Becoming a Jewish Egg Donor
One of the most rewarding gifts you can give is the gift of life. The Chosen One was created specifically for this purpose, and we are here to help match egg donors with intended parents.
Hopeful parents who have had difficulty conceiving are often able to get pregnant with donated eggs, through in vitro fertilization (IVF). An important part of our service is connecting generous donors like you with recipients who long to build a family.
Many Jewish intended parents, whether religious or not, want to make sure that their children will be genetically Jewish. This can be difficult when using donor eggs.
There are also Jewish egg donors who want to make sure than any children born of their eggs will be raised in a Jewish home, or knowing that they are of Jewish genetic heritage.
If you are Jewish and you are considering donating eggs, you can choose whether you want to be matched specifically with Jewish intended parents or not. It is a special mitzvah to bring a Jewish child into this world, and helping a family that is unable to conceive is an incredibly generous and meaningful act.
We specialize in connecting Jewish egg donors with Jewish intended parents, and we offer a variety of services and arrangements to meet the needs of our Jewish clients.
A Beautiful Mitzvah
Most of our intended parents have been through significant emotional and financial trauma trying to conceive on their own. Without the help of someone special, like you, these couples might never have the opportunity to build a family. We are thankful to each and every woman who chooses to give the gift of life to a family in need. We appreciate your generous and noble act, and we know that the decision to become an egg donor is not an easy decision to make.
Other than the service of matching Jewish egg donors with Jewish intended parents, and an optional supervision service, the process is the same for Jewish and non-Jewish egg donors.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Why Donate?
Why is egg donation necessary?
For some people, egg donation is their only hope for pregnancy. Situations that can create the need for egg donation include chemotherapy, premature menopause, premature ovarian failure, genetic issues, and more.
Without people like you, many who long to have families would never be able to become parents. We are here to connect you with people who need your help to build happy, healthy families.
Why should I donate my eggs?
Many women donate eggs or become surrogates because of their desire to help others who are unable to have a baby on their own. Our goal is to find donors who share our passion for helping individuals and couples realize their dreams.
There are thousands of people desperately searching for an egg donor like you to give them hope. Your generous donation can give someone who would otherwise have no hope a chance to experience the joy of parenthood. You can give a family a lifetime of happiness.
Will I be paid for donating eggs?
Yes, in addition to any medical or legal expenses incurred, all of which are fully covered by TCO, as a Jewish donor, you will receive a payment of $10,000 for your first donation, with a possible increase for subsequent donations, under certain circumstances.
What to Expect
Step 1 – The egg donor application
To apply to become an egg donor, you first need to fill out our online form. We will review your submission, and we’ll let you know if you meet our donor criteria.
Once you’ve been approved to get started, you will need to fill a portfolio application, where you will complete a personal profile. This profile is very important for matching you with intended parents. Your profile includes important details, such your medical history, a bit about you and your family, your background, and some current and childhood photos of yourself.
Our egg donation program is completely anonymous – intended parents are not given any personally identifying information about you.
Step 2 – Meet our team
Once you’ve completed your application, if you meet our donor requirements, you’ll be invited to meet us in person. If it’s not possible for you to come in for an interview, we can schedule a Skype or video meeting instead, but we always prefer to meet in person, if possible. The meeting is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about egg donation, and our opportunity to get to know you to make sure you are a fit for our program. Once your application process is complete, we’ll let you know if you’ve been accepted into our egg donor program.
Step 3 – The matching process
When an intended parent selects you as their egg donor, you will be notified, and the match will be made when you accept their offer. This process can take anywhere between a few days and a few months.
Step 4- The contract
A written contract between you and the recipients will be drafted. We can help you choose a lawyer you are comfortable with, to make sure that you are aware of all the aspects of the egg donations process, including your responsibilities, the recipient’s responsibilities, and more. All your legal fees will be fully covered by The Chosen One.
Step 5 – Medical screening
Donor screening is an important step in the donation process. Screening begins with a baseline hormone test and an ultrasound, to evaluate your hormone levels and potential egg count.
You will then undergo the following tests:
Blood and drug screening: You will receive a blood test to establish ovarian age, and to rule out genetic diseases, drug use, and infectious diseases, such as HIV
Physical consultation: You will meet with a physician for a physical exam and an in-depth explanation of the medical procedures involved in the egg donation process, including possible side effects and risks
Psychological consultation: You will meet with a therapist to discuss all the implications of egg donation
Step 6 – The egg donation process
Once the screening is complete and the contract has been signed, you will begin the donation cycle, which typically takes 3 to 6 weeks. In order for an egg retrieval process to be successful, the donor and the recipient’s fertility cycles need to be synchronized.
To begin the process, you’ll take one medication to synchronize your cycle with the recipient’s, and another to stimulate egg production. Your doctor will explain everything to you in detail, so you’ll know exactly what to expect, and will answer any questions you have
Your doctor will monitor you carefully throughout this process to make sure your body is reacting properly to the hormones, to check your progress, and to determine when your body is ready for the egg retrieval.
The egg retrieval is a simple surgical procedure that requires a mild general anesthetic and takes roughly 10-20 minutes. In the procedure, the doctor will use a small ultrasound-guided needle to extract the follicles from your ovaries.
Recovery can take anywhere between a day and a week, but in most cases, donors return to normal activities within 24 hours of the procedure.
Step 7 – Receive your compensation
On the day of the egg retrieval you will receive your $10,000 compensation.
Step 8 – Fertilization and transfer
On the day of the retrieval the doctor will attempt to fertilize the eggs. The eggs will be observed for a few days in the lab to make sure they are ready for transfer. The number of embryos that are transferred varies depending on the recipient’s decision. Two weeks after the transfer, the recipient can take a pregnancy test to find out if the process was successful!
Things to Consider
To become a Jewish donor, you must:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 30
- Be in excellent physical and emotional health
- Not abuse drugs or alcohol (currently or for at least the past 3 years)
- Be a non-smoker
- Have proportional height and weight
- Have no criminal history (must be willing to undergo a criminal background check)
- Be willing to undergo psychological and medical assessments (along with your partner, if relevant)
- Be willing to provide a complete medical history.
- Have no history of depression or other psychiatric disorders.
- Have a positive outlook on life, be considerate of others, compassionate, caring, and a good communicator
- Be willing to have repeated blood-work and ultrasounds
- Be willing to take IVF medications (both oral and subcutaneous/intramuscular hormone injections)
- Be willing to have minimally invasive medical procedures, including gynecological exams, and the egg retrieval procedure
- Be willing to travel to fertility clinics, lawyers, and doctor/ultrasound appointments.
- Be able to take time off as needed for various appointments and for the egg retrieval procedure.
- Be confident that you will be able to fulfill the egg donation agreement in knowing wholeheartedly that this is the right decision for you.
Is it safe?
Many women feel little or no discomfort during their egg donation cycle. Others may have symptoms that disappear shortly after the retrieval procedure. In some cases, you might feel bloating, abdominal pain, or pressure and swelling, which will subside by your next period.
As with any medical procedure, there are possible side effects and risks. Pregnancy is one very real risk associated with egg donation. You will be required to abstain from sex during the donation process. You will also be asked to refrain from drinking alcohol and taking certain medications. Your doctor will explain all of this to you in detail when you meet.
Severe side effects are rare, but they do exist. Your doctor will explain the details of all the possible rare side effects of this procedure.
Women have been donating eggs since 1984, and there are more than 10,000 retrievals each year in the U.S. alone. There are no known long-term negative effects of on a woman’s health or fertility.
Donating eggs requires a significant investment of time, attention to detail, and patience. For this investment, you will be compensated financially, as well with the sense of fulfillment that comes with knowing you helped create a family.
Egg donors are limited to six donation cycles.