Once you have made the decision to start a family, there are countless other choices you will have to make along the way. Perhaps the largest hurdle to clear in the initial planning stages is finding an egg donor. How do you ensure that you source a quality egg that will provide you with a healthy child? It is a major decision that every intended parent must face before they can even think about setting up a nursery for their new bundle of joy. Here is some advice for finding an egg donor, to guide you toward making the decision that is right for you – and your family.
The Process of Finding an Egg Donor
1. Consider the Egg Donor Source
Where will you turn when you need an egg to help you conceive? Finding an egg donor can be as simple or as challenging as you make it.
Some people will choose to get their egg from someone that they know personally, but there could be risks to this type of arrangement. For example, it may put a strain on your relationship with this person or lead to complicated dynamics after the child is born.
Similarly, you should be cautious when it comes to placing an ad for an egg donor. While some do find people who genuinely want to help, it opens the door to scammers. You may pay for egg donation, which can be quite expensive, just to have your donor walk away with your cash before they complete the process.
Perhaps the best way to go about finding an egg donor is to work with an official egg bank, such as The World Egg and Sperm Bank, who ensures that you get quality eggs the legal way. It does not bring complicated relationships to the process and can streamline your experience.
2. Investigate the Gamete Bank
If you decide to go with an official egg bank, it is important to note that every bank has their own process. Some will outsource certain steps, such as the freezing of the egg (a process known as vitrification) or how it is transported from one facility to another. The way the bank handles these processes may impact the success rate of the donation and your ability to conceive with this donated egg.
Here are a few essential questions when selecting a gamete bank.
Additionally, you need to ensure that the egg bank you turn to will work directly with your clinic. You want clear communication between all parties so that you can receive the donated egg and start the process of conceiving a child without unnecessary delays.
3. Don’t Worry About Donor Health
The good news is that donors have to meet certain requirements and pass screenings in order to donate their eggs. This means that intended parents generally do not have to worry about the health of their donor when selecting the right egg.
For example, a donor must undergo genetic testing prior to donation to screen them for gene mutations. Most people are unaware that they may even have these mutations until they undergo testing.
In addition to genetic testing, donors must provide comprehensive medical history for both themselves and their entire family up to their biological grandparents. You do not have to feel left in the dark about what your intended child’s medical history might hold.
This is another key reason why it is best to work with a reputable egg bank instead of placing an online ad looking for your own donor. It would be difficult for you to implement such a rigorous screening process on your own, and some fine details may be overlooked without the help of a clinic or egg bank to ensure that your donor meets all the donation requirements.
4. Decide Which Traits to Look For
In the beginning, it can be overwhelming to look at all of the donor options. Start by narrowing down the list of what matters most to you in an egg donor. This is an incredibly personal decision and, as such, there are no right or wrong answers. However, this is something that you will need to decide on before you start your search.
Some people may look for a donor who resembles the intended parents while others are less particular about what their child will ultimately look like. Others may look solely at the health of the egg donor. Still others may look at how athletic the donor is, their IQ score, and even what religion they adhere to.
Personality traits and hobbies can even be criteria that some parents look at when deciding on an egg donor.
Note that there is still an important thing to consider: nature versus nurture. Just because you select an egg donor with a high IQ does not necessarily mean that the intended child will have an equally high score. Some of this depends on how the intended child will be raised, what they will be exposed to, and how their environment will influence their overall development.
5. Be Patient
Unfortunately, there are no easy answers or shortcuts when it comes to finding an egg donor. This is an extremely important decision so you should think it through from start to finish. Don’t feel any pressure to make a rushed decision. Know that finding the perfect donor that meets all of your preferred requirements may take time, even if you decide to go with a qualified egg bank.
A good clinic or egg bank will never pressure you to make a hasty decision. They should be there for you every step of the way, answering your questions and reassuring you about how the process is progressing. If you start to feel pressure to select an egg donor right away, you may want to reconsider whether this clinic or egg bank is the right fit for you.
Let Us Help You with Finding an Egg Donor Today
When you are ready to take that important next step to finding an egg donor you need, The World Egg and Sperm Bank is here to help. We have a rigorous screening process to ensure that you receive the highest quality eggs from our donors. All donations, retrievals, and vitrification’s are performed by our experienced staff at our singular location, ensuring quality control. Rest assured that we have done the hard work for you so that you can focus on finding an egg donor and making the decision that is right for you and your growing family.
Feel free to browse our egg donors or contact us to learn more about how we can help you with finding an egg donor or help match you with your right donor.
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