I NEED A DONOR
How does it work?
Egg donor IVF is a specialised form of assisted reproduction that enables women to achieve pregnancy through the use of donor eggs. In this process, eggs (oocytes) are sourced from young, healthy women aged between 19 and 32, who undergo a thorough medical and psychological assessment to ensure their suitability.
Once selected, your donor undergoes medical and psychological screening by your clinic and doctor of choice. She is then prescribed medications to stimulate the production of multiple eggs within a single menstrual cycle. These eggs are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure, using
ultrasound guidance, in which a needle is gently inserted through the vagina into the ovary. The retrieved eggs are then taken to a laboratory, where they are either frozen for future use or fertilised immediately with sperm from a partner or a sperm donor. This fertilisation process, known as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), results in embryos that can then be transferred to the recipient’s uterus.
The youth and health of egg donors contribute to high pregnancy success rates, and notably, the recipient’s age does not affect the chances of a successful pregnancy.
In South Africa, egg donation is entirely anonymous, though each recipient is provided with a comprehensive donor profile.
This pathway to parenthood provides an opportunity for people who require egg donation to experience pregnancy and birth with high success rates.
What the clinic will need from you
Once you have chosen a donor, we will inform the clinic of your match. The clinic’s IVF Coordinator will get in touch with you to begin your treatment planning. At this stage, you’ll need to complete some medical investigations. As a guide you may be sent for the following test in preparation of your treatment cycle.
Female Recipient Tests: Blood tests (FSH, HIV I & II, RPR, Hepatitis B & C, Rubella IgG, TSH, Prolactin, Vitamin D, Full Blood Count) a transvaginal pelvic ultrasound, and potentially a hysterosalpingogram (HSG).
Male Partner Tests: Blood tests (HIV I & II, RPR, Hepatitis B & C) and a recent semen analysis.
Your donor undergoes medical and psychological screening by your clinic and doctor of choice. To align your cycle with your donor’s, you may be asked to start on an oral contraceptive pill. Your doctor will also prescribe medications for down-regulation (e.g. Leuprolide acetate or Goserelin) to prevent ovulation and Estradiol tablets to thicken your uterine lining in preparation for embryo transfer.
Once your treatment plan is in place, you will receive all the details, including when to arrive in Cape Town. Expect to stay for at least 12–14 days. The clinic will usually schedule your first appointment around Day 12 of your donor’s stimulation cycle for a uterine lining scan.
Your egg donor will be prescribed medications to stimulate the production of eggs for your egg donation treatment cycle. These eggs are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure, using ultrasound guidance, in which a needle is gently inserted through the vagina into the ovary. The retrieved eggs are then taken to a laboratory, where they are either frozen for future use or fertilised immediately with sperm from your partner or a sperm donor. This fertilisation process, known as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), results in embryos that can then be transferred to your uterus after growing in the laboratory for a few days.
Around Day 14 of your donor’s cycle, her eggs will be retrieved. This date may vary depending on how the donor responds to stimulation. You’ll receive updates on her progress, and your clinic will notify you when the procedure will occur.
TESTIMONIALS
What our recipients are saying:
We had tried another agency before a distant friend had recommended EDSA, as she herself had been successful with their service, so we contacted EDSA and we could not have been happier. Her pleasant and caring approach is just what we needed after our last experience. The fact that I am now pregnant is just the cherry on the top! Thank you for everything, thank you for making our dream come true.
TIMELINE
Contact Us to View Donors
Start by contacting us for the login details to access our secure donor database. Here, you’ll be able to browse through profiles of available egg donors.
Shortlist your Donors
Once you’ve reviewed the profiles, create a shortlist of donors you’re interested in. We’ll confirm their availability before you proceed.
Confirm Your Donor & Complete Paperwork
After choosing your donor, fill in the necessary paperwork and we’ll send your match information to your treating clinic to start planning your journey.
Medical Screening
Once your application is approved, we’ll arrange for you to have a once off appointment with our psychologist.
Synchronising with Your Donor’s Cycle
To align your cycle with your donor’s, you may be asked to start on an oral contraceptive pill. Your doctor will also prescribe medications for down-regulation (e.g. Leuprolide acetate or Goserelin) to prevent ovulation and Estradiol tablets to thicken your uterine lining in preparation for embryo transfer.
Treatment Plan & Travel to Cape Town
Once your treatment plan is in place, you will receive all the details, including when to arrive in Cape Town. Expect to stay for at least 12–14 days. The clinic will usually schedule your first appointment around Day 12 of your donor’s stimulation cycle for a uterine lining scan.
Donor’s Egg Retrieval
Around Day 14 of the donor’s cycle, her eggs will be retrieved. This date may vary depending on how the donor responds to stimulation. You’ll receive updates on her progress, and your clinic will notify you when the procedure will occur.
Fertilisation & Embryo Development
On the day of egg retrieval, your partner will provide a sperm sample for fertilisation (or donor sperm will be used if applicable). The embryos will be cultured in the lab for 3–5 days, and you’ll receive regular updates on their development.
Embryo Transfer
When your embryos are ready, the clinic will tell you when to come in for the embryo transfer procedure. You’ll need to have a full bladder for the abdominal ultrasound that helps guide the embryo placement. A maximum of 2 embryos will be transferred, and any extra high-quality embryos can be frozen for future use.
Pregnancy Test
Ten days after the embryo transfer, you’ll have your first pregnancy test, followed by a second test two days later. Keep in touch with your clinic IVF coordinator for continued support and further treatment planning based on your results.
What I could be financially responsible for:
Payment options
Local patients:
International patients:
Explore Our Donor Profiles
Find the perfect match to start your journey with confidence.
FAQs
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF INFERTILITY?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 17.5% of adults need fertility treatment. There are many causes of infertility. Research has shown that: Infertility can be due to multiple factors.
- In about 40% of cases, infertility is attributed to a female factor alone.
- In about 40% of cases, a male factor is the primary cause.
- In 20% of cases, both partners have contributing factors.
In the remaining 20%, the cause is unexplained despite investigations.
WHAT’S THE LEGAL SITUATION ON EGG DONATION IN SOUTH AFRICA?
The National Health Act of 2004 regulates egg donations in South Africa. Egg donation is anonymous in South Africa. The law in South Africa allows financial compensation for reasonable expenses incurred by the donor, e.g. injectable medication, regular consultations, regular ultrasound examinations, blood tests and travel expenses to the clinic. According to South African law, an egg donor may not have more than 6 children born from their donated eggs.
WHO ARE THE EGG DONORS?
Most egg donors are healthy young women under 29 years of age. We recruit egg donors from across South Africa.
WHICH CLINIC DO YOU WORK WITH?
We work with trusted fertility clinics across South Africa. If you haven’t chosen a doctor yet, we’ll gladly refer you to a reputable clinic in the city where you’d like to undergo treatment.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EGG DONOR?
Your egg donor has a detailed medical examination and psychological assessment prior to joining the programme. The investigations performed on the donor are: HIV I and II, RPR, HepBs Ag, Hep C Ab, CMV IgM, Cystic Fibrosis dF508, blood group and antibodies. You may request that the clinic perform additional screening on your donor.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A DONOR?
Please contact us for access to our database. It is the law in South Africa that egg donation is anonymous. However, we will provide you with profiles containing details about their physical characteristics, medical background, education, personality hobbies and more.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO AFTER I HAVE CHOSEN AN EGG DONOR?
Once you have selected a donor, we will notify your fertility clinic of your choice.
The clinic will then provide you with a medical questionnaire to complete and ask for recent test results (usually less than 12 months old).
Common tests include:
For Female Recipients:
- Day-3 blood tests: FSH and AMH
- HIV I & II, RPR, Hepatitis B surface antigen, Hepatitis C antibodies, Rubella IgG
- Recent pelvic ultrasound, hysteroscopy or hysterosalpingogram, and any surgical reports
For Male Partners:
- Semen analysis
HIV I & II, RPR, Hepatitis B surface antigen, Hepatitis C antibodies
WILL I NEED TO TAKE ANY MEDICATION?
Yes, your treating doctor will provide a prescription for medication to help synchronise your cycle with that of your egg donor. This fertility medication also plays an important role in thickening and preparing the lining of your womb to ensure it is ready for the embryo transfer. Your clinic will guide you through the prescription schedule and monitor your progress throughout the process.
WHAT TREATMENT WILL MY EGG DONOR UNDERGO?
Your egg donor receives hormonal stimulation via daily fertility injections over approximately 10 days to encourage follicle development. She undergoes regular ultrasounds to monitor growth. The egg retrieval is performed under sedation or light anaesthesia using a fine needle guided by vaginal ultrasound. The procedure takes around 10–15 minutes.
CAN I MEET THE DONOR OR RECEIVE UPDATES?
Due to South African laws on anonymity, recipients cannot meet or contact their egg donor. All donor information is shared in non-identifiable profiles, and future contact is not permitted under current regulations.
WHEN WOULD THE EMBRYO TRANSFER HAPPEN?
The clinic will inform you which day to come in for your embryo transfer. The number of embryos transferred will depend on your clinic’s protocol and your preference of 1 or 2 embryos. Transferring more embryos increases the risk of multiple pregnancies, which may carry health risks for both mother and babies. You may freeze remaining embryos for use at a later date, if their quality is good. The freezing is usually done by vitrification which promises high recovery rates. The embryo transfer is an easy procedure much like a gynaecological examination done under ultrasound guidance. Following the embryo transfer you are advised not to do any heavy exercise for a week.
WHEN CAN I DO A PREGNANCY TEST?
UNSURE OR HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
