We have listed below some frequently asked questions to help our prospective donors better understand the process of egg donation and the risks involved. However, we are not medical professionals for more detailed information regarding the medical procedures and risks associated with egg donation, please consult a medical professional. If you have a question that is not addressed below, please email or call us and we will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Women with health problems consisting of premature ovarian failure, or women whose eggs are of poor quality. Those with genetic diseases or chromosomal abnormalities may wish to utilize third party reproduction to prevent passing these disorders to their children. Also, women who have waited to have children until their late thirties or forties may have diminished ovarian function and require the assistance of an egg donor. A donor should be a healthy, responsible woman between the ages of 20-34, and of any ethnic background. It is required that donors be non-smokers, have no sexually transmitted diseases, and no major genetic diseases or health problems in their immediate family. Each set of intended parents have their own characteristics they are seeking in a donor. Most couples are seeking a donor with similar characteristics to themselves. We have been through the process of egg donation and not only are we familiar with the process, but we know what a rewarding experience it can be. We treat our donors with the utmost respect and strive to maintain their preferred level of anonymity. We will be available to answer questions, support our donors and ensure that they have a stress free donor experience. Yes, once formally matched with a family, we require that intended parents place the donor's compensation amount in a trust account set up with our agency to be disbursed according to the terms of the egg donation agreement. Our agency abides by the American Society of Reproductive Medicines guidelines regarding the compensation of donors. Our donors receive compensations up to $10,000.00 for their time and effort for participation in an egg donor cycle. Typically this is disbursed as $750.00 upon starting injectable medications and the remainder is mailed upon completion of the egg retrieval procedure. On average it will take approximately three months for complete facilitation of a donor cycle. This time frame is from the moment our intended parents choose a donor until the completion of the egg retrieval procedure. This is an estimate only and will vary with each unique situation. To be an egg donor you must be willing to arrange your schedule to attend 5-10 medical appointments. Most women are able to donate if they had abortions in the past. However, they must be healthy, and have at least three regular menstrual cycles before participating in an egg donation cycle.

• A woman may be a donor if she is on regular monthly birth control pills. Although, she may be required to stop taking them prior to testing and she will be required to stop taking them for a period of time when she is participating in an egg donation cycle.
• It is recommended that donors refrain from using the birth control patch for three months prior to participating in a donor cycle.
• If you have a Non-Hormonal IUD than you may participate in a donor cycle.
• However, if you are using a Hormonal IUD than you will need to have it removed and have three regular menstrual cycles before participating in an egg donation cycle.
• If you are using Depo-Provera or a Norplant device, it is required that you are off of it for at least one year and have had three regular menstrual cycles before participating in an egg donation cycle.

Yes, you may be donor if you have had a tubal ligation. In an egg donation cycle the eggs are retrieved prior to being released in the fallopian tubes. However, it is necessary that you meet all of the other donor requirements. You may not donate while you are breastfeeding. It is necessary that you have had three regular menstrual cycles prior to participating in a donor cycle. However, the matching process can sometimes take a while and we may list you as unavailable for a period of time if you meet all of our other donor requirements. It is necessary for donors to be within a healthy weight range, so that they are not at an increased risk for medical complications when participating in an egg donation cycle. The most common side affects are similar to those experienced during your menstrual cycle. These often include headaches, bloating, mood swings, hot flashes and breast tenderness. With some fertility medications you may experience a rash at the site where you administered the injectable medications. However, if this happens consult the fertility clinic you are cycling with to make sure that this is a common reaction for the medication you are taking. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome is a more serious side affect that can be associated with the over stimulation of your ovaries by fertility medication. It has occurred in 1-5% of ovarian stimulation cycles and can be very serious or fatal if it is not treated. It is imperative that you administer your medication exactly as instructed by the reproductive physician you are cycling with to prevent complications. Notify the clinic immediately if you are experiencing any body changes or extreme side affects. The eggs are retrieved in a sterile, surgical room, but there are no surgical incisions made. The eggs are retrieved through the vagina using an ultrasound-guided needle to aspirate the follicles. Please visit our egg retrieval info. page for a description of the egg retrieval. Donors are usually given IV sedation or a general anesthesia during the procedure to prevent discomfort. However, it is common for donors to experience mild cramping, bloating and nausea after the procedure. These usually subside or lessen within a day or two. Donors should not engage in sexual intercourse while taking the fertility medication and should not resume sexual activity until they have experienced their first menstrual cycle following the egg retrieval procedure. Engaging in sexual activity during this time can drastically increase your chances of getting pregnant. Your body produces millions of eggs and in one donation approximately 10-40 are retrieved. Many donors have children of their own without any complications after being an egg donor. We do not allow our donors to participate in more than six donation cycles. This is a requirement for most of the clinics that we work with. We do not require that our donors be available to travel. However, it may be more difficult to match you for an egg donation cycle if you unable to travel to the location of the intended parents fertility clinic. If the Intended Parents are not local to your home, you will be required to travel on 2 occasions. 1.) A one overnight trip for an in depth medical & psychological screening. 2.) A 5-10 day trip for monitoring and the egg retrieval procedure. It is required that a companion accompany the donor on this trip and all expenses will also be paid for the companion on this trip. **All travel expenses for a donor to travel to the area of the intended parents clinic will be paid for by the intended parents. The funds will be placed in a trust account with Happy Beginnings, LLC. They will be dispensed accordingly to cover donor's travel expenses. A Happy Beginnings representative will make all donor travel arrangements. When Happy Beginnings, LLC receives confirmation from the clinic that you arrived as scheduled for you retrieval procedure, and the procedure is complete. We will mail out your compensation check within 72 hours.