Question 1

I do not live in Southern California, can I still apply to be an egg donor with Patriot Conceptions?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Though our office is located in Southern California, Patriot Conceptions works with egg donors, intended parents, and clinics all over the United States and internationally. We welcome you to stop by our office in Costa Mesa, California if you are interested in becoming an egg donor. If you can not travel to our office in person, we can arrange a remote appointment through email, phone, and video meeting.

Question 2

Why do I have to meet certain criteria to become an egg donor?

Accepted Answer

Egg donors are expected to be females aged between 21 and 28 years old who are physically and mentally healthy and do not smoke or use drugs for a period of time. Applicants can not have any major genetic illnesses. These criteria are set for legal purposes and designed for the higher quality of the eggs to increase the chance of a successful pregnancy. We are strictly following the criteria to benefit both egg donors and recipients.

Question 3

Is the egg retrieval procedure painful?

Accepted Answer

The level of pain is case by case. The egg retrieval procedure is a minimally invasive and outpatient surgery, which usually takes around 30 minutes, and followed by a 30 to 45 minutes recovery time after that. Light sedation will be processed during the surgery so you will experience zero pain. However, egg donors may experience grogginess and irritability post-surgery because of the sedation. Some egg donors have reported tiredness, cramping or bloating, and similar symptoms after the surgery. These side effects are usually temporary and will fade away after resting for a couple of days. We would say most of our egg donors experienced minimal pain and were able to return to their normal activities the day after the retrieval.

Question 4

Do I need to take any medications during the egg donor process?

Accepted Answer

Patriot Conceptions does not possess medical expertise and cannot give out medical advice. Your physician will determine what medications you will take. However, from our experience, most donors will be placed on a form of birth control to synchronize her cycle for about one month. Then most IVF clinics will administer an injection with a small insulin-type needle in order to stimulate ovaries in preparation of egg retrieval. The injection cycle period varies among different clinics, usually from 2 weeks to 4 weeks.

Question 5

Is there any cost to the egg donor?

Accepted Answer

The only cost would be your current pap smear and local transportation. Intended parents will cover all medical expenses, insurance expenses, and travel costs along with your compensation.

Question 6

What are the risks of egg donation?

Accepted Answer

Currently, there is no proven or clearly documented long-term side effects from the egg retrieval procedure, or associated with egg donation. In a rare instance, 1% -3 % of the donors will develop Ovarian Hyper-Stimulation Syndrome. Careful monitoring will be done by your physicians to avoid any possible repercussions. Some donors may or may not experience bloating, nausea, and temporary sting on injection or medication. Rest assured, neither the medication nor the egg retrieval procedure will affect your future fertility and comprise the possibility of becoming pregnant.

Frequently Asked Questions

for Egg Donors