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Egg donation at Egg Donor and Surrogacy Institute follows a clear and medically supervised process. Donors take the same medications used for standard IVF cycles. Each plan is tailored by the fertility specialist, and EDSI supports donors throughout the journey so they feel informed and cared for at every step.
Donors receive a calendar that outlines each medication, the time of day to take it, and the length of the cycle. The clinic team teaches each donor how to give the small injections in the lower abdomen or the side of the thigh. These medications stay in the body only for the duration of the cycle, and the fertility specialist reviews progress through ultrasound appointments and blood work.
| Medication Name | Purpose | When It Is Used | What Donors Usually Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| GNRH Agonist (Leuprolide Acetate) | Helps prevent early ovulation | Early stage of cycle | Temporary fullness or mild irritation at injection site |
| Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH or Gonadotropins) | Helps follicles grow and produce multiple eggs | Middle of cycle | Bloating, mild tenderness, feeling full in the pelvic area |
| Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG or Trigger Shot) | Helps final egg maturation for retrieval | Taken once before retrieval | Possible temporary pressure or heaviness in the lower abdomen |
Drug names: Lupron
Frequency: One injection per day for approximately 12 days, then one injection per day in conjunction with gonadotropin therapy for a total of approximately 22 days.
What does it do? The administration of GNH agonist medicine like Lupron is used to prevent the release of eggs and to control some of the female hormone levels. Specifically, it affects the pituitary gland and results in lower luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the body. This approach is used to achieve a more uniform and predictable response to the IVF medicines and reduce the likelihood of an egg donation cycle being canceled.
Is it Safe?
Extensive studies on non-human primates, as well as limited human evaluations, suggest that leuprolide acetate is harmless. The medication is rapidly (within hours) eliminated from the system upon discontinuing administration.
Possible Side Effects (no long-term side effects have been reported)
Drug names: Ganirelix acetate or Cetrotide
Frequency: One injection per day or every 3 days taken with gonadotropin therapy. Usually it is added after being on the gonadtropin therapy for 4-5 days. It is taken for approximately 5-6 days)
What does it do? This may be used instead of the GNRH agonist medicine Lupron to prevent the eggs from ovulating during the stimulation and also allows for more control of the cycle. It is a newer medicine and is not given for as many days as the Lupron.
Drug names: Gonal F, Bravelle, Follistim, Memopur, Repronex)
Frequency: One injection per day for approximately 10 days)
What does it do?
FSH is the very same hormone produced by a woman’s body to mature the eggs within the ovaries during her reproductive cycle. Each egg in the ovary sits in a sac called a follicle. In the treatment of egg donation, FSH medicine is given to developing many sacs or follicles and thus make many eggs. The more ovarian follicles produced, the greater chances are for a successful outcome.
Possible Side Effects (no long-term side effects have been reported):
Rare Possible Side Effects OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) The incidence of severe OHSS is 1-2% of IVF cases. OHSS means essentially that the body has “over-responded” to the FSH and the ovaries become excessively enlarged. Great care is taken by the physician to minimize the chances of this occurrence. Treatment for this condition may include hospitalization and a minor procedure. Forgoing proper treatment can result in extremely serious complications including blood clots and stroke. Also, there is a rare risk of the ovary tearing open or twisting on itself so decreasing physical activities during the time on the FSH medicine is important.
Drug Names: Ovidrel, Profasi, Pregnyl
Frequency: One injection approximately 34 hours prior to egg retrieval
What does it do?
hCG is the name of the pregnancy hormone and is produced by the human placenta. The purpose of administering hCG is to mature the eggs before they are retrieved, like when the sun ripens a fruit. Once the follicles are the right size, then the egg inside needs to ripen or become mature so hcg medicine makes this happen. It is very important to take this because without it, the eggs would not be usable for IVF.
Possible Side Effects (no long-term side effects have been reported)
Every medication step is overseen by the fertility specialist. Donors come in for monitoring appointments so the clinic can keep track of how the follicles are developing. EDSI stays in close communication with the donor and answers questions throughout the journey. Internal links can guide donors to the main pages for more detailed support.
• Learn more about becoming a donor: https://eggdonorandsurrogacy.com/become-an-egg-donor/
• Donor requirements: https://eggdonorandsurrogacy.com/donors/requirements
• Donor application: https://eggdonorandsurrogacy.com/register-become-a-donor/
We work to build families all over the world. Whether you are located in the United States or abroad, we ensure that your experience is legal, safe, and filled with love.