Donor Egg Bank and Traditional Fresh Cycles

You are probably hearing a lot about women freezing their own eggs in the news lately. The good news is that these types of cycles (known as donor egg bank or DEB cycles) are steadily increasing for egg donation, as well. Today, there are more opportunities available for being an egg donor than ever before.

In October 2012, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) lifted the experimental status off of egg banking. Consider that as the moment equivalent to the starting gun at a race being discharged. That was an exciting time in our “world” of infertility treatment. For you, the donor, the benefits of helping others while being able to provide financial rewards for yourself have increased substantially.

Prior to donor egg banking, the average number of cycles offered to a donor was limited. A donor applicant would apply to a program with the promise of being matched only to have her profile “sit there” for months before being selected. Some were never selected. A “select” few received more than one cycle opportunity.

We understand that once you apply to become a donor, that’s exactly what you want to do… be a donor…. Now! Hence, the beauty of egg banking – “think “ cart before the horse.

With Donor Egg Bank (DEB) cycles, once qualified, a donor is able to cycle at any time convenient to her. No recipient is needed at that time. Rather, the donor’s eggs will be retrieved and frozen… then the donor profile will be presented to the clinic’s or donor egg bank’s patient customers to be selected. Compensation will still be provided the day of retrieval just like traditional fresh cycles – the beauty is in scheduling… a donor can presumably participate in more cycles and at times convenient to her. Also, a typical DEB cycle is shorter and less time-intensive than a fresh traditional cycle because there is no recipient cycle with which to coordinate.

Unlike traditional fresh cycles, DEB cycles are designed to “go to” more than one recipient. Because success rates are steadily on the rise, reproductive endocrinologists (fertility specialists) are able to help their patients achieve pregnancy with fewer eggs. Therefore, they can reduce the cost of an egg donation cycle, thus being able to offer assistance to more patients who cannot afford a traditional fresh cycle.

Fortunately, we have the best of both worlds! Qualified donors can select which cycles in which they would like to participate and, now more than ever before, have the opportunity to maximize income potential while helping more couples achieve their dreams of becoming parents.