For individuals or couples who want to grow their families, surrogacy is a great solution. Egg donation is an integral part of a large percentage of surrogacy journeys. They provide a solution to a problem that would otherwise completely stop the pregnancy part of the process – the use of healthy eggs.
There are many reasons why a woman may choose to use a donor’s eggs rather than her own for the surrogacy journey. Some include reproductive problems or health risks, like early menopause, older age, or damaged ovaries. Damaged ovaries are not uncommon, especially in women who have gone through cancer treatments or have diagnosed reproductive system problems. The success rate for pregnancy with a donor’s eggs are higher, because there are lengthy wellness checks before the donation happens.
Single fathers or male gay couples may also choose to use egg donors to have a biological child via surrogacy.
Pros of Using Donor Eggs
There are many pros to using a donor’s eggs. These benefits impact different people in different amounts. For example, one may care about genetic testing more than the biological relation, whereas another couple may solely pursue egg donation surrogacy for the biological link.
- Donor Eggs Have a High Pregnancy Success Rate
Because of our screening process for egg donors, they have a high rate of success in making a surrogate pregnant, resulting in a healthy baby. There are many qualifications that egg donors must meet to qualify, so all eggs collected have a low risk of having later problems arise.
We are able to utilize the best egg preservation technology, and we always recommend using fresh eggs rather than frozen. These details are included in your surrogacy package and will be discussed with your case manager before the process begins.
Egg donors must be between the ages of 19-30, must have a healthy BMI, and must be okay with self-administering hormonal injections.
The screening process for egg donors includes an in-depth questionnaire about health, any past reproductive issues, lifestyle habits, etc. We break down medical history, diet, exercise, alcohol/drug use, and more. A background check is also required. Qualified candidates will then have a physical exam and a wellness check.
Only after this process is complete, the egg donor becomes a registered donor at Los Angeles Surrogacy and becomes available to work with intended parents.
With modern IVF technology and the best fertility doctors that California has to offer, our egg donation surrogacy journeys have the highest success rates.
- Genetic Testing & Family Size
When you partner with an egg donor, you can have genetic testing done. This will show any chromosomal abnormalities and can help improve the success rate of a healthy baby boy or girl.
Egg donation also allows intended parents to choose if they want one child, or multiple. Many successful twin and triplet births begin with egg donation.
- Avoiding Heartbreak
We understand that for many individuals or couples pursuing surrogacy, there have been pregnancy failures and heartbreak in the past. We are passionate about helping intended parents grow their families via surrogacy. Not only does it eliminate the physical aspect of pregnancy for women, but because of the high success rate, it reduces the emotional risk as well.
For women over 40, pregnancy risks increase drastically. Egg donors in their 20s provide a solution for these women who want to conceive.
- Biological Relation to One Parent
Surrogacy cases that utilize a donor’s eggs have the option of being biologically related to the intended father. During the IVF portion of the process, the donor’s eggs can be fertilized by the male partner’s sperm, creating the biological link to one parent.
For single fathers, this is a great option to have a child who is related to you. For male gay couples, one partner can choose to use his sperm.
Cons of Using a Donor’s Eggs
- No Biological Relation to the Intended Mother
Though it is 100% possible for the intended mother to carry the child in her own womb, it will not be biologically related to her at all if an egg donor is used. The genetic makeup of the child is determined solely by the egg and sperm.
Though her genes will not be a part of the genetic makeup of her child, it still provides the opportunity for the intended mother to carry her child in her womb and create an intense bond even before the baby is born.
The mother will be solely responsible for the nutrients that the baby receives if she carries the child. She will be there for the baby’s formative months, and of course, will share likenesses with the baby as she raises him or her.
- Risks of Egg Donation
There are certain pregnancy risks that come with using donor eggs, though they are very low risk. Perhaps the most common risk is preeclampsia, which is an elevated blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy.
Although we do offer genetic testing, there is always a chance that there are small issues that do not show up. Though very rare, the possibility does, technically, exist.
It is important to note that all egg donors are between the ages of 19 and 30, which are the healthiest years for a woman’s reproductive organs. They are the least likely to develop chromosomal abnormalities, especially because of our thorough screening process.
- Scheduling
There is an added layer of scheduling to the surrogacy process when using an egg donor. At Los Angeles Surrogacy, we recommend using fresh eggs. This would mean that your intended egg donor would need to be available to begin the egg donation cycle around the time you want to grow your family.
The solution to this problem, if it were to arise, would be to use a different donor, or use frozen eggs. Both of these options are an easy switch and have great success rates.
Should I Use Donor Eggs?
At the end of the day, the decision is yours. We can honestly say that we have never had a family regret pursuing surrogacy with a donor’s eggs. But we also know that the decisions made regarding your surrogacy journey are deeply personal.
Why Los Angeles Surrogacy?
As an intended parent looking to grow your family, you want to be sure you’re making decisions that will benefit you and your child for the rest of your lives. Here are some ways Los Angeles Surrogacy can help you do this, as well as ease your anxiety:
- Proven Donors
Our “Proven Donors” are egg donors whose eggs have resulted in a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby delivery before. This can eliminate some of the mystery of intended parents and can ease your mind while simplifying the process.
- Donor Exchange
Your payment will transfer to another egg donation cycle if the original donor cancels, or if it is unsuccessful. This ensures that you will have a high chance of success without any added costs.
Please note that if you choose not to go with a new egg donor, 75% of your fee will be refunded. The other 25% will pay the agency members and our medical partners that assisted you thus far.
- Payment Installments
Los Angeles Surrogacy provides a few different options for financing the surrogacy journey. We also provide financial education, so you fully understand the cost and your responsibilities before you sign anything.
Each surrogacy partnership receives a customized package depending on their own needs and wants, so for more specific details tailored to you, please contact us here. At this link, you will also find more information about becoming a parent via surrogacy.
- Donor Packages
Egg donors who partner with Los Angeles Surrogacy provide a fresh egg donation for each intended parent match. This means that intended parents get every viable egg that is retrieved during the egg collection procedure.
Our First Time Donor package includes:
- Agency fee
- Video match call with up to two donor choices
- Donor compensation
- Donor Insurance
- Psychological screening
- Genetic testing
- Legal representation and attorney-held trust that includes a personalized egg donor contract as well as independent legal representation for your egg donor
No matter what obstacles arise, Los Angeles Surrogacy specializes in matching successful egg donor, surrogate, and intended parent partnerships. If you are interested in growing your family and don’t know where to start, please contact us here. We specialize in surrogacy around the world.