For many aspiring parents, the decision to use an egg donor is a significant step in their family-building process. For many families we work with, it’s taken them a long time to get to this point, and they are ready and eager to move forward. One of the most common questions we hear at Cofertility is, “How long will it take to find an egg donor?” The good news is that with our unique egg sharing approach, there is no wait at all.
The Cofertility difference: No wait list
Unlike other egg donation programs, Cofertility has no waiting list. This means you can start browsing potential donors immediately after signing up. Our unique egg sharing model attracts a diverse pool of highly qualified donors, giving you access to hundreds of potential matches right now.
Matching timelines: Fresh vs. frozen donor eggs
At Cofertility, we offer both fresh and frozen egg donation options. The timeline for each process differs, so let’s break it down:
Fresh egg donation
If you choose a fresh egg donation cycle, here’s what you can expect:
1. Immediate matching: You can find your perfect egg donor match as you’re ready.
2. Donor screening and paperwork: After matching, the process typically takes two to four months. This timeline includes medical screening, genetic screening, psychological screening, and legal paperwork. Learn more about how we screen egg donors here.
3. Egg retrieval: Finally, there’s the roughly two-week egg donation cycle, which culminates in the egg retrieval. The eggs are yours immediately and can be fertilized to make embryos.
This timeline can vary based on several factors, including your schedule, your donor’s schedule, and of course your clinic’s schedule. Every family at Cofertility is paired with a Member Advocate that will walk you through every step of the process.
Frozen egg donation
For those considering egg donors who have already frozen their eggs, the process can be significantly faster:
1. Immediate matching: Like with fresh donation, you can match with a donor right away.
2. Paperwork: If the donor’s screening and retrieval are complete, you’ll move forward to sign an agreement with Cofertility and with the clinic where the donor completed her cycle. This typically takes 1-2 weeks but can be as fast as a few days!
3. Rapid access to eggs: You could potentially receive the donor eggs and be ready to create embryos within days of matching.
This accelerated timeline can be a game-changer for many intended parents, especially those who feel that time is of the essence in their family-building journey.
Why is our matching process so efficient?
You might be wondering how we’re able to offer such a streamlined process without a waiting list. This is due to our unique egg sharing model, where women freeze their eggs for free when donating half to a family that can’t otherwise conceive.
- Attractive program for donors: Our unique approach appeals to a wider pool of potential donors, increasing the number of available matches.
- Pre-qualified candidates: We maintain strict qualification standards, ensuring that all donors in our program meet rigorous criteria set by the FDA and ASRM.
- Diverse donor pool: With hundreds of potential donors available, we can help match families of all types.
- User–friendly platform: Our intuitive interface makes it easy for intended parents to browse and connect with potential donors quickly.
- Available donors: We only show donor profiles that are actually available and not currently matched with other families.
We also have a phenomenal team of professionals and industry-leading software tools that support our members every step of the way.
Making your decision
While the ability to match quickly is certainly appealing, it’s still a huge decision. We encourage all intended parents to take the time they need to feel confident in their choice.
Once you create your free account, you can sort candidates by a number of factors:
- Race
- Heritage
- Jewish ancestry
- Hair color
- Eye color
- Height
- Level of education
- School (if it’s Top 100, Top 50, Ivy League)
- Hair’s natural state (e.g. straight, curly)
- Personality (introvert, extrovert, ambivert)
- Thinker (left brain, right brain)
- And disclosure preference (see more on that below)
Once you go into the profile, you’ll be able to really get to know the member. Additional information included in the profile include:
- Photos from childhood and current day
- Dominant hand
- If they have dimples
- If they have freckles
- BMI
- Degree earned and major
- Job/career details
- Languages spoken
- Musical instruments played
- Aptitudes in math, science, athletics, music, and art
- What school subjects they enjoyed the most and least
- Hobbies, interests, talents
- Short-term and long-term goals in life
- Greatest strengths
- Favorite book, movie, and food
- Detailed health record including blood type, allergies, medications, and health history for the donor and their family
We’ve made these profiles to really share the human-side of each donor. We are so fortunate to have an amazing group of women as part of our Split Program.
The donor egg selection process
The first step is to review profiles and favorite any donors that really resonate with your family. Here are some things you’ll want to spend time reviewing:
- Medical history: Review the egg donor’s medical history to ensure your comfortable with their health history. Our donors have already been pre-qualified, going above and beyond FDA and ASRM-recommended screening guidelines. But that doesn’t mean they won’t have some health history (e.g. allergies, glasses, surgeries) for you to learn about.
- Physical characteristics: If you’re hoping for a donor that looks like you, you’ll want to learn more about the donor’s physical characteristics, such as eye and hair color.
- Personality: Some people also consider the donor’s personality, field of study/work, and hobbies to find a match that aligns with their values and interests.
- Privacy and disclosure status: Consider the level of disclosure and openness you prefer in your donor relationship. Some families prefer to have a more open relationship with their donor, while others prefer to keep things more private. Learn more about disclosure here.
Once you find a donor, you can place a hold so no one else can match with that donor while your doctor reviews her profile.
Our team is always available to provide support and guidance throughout this process, ensuring you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
The bottom line
At Cofertility, we’ve redesigned the egg donation process to be more efficient, transparent, and accessible. Whether you choose fresh or frozen egg donation, you can start your journey today without the frustration of long waiting lists.
While the timeline to match with a donor can be remarkably quick, the most important factor is finding the right match for your family. We’re here to support you every step of the way, from your initial search to the moment you welcome your child into the world.
Ready to start your egg donation journey? Sign up today and take the first step towards building your family with Cofertility.
