How to fast-track the egg donation process

Still, egg donation is a longer process than other types of donations, and requires a deeper involvement from the donor. It is therefore not surprising that many donors ask how they can speed up the egg donation process.

Our team at Cape Fertility’s premium egg donation programme provides four top tips for speeding up the process, based on their decades of experience in assisting egg donors. These include pinpointing your why – the reasons behind your decision to donate; understanding the process and not hesitating to ask questions; following through on your decision; and, perhaps most importantly, working with a reputable egg donation agency or clinic.

We look at each one in more detail below.

1. Pinpointing your “why”

Thousands of women around the world struggle to fall pregnant with their own eggs, which are of poor quality for various reasons. Previously, these women’s options were limited to adoption, but for the last 30 years, egg donations from caring and selfless healthy young women have given them an opportunity to become pregnant with their own babies.

Many young women become interested in donating their eggs, because it is an opportunity to help other women to experience the joy of carrying a pregnancy and birthing a child, while also being compensated for the substantial time and effort this donation will require.

Having a clear ‘why’ or reason to make an egg donation will create the momentum to get the process started and to keep going, knowing that at the end of it, a couple who are so longing to have a family, will soon hold their own baby in their arms, thanks to your generous donation.

2. Understanding the process

Several steps are completed on an egg donation journey, and at Cape Fertility, we have streamlined the process into 7 steps that are easy to follow. In addition, our egg donation team supports you, throughout your entire egg donation process, as well as after your egg donation is completed.

Step 1 – Applying to become an egg donor by simply filling in your contact details here, or contacting our Egg Donor Fairy God Mother, Linda, on 072 698 7919 or linda@capefertility.co.za. Linda has many years of experience supporting egg donors and a wealth of information to share, and will gladly answer your questions and guide you further in giving the gift of a lifetime.

Step 2 – Complete a confidential medical questionnaire to ascertain your suitability as an egg donor.

Step 3 – Linda will assist you in completing an Egg Donor Profile, which is completely anonymous and confidential.

Step 4 – Your profile is added to Cape Fertility’s world-class and secure database of egg donors from which moms-to-be can select their match.

Step 5 – When you are selected by a donor recipient, you will be required to attend a 2-hour appointment with our fertility specialists and our psychologist. The full egg donation procedure will be explained to you and you will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have and to discuss any concerns.

Step 6 – The next step is to complete an egg donation cycle. It starts with fertility injections for 10-12 days to grow the eggs. On egg retrieval day, you will need to take a full day off work or daily activities, although the actual procedure only takes about 30 minutes under a mild general anaesthetic. You can go home about an hour after the procedure and Linda and our team will stay in touch with you. About 5 to 14 days later, you will have a period.

Step 7 – After your egg donation experience, we will still remain in contact with you to ensure there are no problems after your donation and to invite you back.

3. Follow through – fair compensation and further donations

Clearly, donating eggs require more time and involvement than, for example, donating blood or volunteering for an hour or two. Receiving the compensation allowed by law for reasonable expenses will helps to ensure the time and trouble you have been through does not seem excessive.

At Cape Fertility, we ensure our egg donors receive the maximum permissible compensation allowable in South Africa under the National Guidelines from the South African Society for Reproductive Medicine (SASREG), which is currently R8000 per donation cycle. It is paid by us, directly to you, on the day of and after your egg donation.

You can also decide whether you would like to remain available for another donation. By law you may donate up to six times. Many donors donate more than once because they find the joy of helping to fulfil another’s dream such a rewarding experience.

4. Work with a reputable egg donation agency or clinic

Perhaps most importantly, egg donors should always choose a facility that is registered with the Southern African Society for Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG), and that has signed and agreed to SASREG’s guidelines.

Not only will this ensure that you are safe and working with a team committed to safe, legal and ethical egg donation practices, it will certainly speed up the egg donation process!

Cape Fertility facilitates more egg donor matches than any other clinic in South Africa. We have many local and international recipients every month who require an egg donor.

Since there are fewer egg donors than couples who need eggs to achieve their dream of becoming pregnant, you have a very good chance of being selected to donate soon, if not immediately.

Cape Fertility has been leading the way in egg donation since 1993 and for the last 30 years we have worked with thousands of egg donors in a friendly, relaxed and caring environment at our advanced, purpose-built facilities in the beautiful city of Cape Town.

Your First Step to Becoming An Egg Donor in South Africa

If you are willing to donate eggs to help another woman fulfil her dream of having her own baby, your first step is as simple as contacting us.

By joining the Cape Fertility Egg Donor Program, you are assured that you are donating eggs at a leading South African fertility clinic, where you can expect dedicated one-on-one attention to make your egg donation process a positive experience.

If you don’t live in Cape Town, it is not a problem – all your travel and accommodation arrangements will be explained to you and all your expenses will be covered.

Simply fill in your contact details here, or contact our Egg Donor Fairy God Mother, Linda, on 072 698 7919 or linda@capefertility.co.za. Your information is 100% confidential and will under no circumstances be made available to anybody else.