What are My Options for Finding an Egg Donor? Do we Meet? Is it Anonymous?
Finding an egg donor is a daunting task. Some people search multiple databases in their quest for that perfect match. The best way to start your search is to use the guidance of your treatment team at your doctor’s off where the embryos will be created. They will be able to give you their in-house donation program, if they have one, or refer you to an agency that they work with frequently.
When I was an egg donor, being an “open” donor meant I was not anonymous. The families I donated to know my name, how to contact me, and we met in person. We actually are Facebook friends and keep in touch regularly. This is not as common nowadays as the legal aspect of thing makes the process more complicated. You still can find an open donor, but most clinics do not offer that.
Using an agency to find a donor is the safest option. The agency will have screened the donors carefully before you see their profile. This is very important because you want to see profiles of egg donors who are ready to move forward with a cycle and will meet the criteria of the clinic and psychologist to create embryos. Using a friend or a friend of a friend can be very stressful because the relationship will change with that person once the baby is born, or if that potential donor fails the psych or medical screening. Now it is very possible to use this person if they pass all of the necessary steps to become an egg donor, but please use caution when thinking about this route.
While looking for an egg donor is a challenge, it is definitely more manageable will the guidance of a professional team that works daily with egg donors. There are many variables that go into finding a donor that you probably never thought about, so having that support system is just what you need to make your search easier and to find the perfect donor to build your family!