An egg donor can be known or anonymous to a recipient. The Women's Institute offers the option of matching a recipient with an anonymous egg donor. In our program, young women volunteers are carefully screened with extensive psychological testing, medical and family histories, physical examination and review of past medical records. Strict age limits for anonymous egg donors are observed because of the recognized age-related decrease of fertilizable eggs. Matching an egg donor to a recipient is first and foremost based on criteria outlined by the recipient.
Factors considered include physical features, blood type, family history, education and interests.
The best chance of successful implantation occurs when donor and recipient cycles are matched. This is accomplished using medications called GnRH agonists . The recipient's uterine lining is prepared for embryo transfer by administering increasing doses of the hormones estrogen and then progesterone . Development of the uterine lining is monitored via blood tests and ultrasound examination. Donor eggs are retrieved, and then fertilized with sperm from the male partner.