If an egg donor is accepted into a IVF or Surrogacy program and invited to proceed with the selection process, medical and psychological screening is required.
Do I have to take Tests to Become an Egg Donor?
Universal Medical Screening
Physical examination including a pelvic examination; Blood tests to check your hormone levels; Ultrasound to examine your uterus, ovaries and other pelvic organs.
Medical and Psychological History Application
You will complete a questionnaire about yourself and close blood relatives. It will also entail questions about smoking, alcohol intake, prescription and illegal drugs. Review our Egg Donor Application Example.
Transmittable Disease Screening
When blood or tissue is transferred from one person to another, it can carry viruses or bacteria. Donors are tested for a variety of infections to minimize this risk.
Pelvic exam encompasses a small scrape from your cervix to assess for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Blood tests used to detect syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and HTLV-1 and HIV.
Congenital Disease Screening
Most programs explore a donor’s genetic make-up in order to minimize the fortuitous birth defect or serious inherited disease. A complete medical history as well as extensive medical questions about your biological parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters is introduced.
If this information is not accessible by you, typically you should not become an egg donor.
Genetic Test Screening
All other tests required by state law are performed including a check for disease genes that are shared in the ethnic group of either the donor or recipient. Specific genetic concerns are addressed and may involve a simple blood test.
Psychological Screening
Donating eggs entails you confronting complex ethical, emotional and social issues. The screening process may contribute you to evaluate your desire to be an egg donor and to meditate on these issues.
This screening will allow you to meet with a mental health professional to discuss your life state of affairs, your support system, feelings about the donation, and related issues.
The screening process evaluates your commitment to the complex requirements of egg donation as failure to follow instructions can endanger your health and jeopardize the procedure. This also minimizes the chance that you will have regrets or psychological problems, or find the procedures traumatic.
