Become An Egg Donor
The Process
You (and your partner, if applicable) will be required to attend a consultation with the specialist, where you will learn about the donation and have your relevant medical details checked to ensure you are a suitable candidate for egg donation. A vaginal ultrasound may be performed to examine the ovaries and uterus.
Routine screenings and medical tests are required prior to treatment. You (and your partner) will need to have your blood and saliva tested, and the results will be sent to your specialist.
Some of the blood tests required by the donor include:
- HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Human T-lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) 1+2, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Karyotype, blood group, Thrombophilias, Full Blood Count (FBC), Rubella, urine testing (Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea) and extended genetic carrier screening.
(Extended carrier screening will be completed via a saliva test and genetic counselling will be offered for positive results. Partners if applicable will not require this test.)
The blood tests required by the donor partner include:
- HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) 1+2, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea
Before beginning your donation, you will also be required to have a patient education presentation. This presentation may be self-directed or done by the clinic fertility nurses. This presentation will give you information will give you the opportunity to discuss any concerns and ask any questions you may have about the process, increasing your knowledge and giving you further insight into what you can expect from the procedure donation.
It is compulsory for you (and your partner) to attend a counselling session before becoming an egg donor. This gives you the chance to discuss treatment on a more personal level. It also gives the opportunity to raise issues that are more private, such as any individual concerns, relationship difficulties or current life situations that may affect the experience of treatment. You will also learn about the rights of any child conceived by your donation to know their genetic background. If you are a known donor, a joint session is required with your recipient(s).
You will receive a minimum of 14 days (between the first and second counselling session) as a “cooling off” period prior to beginning treatment. This gives you time to consider all aspects of the donation program.
Prior to treatment, the specialist and fertility nurses will perform a final review of your counselling reports, medical tests and consent forms to confirm everything is in order.
We strongly encourage a healthy lifestyle prior to and during the process of donating eggs. A healthy, balanced diet, regular exercise and a restriction on alcohol are all recommended. Smokers will also be asked to quit before and during the donation process. Your fertility nurse will advise you of the specific dates.
Next Steps
FAQs
01 Who can be an egg donor?
Healthy donors of all backgrounds are able to donate their eggs, on the condition that they meet the following criteria:
- Aged 18-32 if clinic-recruited. Egg donors over 32 will not be accepted for clinic-recruited donation. The suitable age of a known egg donor must be discussed with your specialist.
- No history of inherited disease. Donors will not be accepted if they suffer from an illness, disease or genetic condition that can be passed on to a child conceived from the donation.
- Able to provide a family medical history If married or in a de facto relationship, the partner must consent to the donation.
- Clinic-Recruited donors must have a permanent address and be contactable for follow-up medical tests. They are required to provide three identifiers and proof of a permanent address, e.g. driver’s licence, photo ID and passport.
- Clinic-recruited egg donors must be eligible for full Medicare benefits in Australia.
02 Types of egg donors
- Known donation: When the recipient and the donor know each other and have an existing relationship, this is referred to as a known donation. In this case, a sister, relative or friend undergoes IVF procedures to provide the eggs – offering the benefits of knowing the genetic origin of the eggs as well as a reduced wait time for treatment. If a known donor is over the age of 35, the recipient is informed of the increased risk of problems, including miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome. If the recipient chooses to have eggs from a donor in these circumstances, this will be at the clinician’s discretion.
- Clinic-recruited donation: When a donor chooses to undergo IVF procedures to provide eggs for a recipient who they have never met, this is referred to as a clinic-recruited donation. In this case, the recipient does not know the donor, and the donor has the option to remain unknown to the recipient. However, the donor is required to consent to the release of identifying information (name, date of birth and address) to any child conceived by the donation once the child turns 18 or younger with counsellor approval.
As a result of a reduction in clinic-recruited donations, recipients are encouraged to find a known donor.
03 Who requires donor eggs?
For some recipients, donor eggs offer the only chance they have to turn their dreams of motherhood into a reality. There are many reasons why recipients need donor eggs to have a baby, including:
- Premature menopause.
- Unable to use their own eggs due to genetic causes.
- Repeatedly unsuccessful using the IVF program.
- Born without ovaries.
- Undergone treatment for cancer.
Donated eggs can also be used in surrogacy for gay couples or single men.
04 How much does IVF treatment cost in Australia?
Both fresh and frozen embryo transfers can be effective.
Fresh transfers occur in the same cycle as egg collection, while frozen transfers take place later after embryos are frozen and thawed. Your fertility specialist will guide you on the approach that best suits your health and treatment goals.
05 Egg donor treatment
What to expect during an egg donor treatment cycle?
You will be given a combination of medications, possibly including the oral contraceptive pill and a nasal spray, for a few weeks. Daily injections of follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) into the abdomen over a course of approximately 10 days are necessary in order to stimulate the ovaries to produce a number of eggs.
We monitor the response of the ovaries through ultrasounds and blood tests and adjust medication dosage and combinations accordingly.
The starting date and the dosage of your medication will be instructed by the specialist and fertility nurse. The medications are administered daily until your doctor or fertility nurse advises you to cease.
Egg-collection procedure
The typical technique for egg collection is the ultrasound-guided trans-vaginal egg pick-up (EPU), which is usually completed under a mild general anaesthetic or mild sedation.
A probe is inserted into the vagina, and the ovaries and follicles are monitored by ultrasound. A fine needle is passed through the vaginal wall and into the follicles, draining them of their fluid. The fluid is then collected in a test tube and emptied into a small dish, and the scientist examines it under a microscope for an egg. This procedure is repeated until all the follicles have been drained, taking 20-30 minutes.
This medical procedure usually involves hospitalisation of half a day. You will be unable to drive home and must organise someone to look after you at home overnight. Your regular activities can be resumed 24 hours after discharge from the hospital.
06 Risks associated with egg donor treatment
The medications used in egg donation may cause minor symptoms, such as breast soreness, nausea, fatigue and swelling of the abdomen. These will subside once your treatment is complete.
Individuals contemplating donating oocytes should be aware of the risks, some of which are comparable to those of elective surgery. We encourage you to discuss these with your treating specialist.
07 Things to consider
If you are considering becoming an egg donor, it is important to consider these questions:
- What are the current state laws or regulations regarding donation of oocytes?
- Who are the legal parents of the child?
- Are records kept of the donor and recipient couples?
- How would you feel if the donor and the recipient could be identified and the child would be able to contact you?
- How is the recipient woman matched to me?
- Is fertilisation and pregnancy guaranteed?
- How many times can a woman donate?
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