to egg donation?
• Is the donor talented or gifted in some way (i.e. music, athletic, education/intelligence, and so forth)

Educational and cultural background

It’s natural to want to know as much as you can about your egg donor. Her cultural and educational background is also something that many intended parents ask questions about. Does my egg donor share my morals and values? Does her ethnicity match my own? Do I share any personality traits with her? These are all expected and important questions for intended parents. At CACRM, we maintain a database that allows you to review and select your donor from ethnic or cultural backgrounds that match your preferences.

Will my baby look like me?

Prospective parents want their baby to look like them. That’s natural. For that reason, our clients look through our database for donor matches with as many similar physical attributes as possible: eye color, hair color, skin tone, and height, ethnicity, and personality traits.

Will the donor’s egg influence my baby?

In addition to physical appearance, prospective parents often question genetics when it comes to donor eggs. Will your baby display traits, habits, or behaviors of the egg donor? What are the donor’s sleeping or eating habits? Is she an active and outdoorsy person or sedentary? Is she a morning or a night person? Of course, such questions are often subjective and difficult to answer, and you may not get every answer you’re looking for, but at the same time, we want our clients to feel free to ask any (and as many) questions they have.

How are egg donors chosen?

We know that selecting an egg donor is often an intimidating decision filled with questions and concerns. We’re available to answer any questions you have about your potential egg donor. Our egg donor screening process adheres to the latest guidelines recommended by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the Federal Drug Administration.

While we’ll work with you to find the best match available, you choose your egg donor based on our thorough background information. These are just a few of the questions an intended parent may have about an egg donor. Don’t hesitate to ask. We will do our best to soothe your concerns and answer your questions so you can find the perfect match.

Call us today at 760-274-2000 for information about our egg donor process. We’re here to help you on your journey toward becoming a family.

Egg Donation Resources

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association