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Explore our egg donor FAQs to decide if egg donation is right for you

If you’ve ever wondered about donating your eggs, but have questions about the process, you’re not alone. Below are common egg donor FAQs that can give you more information about becoming an egg donor.

Are you taking all of my eggs – can I still have a baby later on?
There is a common myth that egg donation can result in the inability to have your own children because you are losing all of your eggs—this is false! Most women are born with 1million eggs, give or take a thousand or so!  An egg donation cycle will typically result in 10-20 eggs retrieved.  The biggest facto impacting your ability to have a baby of your own is the age that you attempt to conceive!

What should you include in your egg donor application essays and personal statement?

Much like a college application, these essays require some humble bragging. Your profile is designed to help someone decide if you’re the egg donor for them. It’s your story of “you”, in your own words. The essays allow the recipients to see you as a real person, so let them get to know you. Things to consider including in your profile are things that give insight into who you are:

1.      About your family – do you have children, a partner, brothers or sisters
2.      Why you decided to become an egg donor
3.      What you hope for someone who uses your eggs
4.      What you do for a living and why you chose this career
5.      Your outlook on life
6.      What is your personality like
7.      How would your closest friends and family describe you
8.      A goodwill message to a donor-conceived child, this is important as it may be given to child one day to explain genetic origins

How are donors and recipients matched?
As and egg donor, your profile will be available to egg recipients in our database.  Most egg donor programs are anonymous so only non-identifying information is shared.  Pictures are usually pat of the database profile so those are the only identifying information shared with future parents.  Future parents (egg recipients) choose their donors based on a range of factors, including physical features, ethnic background, personality and talents.

How often can you donate your eggs?

It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for a physician to review your donation (whether it was safe, the quality and quantity of your eggs, etc.) before you may donate again. Pathways to Parenthood allows women to donate their eggs up to six times in their lifetime, a guideline established by the governing body of infertility, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Are there any expenses associated with egg donation?
No, the intended parents will be responsible for all costs of the cycle.

Is my egg donation anonymous?
The majority of egg donors choose to be anonymous. In these setups, no identifying information is shared between the donor and the intended family. Donors are also not informed of the outcome of their eggs. Semi-anonymous, or semi-open, setups also exist, in which donors and intended parents agree to share a small amount of information with one another. This may include locations or first names. Known donors, or open donors, are far less common. These setups involve a friend or family member of the intended parent(s) serving as a donor.

How will I be compensated?
Pathways to Parenthood Egg Donors compensation is $5,000 for a first-time donor, distributed upon completion of the cycle. Donors may be eligible for increased compensation upon subsequent cycles, if eligible.

Basic Criteria for Egg Donor Candidates:

1.      Between the ages of 21-29
2.      Healthy BMI: Under 29
3.      Physically and emotionally healthy
4.      Good family health history (including mental health)
5.      Non-smoker, non-drug user (all donors are tested)
6.      Have regular periods
7.      Not currently breastfeeding
8.      Willing to undergo medical and psychological evaluation
9.      Willing to take injectable medication

Becoming an egg donor is a big deal. It’s a decision that will affect many lives, including your own. There’s no denying that donating your eggs is a sacrifice, and you’re giving the gift of life to a couple waiting for a family. If you’ve decided to become an egg donor, Pathways to Parenthood can guide you through the process.  They have been helping bring together future parents and egg donors for 9 years!

Egg Donors In Kansas City: Helping Those Who Are Unable To Become Parents On Their Own

There are many people around the world who choose egg donation as their way to build and grow their family.  Everyone’s journey is a bit different, but the common factor is that they cannot become parents in the traditional sense, and they need the help of others.  Some prospective parents are struggling with infertility, some are same sex couples or single individuals.  Regardless of their differences, they share  the desire to love and parent a child or children.

Fortunately, there are generous young women that live in and around the Kansas City area that are willing to help those that need help to build and grow their family.  At Pathways To Parenthood, we continuously work to identify and screen quality egg donor candidates that are motivated to help others in a unique and special way.

For more information about using egg donation to build and grow your family, visit www.pathwaystoparenthood.com today.

Making the Decision to Use An Egg Donor in Kansas City

You probably know by now that men and women tend to approach many things in life differently.  Neither is right or wrong, just different, and it is important to maintain this perspective throughout the decision making process to use an egg donor.  Regardless of these differences, it is essential to develop a joint vision when moving forward with using an egg donor to build your family.

It might be helpful to you to think about what differences exist for you and your partner, and BE SPECIFIC.  To build a joint vision, you will likely need to discuss issues that you feel and think differently about.  So start with examining your own thoughts and feelings about using a donor to build your family.  If you cannot understand your own thoughts and feelings about it, it will be impossible to discuss them with your partner.

If you are having a difficult time sorting through your own thoughts and feelings, or discussing them with your partner, counseling can be helpful.  Contact Pathways To Parenthood today and we can assist you in working through the decision making process.

Will Donating Eggs Multiple Times Affect My Fertility?

Potential egg donors should be informed of the risk associated with donating their eggs, and they include potential risks from the medication used to stimulate the ovaries, and the risks associated with the retrieval process.  The chances that a donor will experience any of the serious potential risks, and experience long-term consequences are very low.

One of the questions egg donors ask, and it is an important one to consider, is if donating their eggs multiple times will affect their future fertility.  They often wonder if they will run out of eggs so that when they are ready to have their own children, they won’t have any eggs left.  There is not any research that supports this fear.  The guidelines set forth by The American Society For Reproductive Medicine are that is safe for an egg donor to donate her eggs six times.  These guidelines take into account the potential threat to an egg donor’s own fertility.   The research shows that donating up to six times does not negatively impact a donor’s future fertility.

It is important for any woman considering donating their eggs to have their concerns addressed, and questions answered before donating.  If you are considering being an egg donor, do your research and be well informed before  committing to such an important life event.  It is also important to note that the variable that significantly impacts a women’s fertility is her age.  When a woman is over 30 years of age, her fertility starts declining at a more rapid rate, and continues to increase every year.  For more information about becoming an egg donor, visit us at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com.