Egg Donation

What is Egg Donation?

Egg donation is a regulated medical process in which a person known as the donor provides eggs to another individual, known as the recipient. The recipient uses these donated eggs to conceive a baby, either by acting as a surrogate on behalf of another person, or with the intention of parenting the child themselves. Regulations set by both state and federal governments are in place to safeguard the rights and well-being of both the donor and any potential recipients.

The process of egg donation involves the administration of medications to the donor to stimulate the development of multiple eggs during one menstrual cycle. These eggs are then retrieved from the donor through a minor surgical procedure in which they are aspirated or suctioned from the ovaries. Following retrieval, the eggs are carefully examined in a laboratory setting, where they may be frozen for future use or utilized fresh as needed.

To facilitate fertilization, sperm from the recipient's partner or a sperm bank is introduced to the eggs either through surrounding them or through injection. This method, known as in vitro fertilization (IVF), allows for the fertilization process to take place, with one sperm entering each egg to initiate embryo development.