If you are considering egg donation to help build your family, it is important to thoroughly research different agencies before signing on with one. Further, it is important to find one that you feel confident joining.
There are many benefits to working with an agency, but each one is unique. You are about to begin an incredibly exciting process and you should take your time in determining a good fit. Just as you want to find the right match with an egg donor, you will want to find a good match with an agency. To help guide you in your process, here are some questions to ask when considering an egg donor agency.
What is the agency’s legal framework?
Laws concerning assisted reproductive technologies are constantly evolving. Further, they are different in every state. To ensure that your experience runs as smoothly as possible and that both you and your egg donor’s rights are protected, agencies provide you with legal counsel. When considering an agency, you may want to look for one that has an in-house legal team.
How involved do you feel in the process?
As you embark on your journey to parenthood, it’s essential to feel like you are a member of the team and not just the client. That is why it is important to find an agency with which you connect. Look at different agency websites, read about their staff, and consider their overall message. You should feel present and engaged from day one. Look for an agency that provides you with a comprehensive team, which works together to guide you through the entirety of your journey. An egg donation agency should support you in all areas of the egg donation process, including legal, financial, and in the coordination with your clinic. A reputable agency will guide you through the egg donation process while keeping you involved and informed each step along the way.
What types of egg donation does the agency offer?
Egg donation agencies may offer donations that vary in the relationship (if any) you create and maintain with your egg donor. Typically, there are three types of egg donations available to intended parents: known, semi-known, and anonymous.
Many intended parents hope to find an egg donor with whom they can form a lifelong bond and involve her in the child’s life in some capacity. This is referred to as known egg donation. Intended parents and egg donors who choose to maintain a certain level of anonymity and decide on a level of contact that they are both comfortable with can pursue a semi-known egg donation. The final type of egg donation is anonymous, one in which the egg donor and intended parents have zero contact and no identifying information is exchanged. Depending on the type of donation you are looking for, certain agencies may be better fits than others.
Remember, the decision to sign with an agency is yours and yours alone. Through research, consultations with staff from different agencies, and determining what it is that you want from your egg donation agency, you can establish a fit that is right for you and start a new page in your family’s storybook.
Frannie McBrian works in the communications department at Circle Egg Donation. She also works closely with the egg donation department, recruiting potential egg donors and informing them about the process as well as assisting with matches.