Egg retrieval takes place under light anesthesia. During this process, multiple eggs are extracted from their follicles by a hollow needle that is inserted through the wall of the vagina into each ovary with ultrasound guidance. In weeks leading up to the egg retrieval, the patient will have taken fertility drugs to stimulate the development of multiple eggs. A successful egg retrieval may result in 10 to 20 eggs and the procedure usually takes about 20 minutes. After an hour or so of recovery, the woman may leave the facility.

Egg donors are young, healthy women, generally between the ages of 21 and 30. Anonymous egg donors are recruited by egg donor agencies or fertility clinic egg donor programs. In some instances a known egg donor will be a close family friend or relative. All egg donors must undergo medical and psychological screening, which includes a thorough medical history, and physical exam, ultrasound and blood work. Egg donors are paid a fee for donating their eggs.

Three are several avenues for finding an egg donor:

• An egg donor agency. Egg donor agencies across the country recruit donors and match them with intended parents.
• An infertility clinic. Many fertility clinics have donor programs that recruit and screen egg donors and also perform the egg donation treatment cycle.
• In some cases, a relative or close friend is a donor.