Top Ten Questions to Ask When Choosing an Egg Donation Agency

OK, I’ll admit that there are many more than 10 questions here, but in trying to keep with the Top Ten theme, we have condensed them into roughly ten questions. We figured a little tweaking wasn’t the same as cheating.

1. How long have you been in the egg donation business? How many donors do you have that are currently ready to donate?  How many donations did you process last year?
2. What type of donor screening is routinely done and what type is available for an extra charge?  (psychological, personal medical, and family medical)  Can intended parents see all testing results?  Who does the psychological screening? (The clinic or agency or a third party?)  Can you arrange for an independent screening to be performed by the third party of your choice?
3. What is the fee payment schedule?  Is there an upfront fee for reviewing profiles?  Is the fee all inclusive or will there be other costs that the intended parents are expected to pay (e.g. donor expenses, medication cost, medical insurance, etc.)? What is the refund policy and what are the conditions?  What happens if not enough eggs are produced and you want to cancel the cycle?  What if the failure is due to improper administration of medication?
4. If you are looking for a donor with the specific characteristics, traits, genetics, or academic achievements, what will the agency do to find a donor with these features and will you be charged for this service?
5. How much of our fee is payment to the donor?  Has the agency agreed to abide by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Ethics Committee Guidelines governing the payment of egg donors.  Even though this list is self-reported and has not been verified, it is still an indication of adherence to ethical practices.
6. What training does the donor receive in administering the necessary medications?  Is someone available to answer any questions she may have with the protocol?
7. Does the agency keep a record of the results of every stimulation cycle the donor has had with them?  Does the agency keep records of any resulting births from their donors and the geographic location of these children?
8. Can the agency facilitate an open or semi open arrangement between the intended parents and the donor?  Is it possible to meet the donor?
9. How long are records on donors kept?  Is there a plan in place for maintaining these records if the agency goes out of business? Is there a mechanism for the donor to update her medical history information and will the intended parents be notified of this additional information?
10. Ask for three references within the last year.

Ask to review all documents you will be asked to sign. Check with the Better Business Bureau in all cities where the egg donation agency has offices to see if there have been any complaints filed.