What to expect at every step
A planned egg donation cycle takes three to six months from application to retrieval. This page walks you through each stage -- what we ask of you, what your body goes through, and how your personal coordinator supports you from your first question through your last appointment.
Getting Started
First week
Prescreen
Questionnaire
A quick eligibility check to make sure egg donation is a good fit for you.
1
Full
Application & Matching Profile
The complete application will include medical history, lifestyle details, and photos.
2
Video
Consultation & Interview
Your coordinator will walk through the process and answer every question you have.
3
Screening & Matching
Variable
Database Approval
Your profile is reviewed and approved for our donor database.
4
Prescreen
Testing
Testing will involve some lab work to assess your hormone levels, and may also include an ultrasound.
5
Matching with Parents
Intended parents review profiles and select a donor. Your coordinator contacts you when there's interest.
6
Medical & Legal Clearance
4-6 weeks after match
Medical & Psych Sceening
Once matched, you'll complete a full medical workup and a psychological evaluation with a licensed counselor to confirm you're ready to move forward.
7
Legal Consultation & Contracts
An attorney reviews the donation agreement with you. You receive independent legal representation at no cost to you.
8
Procedure Calendar
Your coordinator builds your injection and monitoring calendar around your schedule, with appointments to track your progress before retrieval.
9
2-3 weeks+ recovery
Retrieval & Aftercare
Procedure
Egg retrieval is a short outpatient procedure done under sedation. Most donors rest that day and return to normal activity within a few days.
10
Post-Retrieval Support
Your coordinator checks in through recovery and stays connected well after your cycle ends.
11
Getting Started
The first step is the Prescreen Questionnaire -- a short set of questions that takes about five minutes and tells you right away whether you meet TDC's basic eligibility criteria. If you do, your coordinator will reach out personally to walk you through what comes next.
The full application goes deeper: medical history, family history, lifestyle information, and photos for your donor profile. This is what intended parents review when selecting a donor, so accuracy matters more than polish. Every application is reviewed personally and we'll contact you if anything needs clarification.
From there, you'll have a one-on-one video consultation with Jossie, the Director of our Egg Donor Program. She'll walk you through the entire process, answer every question you have, and help you decide whether donation is the right fit for your life right now. If both sides are ready to move forward, your profile is reviewed and approved for our donor database, where intended parents can view and select donors.
Screening & Matching
Before your profile goes live in our donor database, you'll complete initial testing which assesses your hormone levels and ovarian reserve. Results typically come back within a few days.
Once your profile is active, intended parents review donor profiles and make their own selection. Matching is not automatic -- there's no algorithm. When an intended parent expresses interest in your profile, you'll be contacted to confirm your interest and availability, and then we'll walk you through next steps.
From that point, your coordinator stays in close communication with the fertility clinic to coordinate timing and keep you informed at every stage.
Legal & Medical
Legal clearance comes first. A contract or "egg donation agreement" is drawn up, and an attorney reviews it with you to ensure it meets all your needs. You receive this independent legal representation at no cost to you. The agreement covers your rights, compensation terms, and the expectations of both parties. TDC does not set donor compensation -- that is a conversation between you and the intended parents, facilitated by your attorneys.
Medical clearance follows. The fertility clinic where your retrieval will take place conducts a full evaluation: bloodwork, pelvic ultrasound, physical exam, and a psychological assessment with a licensed mental health professional. This screening is required before any cycle begins and is the standard for any egg donation. Your treatment cycle does not start until the clinic confirms you are medically and psychologically cleared.
Your coordinator handles all of the scheduling for both and keeps you informed of timelines throughout.
Retrieval & Aftercare
Once you've completed medical and legal clearance, your clinic builds your procedure calendar -- a personalized schedule of medications, self-administered injections, and monitoring appointments leading up to retrieval. Your coordinator walks you through what to expect at each phase, and the clinic's nursing team is available throughout your cycle for medical questions.
Egg retrieval is a short outpatient procedure performed under light sedation. It typically takes 20 to 30 minutes. You'll rest at the clinic briefly afterward, and most donors return to their normal routine within one to two days. A follow-up appointment confirms your recovery is on track.
We'll check in after your procedure and be available if you have questions about your recovery, your results, or future donation cycles.