Egg Donor FAQ

There are three types of egg donation including Known egg donation, Semi-known egg donation and Anonymous egg donation. All three types of egg donation are accepted at Hellobaby. Both Intended Parents and egg donors can choose the right option for them based on their own level of comfort and an understanding.

It’s important to understand that egg donation timelines vary. While there is no guarantee you will be chosen as an egg donor, it is possible to be chosen within days of being accepted into our program. Some intended parents at Hellobaby also require a gestational surrogate. This means that even after you are matched, there can be a waiting period while your intended parents are being matched with a surrogate. Although the donation itself lasts only 3-4 weeks, commitment to the process is typically 3-4 months. Please keep in mind that these are average timelines and that no two egg donation arrangements are the same. Timelines are often determined by factors particular to your egg donation arrangement.

Most of our clinics will only allow an egg donor to participate in an egg donation five to six times. However, we can only rematch you if the previous donation resulted in a pregnancy or a successful retrieval.

We require a minimum of five, but you can send as many pictures as you want. We do require that one needs to be a recent close-up of your face and one needs to be a recent photo of your full body. If you choose, childhood photos or photos of your children or family are also welcomed. Keep in mind that these photos are the first impression intended parents will have of you when they are selecting a donor. They are looking for the best representation of physical attributes to help them find an egg donor who is right for them. While selfies are easy to take, they don’t always accurately capture you (especially when taken in a car). If possible, please have a friend or family member take your photos so you get the best quality and reflection of who you are.

Egg donors in our program must be between 21-29 years of age. The reproductive endocrinologists and clinics that we work with set the standards. We do, however, accept previous egg donors up to the age of 31. Please email us for instructions on how to apply if you are a previous egg donor over the age of 29.

Yes, if you know your biological familie’s health history. Unfortunately, if your adoption was closed you may not be able to provide us with all of the necessary medical information.

Yes, but it depends on the form of birth control you are using. Acceptable forms of birth control include birth control pills, the nuva ring, the patch, and non-copper IUDs. If you have an IUD, you are eligible to apply under the condition that you have it removed upon matching with IPs.

If you are currently using Implanon or Depo-Provera for birth control you will need to switch to one of the acceptable forms listed above and have at least three menstrual cycles before applying to become a donor.

Always remember to consult your OB/GYN before making any decisions about changing your contraceptive.

Most of the information on our application is requested by the IVF clinic for its screening. We also use the information for matching purposes with the intended parents and the information helps the couples and single individuals in our program learn about you.

Medications are used to coordinate cycles, suppress ovulation, stimulate follicles, and to trigger release of eggs. Examples of these include birth control pills, Lupron, Ganirelix, Follistim, Gonal-F, Menopur and HCG. These may be used in different combinations depending on the clinic and physician and some of the medications can be known by various names.

Medications are given to suppress the menstrual cycle and ovarian stimulating medications are given to stimulate the production of eggs. Most of these medications are injections and are self-administered for 2-4 weeks (this can vary) until retrieval. The retrieval is done vaginally with a catheter under a mild intravenous (IV) sedation. The retrieval takes about 20 minutes with about an hour in the recovery room. Afterwards you may experience some mild cramping, bleeding, or bloating.

Most women experience little to no complications. You can experience minor discomfort after the procedure, or symptoms associated with your natural cycles, such as headaches, moodiness, or cramping. There have been a very small number of extreme cases of hyper stimulation. Although it has never happened in our program, there is a need to disclose that there have been very rare and extremely limited cases of infertility or death.