General Summary of the Procedure
In order to donate eggs, the donor takes medications by injection for approximately two weeks so that more than one egg will mature. At the end of this period the eggs are retrieved intravaginally. This procedure is done with the use of intravenous sedation. The entire procedure, including all risks and possible side effects of the medications, will be reviewed several times with the donor beforehand.

Description of the Procedure
(The following is a general descriptive outline of the procedure, and is not intended to be an explicit representation. Individual fertility practices may vary.   The entire cycle will be reviewed carefully by the recipient couple's fertility practice.)

Once a recipient couple and donor are matched, the donor becomes a patient of the couples' fertility practice. There a donor can expect the following:

1.   The fertility practice performs medical screenings of both the donor and recipient. This screening consists of blood tests for several conditions, including HIV, hepatitis, and others. Vaginal ultrasounds are also conducted.

2. Prior to the procedure the donor is given a calendar stating exactly what needs to be done each day. The donor is also instructed in how to give herself injections.

3. Both the donor and recipient synchronize their cycles by one or both women taking birth control pills.

4. A few days before both women are due to start their periods, the donor begins taking a medicine to prevent normal ovulation (Lupron or Synarel).  

5. After the donor's period a baseline ultrasound and blood draw
are done. Around this time she begins taking follicle stimulating hormones or "FSH" (Repronex, Fertinex, Gonal-F, Folli-Stim).

6. After about 5 days of FSH, another ultrasound is conducted, as well as a blood test.   The donor then has an ultrasound and blood draw every 2 to 3 days to monitor the growth of the follicles. The total number of monitoring visits is approximately 2 to 5. The fertility physician determines when the eggs are sufficiently mature based on the donor's hormone levels and the size of the follicles.

7. When the eggs are sufficiently mature (usually between the 9th and 12th day of FSH) the donor is instructed to take one injection of HCG at a specified time.

8. Egg retrieval takes place precisely 36 hours after the HCG injection.   On the morning of retrieval, the donor is given intravenous sedation that puts her to sleep for the length of the procedure. The eggs are retrieved through a catheter inserted vaginally and guided through the uterus and into the ovaries by ultrasound. The procedure takes about 20 minutes. The donor remains in the physician's office for about one hour after the procedure. During that time she's usually given a hot water bottle and a cup of tea. Following that, she can go home.

9.The donor is paid after the egg retrieval is completed.

10. Once the eggs have been retrieved, they are fertilized with the intended father's sperm in the laboratory. They incubate for 3 days and are then transferred into the recipient's uterus. In approximately 14 days she'll know if she's pregnant.