What Is Egg Donation and How Do Donors Provide Their Eggs?

Egg donation is a multi-stage medical process during which a donor provides her eggs to an IVF clinic for future use. Before stimulation begins, donors undergo medical examinations and preparatory procedures.

In almost all countries, the average age range for egg donors is between 18 and 35. However, international experience shows that the donor’s age should ideally not exceed 32. The retrieved eggs are either used fresh in IVF clinics or frozen and stored in cryobanks for later use.

Egg donors may participate in the program as anonymous or known donors - a practice common in most countries. To join the program, donors fill out a questionnaire providing personal information. The form may vary depending on the clinic or agency, but the core questions are generally similar.

Unlike a known donor, an anonymous donor does not know who will receive her eggs. In contrast, a known donor is informed about the intended parents. This distinction is one of the main reasons many intended parents choose programs that use eggs from anonymous donors.

How Is Egg Donation Performed?

Egg donation is carried out in accordance with established medical regulations. Depending on whether the donor is participating in the program for the first time or as a repeat donor, the entire process may last anywhere from 2 to 16 weeks.

What Are the Stages of Egg Retrieval?

I. Medical Examination

Only women who are physically and mentally healthy may participate in the program.

Before beginning the stimulation process, an egg donor candidate undergoes consultations with a geneticist, gynecologist, and therapist, as well as a series of medical tests, including a complete blood count, urine analysis, and vaginal swab to check for sexually transmitted infections. To assess reproductive health and ovarian reserve, the donor also undergoes an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs and mammary glands.

II. Superovulation Stimulation

Superovulation is induced through the use of hormones to produce a greater number of mature follicles. If the intention is to use fresh donor eggs, the sperm collection and egg retrieval are performed on the same day.

III. Egg Retrieval

The collection of mature follicles after ovarian stimulation is performed in a hospital setting. The procedure is carried out under intravenous anesthesia and requires no complex preparation. The anesthesia typically lasts up to 30 minutes.

After a catheter is gently inserted through the vagina, the doctor punctures the ovary and extracts the contents of the follicles. When performed by a qualified specialist, the procedure is painless and does not cause complications.

Following ovarian stimulation, the donor needs to rest in the hospital for about one to two hours. It is normal to experience fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, or mild discomfort afterward. These are temporary effects of the anesthesia that pass soon.

How Is Embryo Transfer Performed in a Surrogacy Program?

Let’s take a closer look at how a reproductive gynecologist transfers an embryo into the surrogate mother’s uterus.

Embryo Transfer (Embryo Implantation)

Embryo transfer is one of the most important and fascinating stages of a surrogacy program. It is performed in the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) department of an IVF clinic. The procedure itself is short but requires great precision and professionalism.

At the scheduled time, the surrogate mother is invited to “the operating room”. She changes into sterile clothing (cap, gown, and socks) and is escorted to the gynecology department. Three specialists are present during the procedure - the reproductive physician, a nurse, and an embryologist. The process begins with an ultrasound examination to assess the condition of the endometrium and determine the exact location for catheter placement.

The catheter itself is a thin plastic tube (1–2 mm in diameter) connected to a syringe. It is carefully inserted through the cervix into the uterine cavity, and the embryo is gently transferred to the appropriate area using the syringe. The procedure concludes with another ultrasound examination.

One of the most common misconceptions is that after the embryo transfer, the surrogate mother must remain lying still for several hours. This is incorrect: it is sufficient for her to rest for about 20-30 minutes after the procedure, then go home and simply avoid stress. The following day, she can return to her normal routine while following a few simple recommendations provided by her reproductive gynecologist.

Basic Recommendations After Embryo Transfer

• Avoid heavy physical activity
• Avoid hot baths and visits to saunas