Working with Donor Eggs

For various reasons, many patients will use donor eggs at some point in their treatment journey. Whether you have an egg donor in mind or are just learning about the process, Life IVF Center is proud to offer our patients access to an experienced team and full suite of services around donor eggs.

Known vs. Anonymous Donation

When it comes to Donor Eggs, the Donor in question can be Known or Anonymous. There are somewhat different requirements associated with each.

  • Known Donors may be friends, family members, or anyone who has direct contact with the intended parents.
  • Anonymous Donors come from donor agencies or Life IVF Center’s Egg Bank Program to assist recipients while maintaining anonymity.

Fresh vs. Frozen: What’s the difference?

Both types of Egg Donor cases are popular, with each type having their own pros and cons

Fresh Donor Egg Cycles

Fresh Pros

  • Slightly higher success rates due to fewer freeze/ thaw needs

Fresh Cons

  • Pricier screening and testing for donors
  • Slower process due to screening and testing needs, donor schedule
  • Retrieval results uncertain
Frozen Donor Egg Cycles

Frozen Pros

  • Faster to start transfer
  • Lower donor screening and testing costs
  • More predictable pricing: pay for what you use

Frozen Cons

  • While LIC’s stimulation and freezing protocols are proven, eggs from outside Egg Banks are subject to varying egg quality and freezing skills

Screening Egg Donors:

All egg donor candidates, known or unknown, must pass evaluation and testing procedures according to the FDA regulations and ASRM guidelines to ensure the safety of all parties. Some conditions, such as having a tattoo or piercing within the past year, may require anonymous donors to make themselves known in order to sign waivers to proceed.

Our Third Party Reproductive (TPR) team is available to help you understand the entire donor egg process from start to finish and answer any questions.

Finding an Egg Donor

Given what we’ve explained above, there are five main paths our patients go through in working with donor eggs, each with their own pros, cons, and slightly different processes.

Some patients come to us with a donor in mind. Life IVF performs the egg retrieval and / or fertilization and transfer

Using an outside donor

I have my own egg donor

Patients may find a family member or friend to serve as their donor

I have a donor from an agency or egg bank

Other patients may work with an outside donor agency or third party egg bank to find a suitable donor or frozen eggs for their needs

 

For those without a donor, our Donor program can provide easy, affordable access to fresh or frozen eggs

Using a donor via Life IVF

Using Frozen Eggs

Life manages a world class bank of diverse frozen donor eggs conveniently available for patient needs

Using Fresh Eggs

Life IVF also arranges Fresh cycles, where the donor’s eggs are retrieved for immediate fertilization

Using Donor Eggs

When you receive donor eggs, the rest of the IVF process remains quite similar to other cases. The eggs are fertilized either with the sperm of a male partner or from a donor, which will be cultured into embryos.
 
You have the option of genetic testing for the embryos, but ultimately only one will be chosen for transfer to either an Intended Parent or a Gestational Carrier. This step is essential to achieve a successful pregnancy, and we will guide you through the entire process with informed expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a known and an anonymous egg donor?
A known donor is someone with a direct connection to the intended parents, such as a friend or family member. An anonymous donor comes through a donor agency or an egg bank and maintains privacy from the recipient. Each path has its own screening requirements and paperwork, which our Third Party Reproductive team will walk you through.
Should I use fresh or frozen donor eggs?
Fresh cycles can offer slightly higher success rates because there is no freeze and thaw step, but they involve more extensive donor screening, a slower timeline, and less predictable retrieval outcomes. Frozen eggs allow a faster start, lower screening costs, and more predictable pricing since you pay for what you use. Which option fits best depends on your timeline, budget, and clinical picture.
How are egg donors screened?
All donor candidates, known or anonymous, go through evaluation and testing required under FDA regulations and ASRM guidelines to protect the health and safety of everyone involved. Certain circumstances, such as a recent tattoo or piercing, may require additional waivers before proceeding.
What if I do not have my own egg donor?
If you do not already have a donor in mind, our donor program provides access to fresh or frozen eggs through outside agencies and egg banks, as well as our own bank of screened donor eggs. Our team will help you compare options and find a path that fits your needs.
What happens during a donor egg IVF cycle?
Once eggs are available, whether fresh or thawed from frozen, they are fertilized using sperm from a partner or donor and cultured into embryos. From there, the process mirrors a standard IVF cycle, with an embryo selected for transfer to the intended parent or a gestational carrier.
Can embryos from donor eggs be genetically tested?
Yes. Genetic testing is available for embryos created with donor eggs, the same as with any IVF cycle, and can help guide which embryo is selected for transfer.
How do I get started with donor egg treatment?
The best first step is a complimentary consultation with our team so we can understand your situation and walk you through known, anonymous, fresh, and frozen options. Our Third Party Reproductive department handles the process from start to finish.