Yes. You can participate in our program while on the Pill or the Patch, though you will need to be off of the medications for at least three months prior to a donation. If you are taking Depo Provera, you will need to stop this method of birth control in order to become an egg donor. Women who have an implant are not able to participate, as the implant interferes with ovulation induction. Women who have had a tubal ligation or who have an IUD are also eligible to donate.

This varies depending on the desired timing of the Intended Parents and scheduling at the hospital. We will always do our best to maintain communication with you and keep you advised of scheduling.

In a normal menstrual cycle, one egg matures and, at ovulation, is released from an egg-containing sac (a follicle) on the ovary. In egg donation, the goal is to obtain several mature eggs. You will be prescribed medication to stimulate your ovaries to mature more eggs than normal (called "controlled hyper stimulation"). The medications are similar to the hormones that your body produces, but at much higher doses. These medications must be injected (either under your skin or into a muscle). Treatment will start on a specific day of your cycle and continue for about ten days.

During the donation cycle, you must have frequent blood tests and ultrasound examinations to track the developing eggs and to see how you are responding to the hormones. Based on these tests, you will be told how to adjust the dose of medication. The ultrasound exams involve inserting an ultrasound probe (about the size of a tampon applicator) into your vagina so the doctor can see the growing follicles on your ovaries.

The eggs will be removed from your ovaries in a minor surgical procedure called transvaginal ovarian aspiration. An ultrasound probe will be inserted into your vagina. A thin needle attached to the probe will be inserted into each follicle. Using suction, the egg and liquid inside each follicle are removed. You may be given painkillers, sedatives, or anesthesia during the retrieval, which lasts about 30 minutes. When all the eggs have been retrieved, you will recover for a few hours before going “home” (one of our executive apartments in India or your hotel). You must have someone drive you to your lodging, following the procedure. You will need to rest for the day. Along with your lodging, meals and laundry, all transportation to and from medical appointments and the airport in India will be taken care of for you by PFS' Indian-based affiliate BestMed Journeys, both before and after your procedure.

PFS only works with the finest hospitals in India. We do not work with clinics. All medical procedures are performed at the hospital.

You will have to travel to India for a period of three weeks.

We coordinate all of the details of your travel including, but not limited to, air and ground transportation, food and lodging in one of our executive apartments.

Proactive Family Solutions pays all of the reasonable and necessary expenses on behalf of the Intended Parents.

The program covers travel and accommodations for the donor only. If you wish to have anyone accompany you on the trip, those expenses will be your responsibility.

We employ guidelines for the compensation of egg donors and think you will find them very competitive. In establishing these guidelines, we take into consideration the time, effort, commitment and thought you give to the process. It is not easy to come to the decision to become an egg donor. It is, however, the answer to the prayers for many Intended Parents.

Most egg donation programs are completely anonymous. Occasionally, though rarely, there may be a need for the Intended Parents and donor to meet. If this is the case, we would require consensus from both the Intended Parents and the donor.

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine recommends that any one woman donate eggs only 6 times or less. Whether you may donate as a repeat donor, and how many times you may do so, will be determined solely by the doctor.

PFS' staff matches the Intended Parent(s) with the egg donor who most closely physically resembles her in ethnicity, height, body build, skin type, eye color and hair color and texture. Sometimes, personal characteristics, such as intellect, athletic ability and/or interests are also important to Parents and we do our best to make a good match. Once a possible match has been found, the recipient is given information about the donor and decides whether to proceed or wait for another donor. Alternatively, recipients are given information about several possible donors and select the match they would like to pursue.

Generally, no. We work very hard to protect the privacy of all of our clients: Intended Parents, Egg Donors and Surrogates. In addition to respecting privacy, we are respectful that the decision to participate in Assisted Reproductive techniques is very personal as well as very emotional. By keeping “relationships” out of the formula, we are able to lessen the emotional connection.

You will be notified when Intended Parent(s) are interested in your profile. We will also share your medical history and photos with them. However, neither the medical history nor your photos will be theirs to keep. Consistent with our commitment to you, we will not disclose your name or other identifying information to them.

Every egg donor is required to undergo a series of screenings including: general medical, physical, psychological, inherited disease and infectious disease. On occasion, Intended Parents wish to require very specific medical screenings, which we arrange. The costs for these screenings are borne by the Intended Parents.

There are several answers to this question. Some common reasons are

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The female partner may be over 40 years old

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The female partner may not have responded positively to fertility drugs

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The female partner may not be able to produce eggs due to medical conditions and related treatments

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Attempts at IVF or egg retrievals may not have been successful

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The female partner may have had her ovaries removed, have premature ovarian failure or lack of menstrual cycles

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The Intended Parent(s) may be a single man or a gay couple who need an egg donor and a surrogate.

If you wish to know the outcome of your donation, please make sure to communicate that to our intake coordinator. If it is your desire to know, we will make every attempt to provide you with follow-up information.

Most fertility programs offer payment to egg donors for their time, effort and discomfort. It is not payment for the eggs themselves. After egg retrieval, you will receive the full, agreed upon amount no matter the number or quality of the eggs, provided you adhered to the rules of the program.