Due to a number of fertility issues and medical conditions, some people are unable to become parents on their own and they seek out the expertise of the team at West Virginia Fertility Institute. WVFI uses the most advanced reproductive techniques to help these people build their families. Sometimes that includes the use of a donor egg. 

WVFI relies on healthy women between the ages of 21 and 29 to become egg donors and assist individuals and couples to become parents. All donors participate voluntarily and are compensated for their time and the risks they undertake during the donation process. WVFI works with our donors throughout the process to ensure that their health and well-being are the top priority.

How to Become an Egg Donor

WVFI’s egg donors are women who lead healthy lifestyles and are committed to helping others. To become an egg donor, you must meet certain qualifications and go through a screening process. Egg donor candidates must complete a pre-screening questionnaire and donor profile in order to be considered by potential egg recipients.

Qualifications

• Age 21-29
• In good physical and emotional health
• Stable social and sexual status
• Drug and nicotine-free
• Within the healthy weight/BMI range
• Free of communicable disease 
• Within travel distance to the Charleston, WV area
• Proven fertility is desired, but not required

Pre-screening questionnaire and donor profile 

Screening

Before the egg donation process can begin, required testing and screening is performed on all WVFI egg donors to ensure the health of the woman and her eggs. The screening includes:

• Donor interview and donor risk assessment questionnaire
• Medical history form
• Physical exam by a WVFI provider every 6 months during donations
• Transvaginal ultrasound to assess ovaries
• Ovarian reserve blood test
• Pap smear per OB/GYN recommendations
• Blood testing for communicable diseases before every donation:
  • Syphilis
  • HIV 1&2
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • West Nile virus, T. cruzi (Chagas disease), and ZIKA virus depending on travel history
• Gonorrhea and chlamydia cultures with every donation
• Genetic screening panel including cystic fibrosis
• Psychological consultation with a psychologist who is well versed in third party reproduction issues.

The Egg Donation Process

Once an egg recipient selects a donor profile, the donor will begin the donation process. The egg donation process takes approximately 2 – 3 months beginning with the screening process. 

After the screening and testing are complete, the process includes the following steps:

• Education on self-administration of hormone injections for ovarian stimulation
• Frequent clinic visits during ovarian stimulation process so that the progress can be monitored with blood testing and transvaginal ultrasound.
  • Donors must be available during weekday business hours for required appointments.
• An outpatient egg retrieval procedure performed under monitored anesthesia

Compensation

An egg donor is not financially responsible for the fees associated with the screening process, the treatment cycle, or the required fertility medications. Donors are covered by a health insurance policy that covers additional costs associated with the donation process should a complication occur.

Donors will be compensated for their time, inconvenience, and the risk they are undertaking. The donor compensation package is $5,500 for a completed donation  [change compensation # if needed]. Payments are made at the completion of the egg retrieval. Per the recommendations of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, egg donors may undergo a maximum of six egg retrievals.

Record Keeping

Medical records, including medical workup, treatment, and consent to participate in the program are maintained for a minimum of 10 years. These records identify each cycle outcome and allow for reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and regulatory agencies. The names of anonymous donors will not be furnished to recipients unless under the direction of a court order.

West Virginia Fertility Institute can NOT guarantee anonymity due to the advancements in technology associated with commercial genetic testing, although if you choose to participate in our anonymous program, WVFI will make every effort to protect your identity.

The expert providers at West Virginia Fertility Institute specialize in a variety of treatments for infertility, including working with egg donors. If you are interested in becoming an egg donor at WVFI, please fill out a pre-screening questionnaire and complete a donor profile. If you have questions, call our office at (304) 345-9292 to schedule a consult.