Deciding to use an egg donor is a big step in itself. The next? Choosing a suitable egg donor that fulfills all your needs and expectations.
At Signature, we offer personalized attention to Intended Parents in their search for the ideal egg donor. Intended Parents can access our comprehensive database directly, in addition to our coordinators considering their specific preferences to compile a tailored list of donor profiles.
There are many things to think about when selecting an egg donor – below, we’ve outlined some key factors to consider:
Narrow your search
Once you’ve decided upon an agency, you can begin narrowing down your search based on various criteria, depending on what’s most important to you. Some of these criteria may include:
Ethnicity and race
Many intended parents may prefer donors who share similar ethnic or racial backgrounds in order for any future child to share some resemblance with their intended parents.
Physical characteristics
Selecting a donor with physical traits that resemble your own can help ensure that your future child will resemble you. Such traits may include eye color, height, or body type. Egg donor profiles include several photographs of themselves on their profiles - current ones as well as childhood pictures to give a good idea of their physical traits and how they might manifest in a child.
Talents
Considering donors’ talents and passions may also be something intended parents would want to look at. For example, one might want to look for a donor with an athletic background if you want your child to excel in sports.
Education
Many intended parents consider the level of education when they seek out donors, believing that they may influence the child’s academic abilities.
Personality
Learning about the donor’s life and motivations for donating can help inform intended parents about their personality. Selecting a donor with a similar personality can be significant. Signature Donors complete an array of application questions targeted to discover all aspects of their personality and life.
Fertility
Not all egg donors have been pregnant before, but some may have been. This can indicate the donor’s reproductive health and the viability of her eggs. Regardless of her reproductive history, egg donors will be required to take fertility medications ahead of their retrieval procedure.
Genetic Compatibility
All Signature Donors complete a saliva-based genetic carrier screening prior to admission to the database. It is estimated that everyone carries between 5 and 7 recessive genes. Around 80% of individuals are carriers for at least one gene on these large genetic panels- but only about 2% of matches are both carriers for a change in the same gene and, therefore, at risk.
Anything the donor tests positive for in this test will be included on their profile; it is important that the egg and sperm source do not have any of the same positive genetic carriers, which would result in a higher risk of the offspring obtaining such mutation.
All Signature Intended Parents are offered genetic counseling to discuss the results of their genetic carrier screening panel compared to the donor’s.
Fresh or Frozen eggs?
Donor choice can also depend on the type of donated eggs you seek. There are some differences between fresh and frozen eggs. Read more about the difference between the two in our blog post dedicated to the topic.
Anonymous or open egg donor?
One of the aspects to consider when choosing an egg donor is the donor’s anonymity. Pros of having an open donor are that you have access to more information about the person’s identity and future health aspects. You may also have the opportunity to build a relationship with the person – which can benefit your future child with one more person in their life to share love and support with.
On the other hand, anonymity helps avoid potential conflict and pressure between family and donor for various reasons. Anonymity also provides more clarity on the donor's role in the process and potentially the child’s life.
Don’t obsess over the perfect match.
The wonderful thing about humans is that we are all individually different. As an intended parent, you do get to have a say about your future child – and while one may have particular requirements, it’s essential to find joy in building your dream family. A good agency will provide an ample selection of donors that will best fit you – the choice is ultimately yours.
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