For some couples, the most successful route in achieving a pregnancy involves using an egg donor. At the Arizona Center for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, we provide an extremely personalized service to those couples looking to use an egg donor to get pregnant. We’re able to guide both the couple and the donor through the entire process, making sure everyone’s expectations and goals in having a healthy baby are met.
While we take care of the medical aspects of the process, the couple plays the ultimate role in deciding who will be their donor. If you feel this is the best option for you, start with these three things to keep in mind as you begin the process of choosing an egg donor.
Health & History of the Donor
The most important characteristic to consider when choosing your egg donor is one you actually don’t have to spend too much time worrying about. All AZCREI donors are carefully and thoroughly screened for their health and suitability to donate. We’ll stress this before you even start the process of seeking an egg donor.
When we screen women who are coming through our donation program, we’re reviewing that they’re young, healthy, and that they would make a good candidate. Our screening process also looks at their mental and psychological stability as well as their genetic health. This ensures that you don’t have to worry about your baby inheriting any potentially harmful diseases or medical issues.
In fact, we screen three generations of the donor’s family—grandparents, parents, and siblings—to make sure there are no possibilities for disease or issues that could be passed on. While we do keep the donor’s identity anonymous, you are privy to their entire relevant medical history so that you can make an informed choice.
Known donors, like friends or family members, are required to go through the same rigorous screening procedures to ensure they will also be able to donate healthy, viable eggs.
Physical Characteristics
Of course, in choosing an egg donor, you get to decide the physical features and qualities of the donor. This part of the process can be overwhelming to some couples, so we suggest taking the time to discuss which attributes are most important to you and your partner before you start looking through our registry of donors.
Some of the characteristics you can choose in a donor include:
- Appearance: height, weight, hair color, hair texture, eye color, etc.
- Background: ethnicity, religion, education, etc.
- Personality: intellect, interests, career, etc.
It’s typically easy for a woman to find a donor with an appearance and desired traits that are very similar to hers. While we do have our own registry to work with, we can expand our search to donors from other parts of the country in the rare cases there is difficulty finding a close enough match. Patients also have the option of using a family member; this route keeps the genetics within the family so the cosmetic match is even stronger.
Your Comfort Level with the Process
At AZCREI, we never push our patients to choose one procedure over another unless they are completely comfortable with the process. It’s important to remember that at the end of the day, your baby will have distinctive characteristics that he or she shares with the egg donor. It’s also imperative to keep in mind that at the end of this process, you will ultimately achieve your dreams of having a healthy, happy baby. And many times, we’re able to help our donors find such a close match, that it’s difficult to determine that a donor was used.
Our team offers personalized support, care, and guidance, so if you have any hesitancy or questions about the egg donation process, we want you to feel comfortable coming to us. We won’t pressure you into a decision; instead, we discuss your options and answer all your questions, equipping you with the information to make the decision that’s best for you and your partner.
To make an appointment and learn about your options when it comes to egg donation, visit AZCREI online or call us at 520-326-0001.