OVERVIEW
What Is Donor Conception?
Donor conception uses eggs or sperm from a donor to create a pregnancy. Donor sperm is often used with IUI or IVF; donor eggs are fertilized in our laboratory through IVF.
Donors complete medical, genetic and infectious disease screening, and our third-party coordinator helps you through donor selection, counseling and legal steps.
WHO MAY CONSIDER DONOR CONCEPTION
Is Donor Conception an Option for You?
People choose donor eggs or donor sperm for many reasons. Your physician and our third-party coordinator will help you understand whether it fits your goals.
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency
Avoiding a Known Genetic Condition
Repeated Unsuccessful IVF Cycles
Single Women & Female Couples
Male Couples & Single Men
Known or Anonymous Donors?
Anonymous donors are usually selected through egg donor agencies or sperm banks, which provide donor profiles and screening information.
A known donor — such as a friend or relative — is also possible. Known donation involves additional screening, counseling and legal agreements. Our third-party coordinator helps you understand each step.
LGBTQ+ family buildingTHE PROCESS
Donor Conception, Step by Step
Donor conception involves our medical team, a donor source and, often, counselors and legal professionals. Our third-party coordinator helps keep every step organized.
Discuss Donor OptionsStage One
Consultation & Planning
Your physician reviews your history and goals and explains whether donor eggs, donor sperm or both may fit your plan, and how treatment would work for you or a gestational carrier.
Stage Two
Choosing a Donor
Most patients choose an anonymous donor through a sperm bank or egg donor agency, which provides donor profiles and screening information. A known donor, such as a friend or relative, is also possible.
Things patients often consider:
- Health and genetic history including carrier screening results
- Fresh or frozen donor eggs which affects timing, process and cost
- Known or anonymous donation and future contact preferences
Stage Three
Screening, Counseling & Legal Steps
Donors complete medical, genetic and infectious disease screening following FDA requirements and professional guidelines. Egg donors also complete a psychological evaluation.
Stage Four
Treatment
Donor sperm is usually thawed and used for IUI or IVF. With donor eggs, the eggs are fertilized in our laboratory — usually by ICSI — and resulting embryos are cultured for several days.
An embryo is then transferred to the intended parent or a gestational carrier, often in a frozen embryo transfer cycle after the uterine lining is prepared.
Stage Five
Pregnancy & Follow-Up
A pregnancy test is scheduled after treatment. If it is positive, our team monitors early pregnancy before care transitions to an OB. Any remaining embryos can be frozen for the future.
Every plan is personal. Your care team will let you know which steps apply to you and when.
Donor Conception Costs
Costs depend on whether you use donor eggs or donor sperm, the agency or sperm bank you choose, and your treatment. Agency, donor and legal fees are separate from clinic costs. We provide a personal estimate for the care we provide.
Coverage for donor conception varies by plan. Our team can help you review your benefits, and monthly payment plans are available through our financing partner, CapexMD.
Explore financing optionsYOUR CARE TEAM
Guidance From Our Third-Party Team
Our physicians and third-party coordinator support you through donor selection, screening and treatment, in English and Mandarin. Embryology work is done in our onsite, open-concept IVF laboratory, led by a director who previously led a lab ranked #1 in the US for IVF success.
Consultations are available across our Southern California locations in Torrance, Beverly Hills, Corona and Irvine, with care in English and Mandarin.
Meet our team
FAQ
Donor Eggs & Sperm Questions
How do I choose a donor?
Most patients review profiles from egg donor agencies or sperm banks, which may include health history, education and other details. Our coordinator can help you understand your options.
Can I use fresh or frozen donor eggs?
Both may be options. Your physician will explain the differences in timing, process and cost so you can decide what fits your plan.
Can I use a known donor?
Yes. A friend or relative can be a donor, with additional screening, counseling and legal agreements. Your care team will explain what is involved.
What screening do donors complete?
Donors complete medical, genetic and infectious disease screening following FDA requirements and professional guidelines. Egg donors also complete a psychological evaluation.
Should we tell our child about donor conception?
Many families choose openness, and counseling can help you plan how and when to talk about it. It is a personal decision.
Does insurance cover donor eggs or sperm?
Coverage varies widely by plan. Check with your insurer about donor services and related treatment. Our team can help you review your benefits.
Have another question? Contact our team or call +1 (424) 212-4087.
Ready to Talk About Donor Options?
Schedule a consultation with one of our fertility specialists in Southern California.