Inside the Egg Donor Database: How Intended Parents Find the Right Match
Deciding to use an egg donor is a significant step in growing your family. Once you make that choice, you can register to review the extensive egg donor database. Somewhere in this database is your ideal egg donor match, so it's important to understand what to look for, as well as how egg donors are screened and vetted to ensure the best pregnancy outcomes.
What’s Included in a Donor Profile?
Every aspiring parent wants an egg donor they’re confident about. The donor profile can help you make a decision that best aligns with your family-building goals. A typical donor profile may include the following:
- Appearance (eye color, hair color, height, weight, etc.)
- Education level and current occupation
- Talents and interests
- Medical history
- Family history
- Race and heritage
The donor profile also includes a photo of the donor as well as their motivations for donating their eggs. If you have additional questions about a specific profile, you can contact your egg donor agency to see what your options are.
How Are Donors Screened and Vetted?
Becoming an egg donor is a time-consuming and comprehensive process, ensuring that they’re physically and psychologically suitable for egg donation. Before a potential egg donor can create a profile and connect with aspiring parents, they must first meet the following requirements:
- Be between the ages of 21 and 31
- Be in good physical health
- Be a non-smoker
- Have a BMI between 19 and 29
- Have regular menstrual periods
- Have no history of substance abuse
- Have no family history of genetic disorders
If a potential donor meets these criteria, they can apply. Then, they’ll undergo a physical exam and a psychological evaluation. The purpose of these screenings is to help ensure the future health of any children that may result from their donated eggs.
How to Start Your Search
The egg donor search can seem overwhelming at first. Before looking through an egg donor database, it’s important to discuss with your partner (if applicable) what traits you want in a donor. Do you want your child to look like you? Or is it more important that they come from a donor with certain personal traits or educational pursuits? What traits are non-negotiable, and which ones do you have more wiggle room with? These conversations can help narrow down your pick.
Begin Your Egg Donor Journey Today
The egg donor journey can be physically and emotionally demanding, so it’s crucial to work with an experienced and reputable egg donor agency that can answer all your questions and guide you through each step of the process. At Egg Donor America and Egg Bank America, we’re committed to making selecting a donor as easy and comfortable as possible. If you're considering using donor eggs, contact us today for more information.