Short answer: to choose an egg donor through EDSA, contact us for access to our anonymous donor database. We give you profiles with each donor’s physical characteristics, medical background, education, personality, hobbies and more. Egg donation in South Africa is anonymous by law, so you will not meet or contact your donor.
Who needs donor eggs?
Women with a history of rare genetic disorders, women in early menopause, women who have had chemotherapy or radiation that affects their eggs, and women with poor quality eggs. Male couples and single men can also use egg donors, together with a surrogate. Most recipients have tried other fertility treatments first.
How to choose a donor
- Contact EDSA for access to our donor database.
- Review the profiles. Each includes physical characteristics, medical background, education, personality and hobbies. Donors are identified only by an alias.
- Select your donor. We notify your fertility clinic of your choice.
- Complete your clinic’s medical questionnaire and provide recent test results (usually less than 12 months old).
How are donors screened?
Every donor has a detailed medical examination and psychological assessment before joining the programme. Screening includes HIV I and II, syphilis (RPR), hepatitis B and C, CMV IgM, cystic fibrosis, and blood group and antibodies. You can ask the clinic to perform additional screening on your donor. Learn why family history matters in a deep dive into genetics.
Can I meet the donor or get updates?
No. Under South African law, recipients cannot meet or contact their egg donor. Information is shared in non-identifiable profiles, and future contact is not permitted under current regulations.
What treatment does the donor go through?
Your donor receives daily fertility injections for about 10 days, with regular ultrasounds to monitor follicle growth. The egg retrieval is done under sedation or light anaesthesia, using a fine needle guided by vaginal ultrasound, and takes around 10 to 15 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I request extra tests on my donor?
Yes. You may ask the clinic to perform additional screening on your donor.
Which clinic should I use?
EDSA works with trusted fertility clinics across South Africa. If you have not chosen a doctor yet, we can refer you to a reputable clinic in the city where you would like treatment.
What to think about when reading profiles
- Physical characteristics: height, hair and eye colour, complexion and racial group
- Medical background: the donor’s health and family history
- Education and occupation
- Personality, interests and hobbies
Every donor has a detailed medical examination and psychological assessment before joining the programme. Read how donors are screened.
Your questions answered
Many intended parents find it hard to know what matters most. Some start with physical traits, others with medical history or personality. There is no right order, and our team can talk you through the database. Choosing is personal, and you can take your time.
After you choose
We notify your fertility clinic of your choice. The clinic gives you a medical questionnaire and asks for recent test results, usually less than 12 months old. Common tests for women include day-3 blood tests (FSH and AMH), HIV I and II, syphilis, hepatitis B and C and rubella IgG, plus a recent pelvic ultrasound, hysteroscopy or hysterosalpingogram and any surgical reports. For male partners, a semen analysis and the same infection screening are common.
Your own treatment
Your treating doctor prescribes medication to synchronise your cycle with your donor’s and to prepare the lining of your womb. The embryo transfer is an easy procedure, much like a gynaecological examination done under ultrasound guidance. You are advised not to do heavy exercise for a week afterwards, and a blood test for the pregnancy hormone is done 10 days after the transfer and repeated two days later.
Embryos and freezing
The number of embryos transferred depends on your clinic’s protocol and your preference for one or two. Transferring more embryos increases the risk of multiple pregnancies, which may carry health risks for mother and babies. You may freeze remaining embryos for later use if their quality is good, usually by vitrification.
Take the next step
EDSA was founded in 2007 and is South Africa’s first egg donor agency. Our team is led by Kimenthra Raja, an embryologist with more than 20 years of IVF laboratory experience, and our egg donation coordinator, Kinny Ramoeng, supports each donor personally. Read our complete guide to becoming an egg donor, visit the donors page, browse the egg donor FAQs or apply now. You can also contact us or call +27 83 761 6961.