I was an egg donor five times. When I say I understand what you are thinking about right now, I mean it. The excitement, the nerves, the "what will my family think?" and the quiet "is this really something I can do?" I have been there.
I also founded Little Miracles in 2007 and have spent years helping donors and recipients find each other. So let me walk you through it honestly, including the parts that are not glamorous.
First, the law
In Canada, you cannot be paid for your eggs. The Assisted Human Reproduction Act makes it illegal to buy or sell eggs. Donors can be reimbursed for documented expenses related to donating, such as travel, some medications and, in some cases, lost income. This is called altruistic donation.
You are giving a gift. We make sure you are looked after while you do.
Who can donate
Clinics and agencies set their own criteria. At Little Miracles, donors:
- Are healthy women aged 19 to 32
- Have regular menstrual cycles and no major reproductive health concerns
- Are non-smokers and do not use recreational drugs
- Have a healthy body weight range for safe stimulation
- Can commit time to appointments and injections
- Pass medical, genetic and psychological screening
If you are not sure whether you qualify, ask. We would rather have the conversation than have you rule yourself out.
The steps
1. Application and intake
You complete an application covering your health, family history and background. This is where you tell us about you, in your own words.
2. Initial screening
A review of your health history, followed by bloodwork, an ultrasound and genetic carrier screening at a fertility clinic.
3. Psychological assessment
You meet with a counsellor experienced in third-party reproduction. This is not a test. It is a conversation to make sure you have thought through what donating means, for you and for the future.
4. Independent legal advice
You receive legal advice from your own lawyer, separate from the intended parents, and you sign an agreement covering your rights and your consent.
5. Matching
Once you are cleared, you are matched with intended parents, or recipients select from donor profiles, depending on the program. Your identity and information are handled according to the program and the law.
6. Stimulation (about two weeks)
You give yourself hormone injections for roughly ten to fourteen days, with frequent ultrasounds and bloodwork so the clinic can monitor how your body responds. Common side effects include bloating, mood swings, tiredness and tenderness.
7. Retrieval
A short procedure under sedation, usually about 20 to 30 minutes. You go home the same day. Plan to rest for a day or two and have someone drive you.
8. Recovery
Most donors feel back to normal within a few days to a week. Your clinic will tell you what symptoms to watch for.
The risks, said plainly
- Side effects from hormones, which are usually mild and temporary.
- OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome), a reaction that causes swelling and discomfort. It affects roughly 1% of Little Miracles donors, and monitoring is designed to catch it early.
- Sedation risks, which are small but real.
- Emotional ups and downs. Hormones plus a big decision can feel intense. Support is part of the process.
Please call your clinic right away if you have rapid weight gain, severe pain, difficulty breathing or very little urine output.
Will it affect my future fertility?
Current evidence does not show that donating eggs reduces fertility for most women. Your doctor can talk through your personal situation, and you should ask every question you have before you say yes.
What donors tell me
That it meant something. Many donors tell me it was one of the most meaningful things they have done, and many feel a quiet pride, not a sense of loss. If it does stir up big feelings, that is normal, and we are here for you.
Ready to talk?
If you are curious, you can apply or ask your questions with no pressure. Visit Little Miracles at little-miracles.ca, or book a call with me.
Book a free call at calendly.com/cso-robyn
From hope to heartbeat to home.