FAQs
Q: What type of screening is needed?
A: You will be asked to complete a personal and medical history questionnaire. Once your questionnaire has been approved we will call you to arrange a day and time for your screening appointments. The screening consists of a discussion and physical examination with a physician, a consultation with our psychologist and genetic counselor, and laboratory tests.
Q: How many times can I donate?
A: According to the most recent guidelines published by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) women can donate up to 6 times.
Q: What time commitment is involved?
A: Once the screening process and testing is complete, an egg donation cycle can usually be accomplished in approximately five weeks. For the first seven to ten days, you will take medication at home. We will stay in telephone contact with you, but office visits are not necessary at this point. During the next fourteen days you will need to make daily visits to Weill Cornell for blood tests and ultrasound examinations by a physician. These visits usually last less than 30 minutes, and are scheduled between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. The egg retrieval is done on an outpatient basis at Weill Cornell. The exact date of on which the retrieval will occur depends on how your body responds to the medications.
Q: What side effects can I expect and what risks are involved?
A: The daily blood sampling and hormone injections are usually well tolerated. However, some women can experience local discomfort, redness, or minor bruising at the injection site. The hormone medications can cause side effects including breast tenderness, fluid retention, a bloated feeling, moodiness, and tenderness in the ovaries. These can take up to two weeks after the retrieval to subside.
There are risks to the procedure that are rare and will be discussed in detail with the physician during the initial consultation.
Our psychological counseling professionals are available at any time during and after the cycle to offer emotional support.
Q: Who are the recipients of the eggs? Can I meet them?
A: The recipients are couples who have struggled with infertility for many years. There are several reasons why a couple would be in need of a donor egg. These reasons can include: premature ovarian failure, the presence of genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, loss of ovarian function due to cancer or due to the treatment for cancer, or the production of poor quality eggs.
Weill Cornell's egg donation program is completely anonymous. Information about the donor is shared with the recipients in a non-identifying manner. The recipients do not know who the donor is, nor does the donor know who the recipients are. No photographs are exchanged.
