Becoming an Egg Donor: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve helped thousands of women freeze their eggs over the years in our Keep and Split programs. For those considering Split, where you freeze your eggs for free when donating half to a family that couldn’t otherwise conceive, there are even more questions about the donation piece. It's a big decision, and it's natural to want to know everything before moving forward. This article aims to address the most common questions we receive, providing clear and honest answers to help you make an informed choice.

Will egg donation affect my future fertility?

This is one of the most frequent concerns we hear. The short answer is no, egg donation does not harm your future fertility. Here's why:

• During a typical menstrual cycle, your ovaries prepare several eggs, but usually, only one matures and is released during ovulation. The rest of the eggs that month naturally break down and are reabsorbed by your body.
• The hormone medications used in egg freezing/donation allow all the eggs in that menstrual cycle to mature instead of just one. The key is that you're not losing more eggs than you would have otherwise—you're just maximizing the potential of your current cycle.  
• You get a new group of eggs each menstrual cycle, so donating doesn't deplete your overall egg reserve.
• Research has not shown any long-term negative impacts on fertility from egg donation.

Our Medical Advisor, Dr. Mare Mbaye, wrote more about this topic: Does Donating Eggs Affect Your Fertility?

Why might I need to take birth control pills during the donation process?

Birth control pills are sometimes used in egg donation cycles for two main reasons:

1. Timing: They help synchronize your cycle with the recipient's treatment schedule.

2. Follicle synchronization: They help ensure your follicles are all uniform and small before the stimulation phase. When follicles are similar in size, they respond more evenly to the stimulation medications, allowing a greater number of eggs to mature at the same pace. 

3. Ovarian cyst prevention: The hormones in birth control pills can help suppress the growth of ovarian cysts during the stimulation phase. 

Not all cycles require birth control pills. Your medical team will determine if they're necessary for your specific situation.

Read more: Egg Freezing and Birth Control: An Overview

What's the difference between mature and immature eggs?

During the egg retrieval process, doctors aim to collect mature eggs, also known as metaphase II (MII) oocytes. MII eggs are the ones that are fully mature and ready for fertilization. Metaphase I (MI) stage eggs have started maturing but aren't fully developed yet. MI eggs can sometimes mature into the more developed MII stage with the right conditions, but this doesn’t always happen. Germinal vesicle (GV) stage eggs are the most immature and can be recognized by having a visible nucleus. Here's a brief explanation:

• Mature eggs: These are ready for fertilization and have the best chance of developing into healthy embryos. The hormone medications used in egg donation help maximize the number of mature eggs retrieved.
• Immature eggs: These eggs haven't completed their developmental process and are less likely to result in successful pregnancies today. However, members of our Split program get to keep all the immature eggs if their clinic policy allows in hopes of being able to use them in the future.

Our Medical Advisor Dr. Meera Shah wrote more about this: Egg Freezing: Mature vs. Immature Eggs

How does the disclosure process work?

At Cofertility, Egg donation range on a spectrum from undisclosed to disclosed. Many donors have questions about what this looks like:

• In a disclosed relationship, you exchange contact information and can communicate directly. The scope and degree of communication (both during and post-match) is what both parties make of it. 
• In an undisclosed relationship,  you do not exchange contact information and only communicate through Cofertility. With an undisclosed donation, you and the family can choose to allow the donor-conceived child to receive your contact information when they turn a certain age (usually 18). This is called Open ID, an increasingly popular option.

It's a common misconception that disclosed donation means frequent or ongoing contact. In reality, the level of communication can vary greatly:

• It might be limited to medical updates or questions.
• Some families choose to have more open relationships, while others prefer minimal contact.
• You and the recipient family can discuss and agree on communication preferences.

Read more: Disclosed vs Undisclosed Egg Donation: How Do I Choose?

Will egg donation be painful?

The egg retrieval process is typically not painful, but you may experience some discomfort:

• The procedure is done under sedation, so you won't feel pain during the retrieval.
• After the procedure, you might have some cramping or bloating for a few days.
• Most people describe the discomfort as similar to menstrual cramps.

Read more: Is It Painful to Freeze or Donate My Eggs?

What are the costs associated with egg donation?

As a Split member, you don't incur any costs. All of your office visits, screenings, medication, procedures, and travel expenses, plus 10 years of storage with our preferred biorepository partner, are completely covered. 

The only expenses you would encounter is in the future, when you ship the eggs to a clinic to fertilize.  

Can I donate if I have a particular medical condition?

Eligibility for egg donation depends on various factors. Some medical conditions may disqualify you, while others may not affect your ability to donate. The best way to find out is to reach out to us, or apply. 

Read more in Can I Freeze My Eggs If...

How many times can I donate eggs?

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is an organization that provides guidance and recommendations to fertility clinics and professionals. One of the guidelines that the ASRM has established is regarding the maximum number of egg donation cycles that an egg donor can undergo in their lifetime. According to their recommendations, egg donors should undergo no more than six cycles of egg donation throughout their lifetime. However, most of our Split members donate only one or two times. 

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While this article covers many common questions, please reach out if you have any other questions or want to talk through the process with one of our Member Advocates. At Cofertility, we're committed to providing transparent information and support throughout the egg donation process.