Egg donors can offer a couple the chance to start a family. There are important steps in the egg donor process that are helpful to understand as well as key items that should be included in an agreement.
Donor process
The egg donor will meet with the agency who is facilitating the process and complete a medical evaluation to ensure they are physically able to donate. The couple will go through a matching process to choose an egg donor. They will complete an agreement that outlines each party’s rights and responsibilities.
Once this occurs, there is a medical procedure to transfer the egg to the recipient. Once the recipient is pregnant, they will receive care from a physician and deliver the baby.
Key elements
There are common items that should be included in an egg donor agreement. It should list the parties and the agency that is facilitating the process, information about the payments the egg donor will receive, including medical costs and travel reimbursement if applicable. The egg donor should be advised of and agree to the risks of the medical procedure.
It should include the legal rights each party has, their obligations and who will have parental rights. This is very important to avoid disputes later. It should also cover who owns the eggs after donation and what should be done with any remaining eggs after the recipient becomes pregnant. For example, some couples want to keep additional eggs to give their child a biological sibling in the future.
The parties may also want to decide if the process will be a one-time event or if they will have ongoing contact after a child is born.