Why do you only work with local donors?
We work only with local donors because proximity offers us the best opportunity to really get to know who they are. After verifying an applicant’s identity with a picture ID, we complete a comprehensive, one on one, interview with each young woman who seeks to be a donor. We have a chance to evaluate her ability to follow through on instructions, keep an appointment, fill out paperwork thoroughly, and do what she says she will do. All of these factors are help us determine whether someone will be able to successfully commit to the detailed process involved in egg donation. We also believe local donors make for a more economical and less complicated situation for the intended parents. Even if the base donor honorarium might be lower in other areas of the country, the additional costs of long-distance medical monitoring, flights to the intended parents’ clinic, and housing and food for a local stay during retrieval usually end up being higher than the cost of working with a local donor. Working locally means we also are more knowledgeable about specific routines and medical personnel at the individual clinics we work with and thus can provide better follow-through. Equally important, since we also represent the best interests of prospective donors, we make sure that, for the actual egg retrieval process, a young woman has someone with her to help with logistics at the clinic, support her during retrieval AND stay with her to provide assistance afterwards, all difficult if someone is away from home. Additionally, should there be any complications from the donation process, the young woman can be cared for by the fertility specialist who has performed the procedure and has expertise in handling any complications.