If you have ever wondered about the logistics of using an egg donor, or have questions about the process itself, this is not uncommon. There are also a key number of mistakes that couples using an egg donor should avoid. Here are 13 mistakes that should be avoided when using an egg donor.
1. Not having a written agreement with the egg donor
Medical consent forms are a crucial part of the egg donation process, as they address issues directly related to the procedures involved, as well as the risks and benefits associated with the process. Similar to agreements signed by sperm donors, it is incredibly important to have a signed contract stating the legal establishment of parental rights. The contract also details either party’s intentions and obligations prior to and post egg donation.
2. Failing to consider the legal ramifications of different egg donation options
It is always important to give yourself the benefit of the doubt and take note of all your options. There are multiple egg donation agreements available, including known donor matches, anonymous donor agreements, and frozen egg bank arrangements. Each of these different options comes with its own set of pros and cons, as well as its own legal ramifications.
Related: Assisted Reproduction Laws in California
3. Forgetting to maximize available tax breaks
Many recipients of egg donations may not realize that they may be eligible for tax breaks through employer-based plans, like healthcare. By inquiring about this in advance to egg donation, one can minimize their financial burdens and excess expenses.
4. Excluding the donor’s spouse or partner in the process
Donating your eggs can be a very personal agreement to come to terms with. The support of a donor’s spouse or partner plays an important role in their compliance with the written agreement.
5. Misunderstanding that the donor is not selling their eggs
The process of egg donation is called a donation for a reason. Donors are not selling their eggs for any profit, and recipients are not purchasing these donated eggs. However, donors are compensated respectively for their time, inconvenience, and undertaken risks.
6. Not considering the legal implication of the location of birth
Each state has its own guidelines and expectations regarding the egg donation process. It is important to consider which state you are considering receiving this type of process, as some states may not recognize a recipient mother as the legal mother of the child she gives birth to via egg donation.
Related: Egg Donation Laws in California: What You Need to Know
7. Not arranging a plan for future contact with an anonymous donor
Organizing a plan with your egg donor about mutual updates allows for a uniform sharing of information between both parties. For example, donors can share any heritable medical information for the recipients to take into account in the future. Donors can stay in contact if necessary for any other information.
8. Not assuring that your egg donor is ready and willing to donate to you
It’s vital that your donor is fully aware of the risks involved, and feels emotionally, physically, and psychologically prepared to undergo this process. It may be helpful to offer the idea that they speak with their personal gynecologists or psychologists before proceeding if they exhibit any traces of uncertainty or uneasiness. Such behavior may be indicative that they may not want to move forward with the process.
9. Not making sure both you and your donor are fully knowledgeable of the process at hand
The egg donor process is complicated. It’s important for both you and your prospective donor to understand the donation process and what the scheduling and intake may be like.
10. Relying solely on medical consent forms from the clinic to establish parental rights
Despite these medical consent forms being very important to the overall process of egg donation, they may not be specific to your individual situation. If the clinic consent forms fail to meet the exact requirements of the law for your particular situation, then there will not be a clear statement on the legal establishment of parental rights.
11. Failing to consider how an escrow account is being managed and secured
It is important to choose a reliable escrow agency to manage the process of securing an account for you. Recipient parents who are expected to receive funds from an escrow account should be sure that this account is legitimate and that their money is safe.
12. Being unorganized prior to going into the process
By making sure you and your partner, as well as your egg donor and their partner, are all organized and on the same page with expectations and legalities, you will feel much more at ease and secure in your decision-making. This can be a stressful or nerve-wracking decision for many people, so it is important to make sure all necessary materials and forms are taken care of prior to any procedures.
13. Not giving yourself enough credit
Making a lifelong decision to become a parent, even though assisted reproduction, is a huge responsibility. The preparation and procedure is a detailed process that should be understood thoroughly. Just remember to breathe through the stress, and trust in your instincts about which method of egg donation is most comfortable and appealing to you.
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