Egg donation is a medical procedure in which a donor’s eggs are retrieved, fertilized in a laboratory, and then transferred into another person’s uterus to help achieve pregnancy. Although the term “donation” suggests altruism, in many countries, egg donors, as well as agencies and clinics, receive compensation for their services.
Clinically, the IVF process using donor eggs follows five key steps:
Selecting a Donor: Intended parents choose a suitable egg donor based on medical, genetic, and personal criteria. This process can take from a few days to several months.
Egg Retrieval: The donor undergoes ovarian stimulation to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved. Some programs use previously frozen (vitrified) donor eggs.
Fertilization: The retrieved eggs are fertilized with sperm, usually from an intended parent. Around 70–80% typically fertilize successfully.
Embryo Development: Fertilized eggs develop into embryos over 3–7 days; approximately 40–80% reach the embryo stage.
Embryo Transfer: One embryo is transferred into the uterus of the intended mother or gestational carrier after hormonal preparation. If unsuccessful, remaining embryos may be used for future attempts.
