Egg donation represents a chance at parenthood that many hopeful parents may not otherwise have. For egg donors, this journey offers an opportunity to impact others while gaining substantial compensation and benefits. Donor Nexus recognizes the significance of this decision for egg donors, and we are committed to providing donors with the education and support needed to move forward with confidence.
If you're considering egg donation, it's natural to have questions about the egg donor process, especially about screenings. Egg donor screening is an essential step because it helps maximize success rates for intended parents and protects donors’ physical and emotional health. Every stage of the screening process is thoughtfully designed to promote safety, foster transparency, and create positive experiences for donors and intended parents.
Egg Donation Programs with Donor Nexus
When you apply to become an egg donor with Donor Nexus, you’ll have the opportunity to choose between three donation paths:
- Our one-on-one cycle pairs you with an intended parent or couple who will use your eggs exclusively, offering a more personalized experience.
- The Donor Nexus egg banking cycle involves donating frozen eggs for future use by up to four intended parents. This option provides increased flexibility, and you do not need to wait for a match before beginning the process.
- Our Futures program allows you to freeze half of the eggs you donate (for free!) when you give the other half to intended parents.
After your initial application is accepted, a Donor Nexus team member will explain our programs and help you decide which is the best fit.
The Egg Donor Screening Process
Egg donor screening is an important step of all egg donation programs but differs slightly depending on whether you choose a fresh one-on-one cycle or egg banking cycle. Donors in a one-on-one cycle will be added to our donor database and wait to be matched with an intended parent before beginning the screening process. Egg banking donors can start the screening process right away and will then be added to our database for selection by future intended parents.
Our egg donor screening process is thorough and intended to ensure your safety and maximize success for intended parents. Here’s a closer look at what’s involved in the Donor Nexus screening process.
Medical Evaluations: Protecting Your Physical Health
The first step in the egg donor screening process is a comprehensive medical evaluation. Medical screenings ensure you’re in excellent reproductive and overall health and that you are physically fit and ready to donate.
Where your evaluation happens depends on the egg donation program you’ve chosen:
- If you’re participating in a one-on-one cycle, your screening typically occurs at the intended parents’ fertility clinic during days 1, 2, or 3 of your menstrual cycle. Depending on the clinic's protocols, some appointments may be completed locally for convenience. If you do need to travel, we will coordinate any arrangements!
- If you're donating through our egg banking program, your evaluation will be arranged at a fertility clinic local to you. If you're in Southern California, you’ll likely be seen at HRC Fertility in Newport Beach, a trusted Donor Nexus partner.
During this appointment, you’ll complete:
- A transvaginal ultrasound to make sure your ovaries and uterus are healthy.
- Hormone and ovarian reserve testing (including AMH, FSH, and AFC) to evaluate ovarian reserve and determine that you have a sufficient number of healthy eggs.
- Infectious disease screening for conditions like HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, gonorrhea, and other STIs.
- A drug screening (opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, and marijuana).
- Pap smear (if you haven’t had one in the last year) and blood type test.
- A full physical exam by a fertility specialist.
- Injection training, so you’ll feel confident when it’s time to begin medications.
- Medical questionnaire to help understand your family history.
We understand this may be your first time undergoing some of these tests and that medical screenings can be stressful. You will be examined by a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility subspecialist, and your fertility clinic team will keep you informed of all components of the process.
Many donors actually appreciate these medical screenings, as they equip you with a deep knowledge about your reproductive health that you may not otherwise have.
Genetic Screening and Consultation: Understanding Your Genetics
As part of the screening process, you’ll meet with a genetic counselor over the phone for a genetic consultation. During this session, the counselor will conduct a thorough review of your personal and family medical history. This conversation helps identify potential genetic concerns and gives you a deeper understanding of your genetic background.
Following your consultation, you’ll complete a carrier screening. This test checks for recessive genes for certain conditions. Recessive genes can be passed on to a child even when the carrier may be healthy and unaware of their status.
If your results show that you're a carrier, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t donate. We then compare your results with those of the intended parent (or sperm donor) to assess genetic compatibility and eliminate the risk of inherited conditions. If both the donor and sperm provider carry the recessive gene, they are incompatible.
Your genetic counselor will review your screening results with you, explain what they mean, and answer any questions. Many donors find this part of the process both empowering and informative, as you gain clarity, confidence, and a meaningful look into your genetics.
Psychological Evaluation: Helping You Feel Emotionally Prepared
Egg donation is a medical process and an emotional journey. We include a thorough psychological evaluation in your egg donor screening to help you feel fully prepared and supported as you move forward. The psychological screening can be done at your fertility clinic or virtually.
The evaluation includes:
- Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI): The PAI is a 300-question survey that offers insight into your personality traits. It helps intended parents get to know you and makes sure you’re prepared for the process ahead.
- An interview with a psychologist: Your one-on-one conversation with a licensed practitioner covers topics like your home life, support system, motivation for donating, and how you cope with stress. The psychologist will also talk through any potential emotional impacts of donation. The conversation is not intended to be intimidating; it helps confirm that you are emotionally ready to donate and feel supported in your decision.
After the evaluation, a short report is submitted confirming that you’re emotionally ready to move forward!
Legal Consultation: Respecting Your Rights and Role
After completing your screenings, the final step before beginning the donation cycle is a legal consultation to help you understand, review, and sign your legal agreements. This step is about clarity, mutual understanding, and protecting everyone involved, especially you.
Donor Nexus provides all egg donors with a complimentary legal consultation with an experienced attorney. Their job is to help you fully understand every agreement aspect before signing.
The Egg Donor Legal Agreement outlines:
- Compensation: Includes details about payments, covered expenses, and reimbursement allotments.
- Type of Donation: Outlines the anonymity of your egg donation and what each option (nonidentified, open-ID, or identified) means regarding possible contact with the child or intended parents.
- Expectations During the Cycle: Discusses lifestyle requirements, medication adherence, and travel protocols (if applicable).
- Remaining Embryos: Covers your preferences regarding the intended parents’ decision about leftover embryos. Options include donating them to other intended parents or for medical research.
Legal agreements are intended to provide peace of mind and protect your rights. Your attorney and the Donor Nexus team are on your side and here to answer any legal questions you may have about the process.
A Supportive and Personalized Experience
Throughout the screening process, you’ll never be left wondering what’s next. From the moment you apply, you’ll work with a dedicated case manager on the Donor Nexus team, who will be a guide, advocate, and point of contact throughout your journey.
At Donor Nexus, we provide:
- Education and resources about the egg donation process, medications, egg retrieval, and more.
- Support in scheduling, travel coordination, and communication.
- Consistent check-ins so you always feel heard, prepared, and appreciated.
Many of our donors describe their experience as empowering and meaningful, and we’re honored to support each and every one with care and respect.
Ready to Take the First Step?
The donor screening process may seem thorough, and it is. But every step is intended to protect your physical and emotional health, honor your generosity, and give intended parents the best possible chance of success.
If you’re considering becoming an egg donor, we’re here to answer your questions, walk you through the process, and offer support. Connect with our team to learn more or get started.
