Egg Donor Frequently Asked Questions
There are no out of pocket expenses for you as we cover all medical costs associated with your stimulation and egg retrieval process.
If eligibility requirements are met and you are approved, then one of our donor coordinators will contact you to plan the donation cycle. Once you begin stimulation medications, the cycle is typically completed within two weeks.
Screening is a series of tests that are performed to evaluate your overall fertility health and determine if you are eligible to proceed with egg donation. This process will allow us to evaluate your reproductive health, genetic history and psychological well-being (at no charge to you).
Monitoring is the process that evaluates your response to the stimulation medications. These appointments are required and are typically daily or every other day to monitor your response. The monitoring appointments consist of a vaginal ultrasound and bloodwork. Each appointment usually takes about 30 minutes.
The application process can be completed in two steps. Your pre-screening questionnaire (registration) is reviewed within 24 hours. Your full profile application will be reviewed within 5-7 business days from submission. If the profile application is accepted, you are invited to begin the screening process. Final approval comes once all eligible screening has been completed and accepted. This can be completed in 4-6 weeks depending on your availability.
- Women ages 21 to 32
- Healthy BMI
- High school diploma required. Secondary education preferred
- Willing to undergo medical and psychological screening
- Non-smoker
- Reliable and responsible
- Complete a full medical history on biological family members
- Have flexible schedule
Reproductive Biology Associates (RBA) was established in 1983 as the first IVF center in Georgia, and is one of the world’s leading fertility clinics. RBA has been freezing eggs since 2007, and in 2009 RBA created the world’s largest frozen donor egg bank. MyEggBank was founded by RBA in 2010. Together, RBA and MyEggBank have helped thousands of couples achieve pregnancy through egg donation who otherwise could not start a family. To learn more about RBA, go here.
RBA cares deeply about the young women who offer to donate their eggs to infertile women. In addition to providing high rates of compensation for each donation, RBA will provide fertility preservation and 20 years of free storage for each donor as part of their third donation treatment cycle. Donors who choose to return to use their stored eggs will be entitled to one free embryo transfer cycle and will only be responsible for the cost associated with the pre-treatment evaluation.
For more info call us directly at 404-843-0579.
There is no direct correlation between donating eggs and future infertility. Additionally, all results of the screening and testing performed will be provided to you and can give you better insight into your own fertility & future family planning. Our number one priority is our donors’ health, safety, dignity and respect.
There are some discomforts through the stimulation process. It will require blood tests, ultrasounds, & tiny pin prick injections. The egg retrieval process is performed under IV sedation and requires no incision, stitches, or risk for scars. One of our experienced physicians will perform a vaginal ultrasound to visualize the ovaries, which house your eggs. The physician will then introduce a thin needle into the ovary, carefully removing the eggs stimulated that month. This takes about 15 to 20 minutes and afterwards you may have menstrual-like cramping for which prescription medications will be provided.
RBA egg donors have the option to allow an adult photograph to be viewed by registered recipients of MyEggBank along with the required childhood photos. RBA releases no identifiable information to any party outside of our network.
You do not need health insurance to become a donor. RBA provides insurance coverage for you that will protect you during your egg donation cycle.
Donors are typically on the stimulating medications for about two weeks. Daily morning appointments are scheduled between 7-10:30am. The office appointment includes a vaginal ultrasound and bloodwork collected by one of our experienced phlebotomists. The appointments typically last about 30 minutes. There are several office locations available for donor convenience.
Some donors are taken off of their birth control before getting started, while others may be put on a pill to coordinate the cycle. This is based on each individual donor and it is not recommended that any applicant change her regimen of birth control prior to seeing an egg donor nurse coordinator unless she wishes to change or stop for her own reasons.
An average healthy 21 year old woman has approximately 200,000+ eggs. In an egg donation cycle, only the eggs a donor has available for that month are stimulated and retrieved – typically around 20-30 eggs.
An egg donor coordinator will provide an individual with medication teaching including injection technique and administration of the medication. These are subcutaneous, self–administered injections. You will have a chance to review an instructional video specific to each medication. This walks you through the administration of the injections before you come in. Also, there is always a nurse on call after hours should you have any questions or concerns related to your medications.
As with many medications, there is the possibility of side effects. Some women experience no side effects while others suffer from heightened PMS symptoms such as bloating, cramping, nausea, headaches and breast tenderness.
Ovarian HyperStimulation Syndrome (OHSS) occurs when the ovaries become swollen and painful. OHSS can cause a donor to feel bloated, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and temporary problems urinating. However, since the current stimulation protocol used by RBA/MyEggBank has been implemented, there have been no reported cases of OHSS.
We understand that your time is important and we appreciate your dedication to RBA donor. That’s why we have designed a unique tiered program to compensate our donors throughout the screening and donation process.
An egg donor can complete up to a maximum of six egg donation cycles in her lifetime; however, prior to repeat donations, the cycle is reviewed by the RBA/MyEggBank team. The team reviews the thaw, fertilization, and outcome information for the donation cycle prior to a repeat cycle.