Choosing the right Egg Donor is probably the biggest decision you will make on your journey to parenthood through donor egg-IVF. As most egg donation processes are anonymous today (as with Lucina Egg Bank), you will have to sort through and select from the egg donor profile database presented to you.
Although some Intended Parents do have a close friend or family member who is willing to be their Egg Donor, a lot of people turn to a fertility clinics, an agency or egg bank to help them find a suitable donor. While at it you should analyze Known Egg Donor vs. Anonymous Egg Donor.
The question is, how do you find a donor you are okay with. After all, it is your precious baby we are talking about here. The Egg Donor’s genetic material will be part of your baby.
Many agencies and medical centers have a profile list of pre-screened Egg Donors and egg banks offer frozen eggs that can be thawed when required. Eggs preserved using vitrification (the flash-freezing method) have nearly the same success rate as fresh ones.
This article will help you figure out what things to check in an Egg Donor profile. And how to select the right one that aligns with your preferences.
When do Intended Parents Require Donor Eggs?
Most Intended Parents think they will be using own eggs when first beginning infertility treatment. After all, you are undergoing the treatment because you wish to have a genetically related baby.
Hence, hopeful parents facing problems with conceiving are surprised to discover how quickly the quality of female eggs decreases after the age of 30.
It’s no surprise that most of the women going for infertility treatment are above 30.
After trying a couple of IVF cycles and undergoing all the necessary testing to no avail, you receive the bad news “you’re going to require donor eggs.” So, you will need to look for an Egg Donor to proceed on your journey to becoming parents.
However, it’s not just the heterosexual couples with fertility problems who seek Egg Donors. Same-sex couples, single men, and single women in advanced maternal age also take the assistance of egg donation in order to become parents.
Egg Donation Success Rate
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 12% of all IVF cycles completed in the United States involve using a donor’s eggs. And of all fertility treatments, donor-egg IVF has the highest rate of success – 52% nationwide and up to 75% at leading fertility clinics.
Choosing the Right Egg Donor Profile
Although the price and the time it takes to complete the procedure will vary depending on whether fresh or frozen eggs are used, you should not base your decision on this. The most crucial factor when looking for a donor is that the Egg Donor possesses the traits you desire and has a personal and medical history you are okay with. Below are some factors Intended Parents consider when looking for an Egg Donor:
- Physical features that match with those of the intended mother
- High intelligence quotient (IQ)
- Educational achievements
- Beauty
- Ethnicity matching that of the female partner
- Health (egg donation centers check potential donors for venereal and genetic diseases)
- Athletic background
Of course, every Intended Parent have their own set of preferences along with those mentioned above. We advise you and your partner sit down together and list what qualities you want in your Egg Donor.
What Things You Can Learn From the Donor Profile
While most donors don’t reveal their identity, their profiles can give you an idea of their health, appearance, ethnicity, IQ, and personality. The medical history provided by donors usually covers that of their parents and grandparents, so you have a comprehensive family history. The profile also lets you know if the woman has donated eggs in the past and what came out of it.
Although they may have to pay more, many parents prefer an experienced Egg Donor since the outcome is almost guaranteed.
Not only will you know that the woman can take the stimulation hormones necessary for the donation, but you will also know that her eggs have been fertilized in the past, and the embryos produced were of top quality.
What to Do Next
Once you have created all the lists and made your decisions, you only need to take a deep breath and put your mind at rest.
The egg is just half of your baby’s genetic makeup. Your male partner contributes as much as the donor. So, don’t be worried if the donor is not a member of Mensa (the world’s largest and oldest high IQ society).
Two sets of genes are at play here, and you will love the baby that results unconditionally.
Lucina is a physician-managed, full-service Egg bank that has close relationships with leading IVF clinics, like Coastal Fertility Medical Center and RSMC. Our egg donation program enables hopeful parents to select Egg Donors from a wide database of donor profiles. We ensure our Intended Parents have rest of mind, knowing their criteria are taken into consideration.
Contact us today for more information about the egg donation process or to have a look at our Egg Donor profiles.
