How Do You Select a Third-Party Donor Agency?

by Arika Avedano, Senior Case Manager for Northern California and Nevada, The Donor SOURCE, August 16, 2011

If you’re like most intended parents, you’ve spent years (and countless dollars) on artificial insemination/intrauterine insemination (IUI), then in vitro fertilization (IVF). In many ways, you may feel like a pro when it comes to infertility. You’ve been poked and prodded, and you've had more ultrasounds than you can count. You know where to find the fastest — and least expensive — pharmacy. You know exactly how much Gonal F you can take before you start feeling like someone other than your favorite self.

So, it’s no surprise that you stop short when your fertility doctor suggests an egg donor.

This is uncharted territory for you.

More than likely your fertility doctor will provide you with a list of third party agencies that s/he has worked with. But does that mean they’re good? Does that mean they know what they’re doing? Does that mean they educate their donors? With questions like these, what do you do from here?

It’s a well know fact that most third party agencies are unable to perform medical testing on their egg donors — this means the donors have not undergone hormone, FDA or genetic testing. But don’t fret! A good agency will do as much pre-screening as possible, and it will work with you to complete some basic testing (E2, FSH, resting follicle count) prior to matching, if you so choose.

I can not stress enough how important it is for you, the client, to feel comfortable with all parties involved in your medical treatment. Whether you’re doing an egg donor IVF cycle, having LASIK surgery, or getting your hair done, you must have confidence in who you are allowing to work with you. Here are some helpful things to be on the lookout for when selecting a third party agency:

• Someone who answers your call (or email), but not just the first time. Be wary of agencies that are initially responsive, but by your third or fourth question, take longer than one business day to respond.
• A friendly staff. Anyone can answer a phone call or an email, but is the person on the other end making you feel like you’re wasting their time? Questions are a very important part of all medical procedures, and donor IVF is no different.
• An agency that is happy to share their contracts with you at any point. No agency should keep their agreements hidden until you’ve fallen in love with an egg donor. Contracts are complex, legally binding documents, and if you would like weeks to review and understand them at your leisure, you should be permitted this.
• An employee willing to meet with you. Many large agencies have satellite offices and staff located throughout the areas where they work. If they don’t, then they should be willing to work with you to help ensure you feel confident with them.
• Someone who will work with you, and the clinic, if any problems arise. It is NOT solely the responsibility of the clinic to work through any issues that come up during the course of a cycle.

With these tips in mind, your hunt for a third party agency will hopefully be less of a daunting experience. Just remember to be patient, as well as diligent in your quest for answers and information. And if you find yourself unsure of a certain agency’s policies or work ethic, always remember there are other agencies that may better suit you. Choosing the right agency to help you through this long and arduous process is almost as important choosing the right donor.

Remember — the best things in life are often the most difficult to ascertain.

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Arika Avedano, The Donor SOURCE's Senior Case Manager for Northern California and Nevada, has worked extensively in both the medical and third-party reproductive fields. She has experience assisting ovum donors and intended parents in all capacities of the egg donation and surrogacy process. Arika's exceptional communication skills and commitment to professionalism guide our clients through the remarkable experience of egg donation with compassion and efficiency. Arika feels privileged to unite donors with intended parents and assist in the beautiful process of building a family.