What to Expect From Your Egg Donor’s Cycle as an Intended Parent

Being matched with your egg donor is one of the most exciting milestones in the fertility journey. 

Whether you’re still exploring family-building options or have already found your match, this stage signals the start of your new path to parenthood.

Once a donor is selected, The Genesis Group (or your agency of choice) will coordinate the legal, financial, and medical steps to ensure everything moves forward smoothly. Each stage is designed to prepare for a successful egg retrieval and, ultimately, embryo transfer (whether to you directly or to a gestational carrier).

Here is the typical 8-step timeline of events to guide you through the next 2-4 months of the egg donation process.

1) Initial Steps: Documents & Agency Fee

Once we’ve received your match documents and agency fee, we forward the match sheet to your clinic so they can give final approval and begin scheduling. 

Before your clinic can book the donor’s medical screening, they’ll need to give you financial clearance. We recommend being proactive during this initial phase and reaching out to your clinic to confirm your status. Appointments are usually scheduled quickly, though an average two-week delay can happen if clearance is still pending. A quick call to your clinic can save time later and help the calendar stay on track.

2) Donor Screening & Assessments (about 3 weeks)

Before the cycle begins, your donor will complete a thorough evaluation to ensure she’s medically and emotionally ready to proceed. This includes a psychological screening, a genetic counseling session to review family history and potential risks, and a comprehensive medical screening with your doctor. The medical exam includes:

• a physical exam, including a transvaginal ultrasound

• FDA blood work

• infectious disease screening

• drug testing

• hormone level checks

• a genetic carrier screening test

Results usually take around three weeks to finalize. If everything looks favorable and you and your donor are genetically compatible, the clinic issues medical clearance to begin the next phase.

3) Legal Contract Drafting & Review (1–4 weeks)

With medical clearance in place, we will send the legal terms to your attorney to draft the egg donor contract based on the agreed terms. Your donor has her own counsel to review the document with her and suggest edits as needed.

This step is about clarity and care, aligning expectations around compensation, privacy, responsibilities, future contact (if any), and logistics. Once everyone agrees and signs, the clinic receives legal clearance and can design the cycle timeline with confidence.

4) Tentative Calendar & Synchronization (1–2 weeks)

After legal clearance, the clinic will prepare a tentative calendar that coordinates your donor’s baseline appointment, medication start, monitoring, and egg retrieval. All parties review and approve the calendar before moving forward. If you have any concerns or conflicts, this is the moment to raise them so small adjustments can be made without major disruption.

5) Egg Donor Stimulation (8–14 days)

When the calendar begins, your donor will start stimulation hormones, which are a series medications designed to mature multiple eggs in one cycle. During these 8–14 days, she will attend monitoring appointments so the team can track follicle growth, check hormone levels, and fine-tune dosing if needed. You may receive periodic updates from the clinic or your coordinator as the follicles approach maturity. The goal here is straightforward: support your donor’s health while optimizing the number and quality of eggs for retrieval.

6) Donor Payment (During Stimulation)

When the donor starts injectable medication, she will receive $500 or up to 10% of her total compensation (per your agreement). The remaining balance is paid in full after retrieval.

Many intended parents like to mark this moment with a short message of appreciation. A gift is not expected, but a heartfelt note before retrieval is often deeply meaningful and reflects the gratitude you feel for the donor’s time and care.

7) Egg Retrieval & Fertilization

When monitoring shows the follicles are ready, the clinic will schedule retrieval. The procedure itself is a minor outpatient process under light sedation — using ultrasound guidance, the physician gently collects the eggs, and your donor goes home the same day. Immediately afterward, the lab fertilizes the eggs using sperm from you, your partner, or a chosen donor in accordance with your plan. 

Over the next few days, the clinic will share embryo development updates, so you can follow how things are progressing in the lab. The donor will receive her full balance at this point as well.

8) Embryo Culture & Genetic Testing (up to 6 days)

Embryos will culture for up to six days while the lab monitors growth and quality. Depending on your plan, you may proceed with genetic testing or prepare for a transfer. 

The aim is always to create as many healthy embryos as possible, so you and your doctor can decide on the best next step: testing, storage, or scheduling transfer.

Keeping the Timeline Smooth

Small delays are normal in a process with many moving parts. The easiest ways to keep things on pace: confirm financial clearance early, review calendars promptly, respond quickly to attorney and clinic requests, and keep an open line with your coordinator. We’re here to anticipate roadblocks and help you navigate them with as little stress as possible.

A Note on Donor Safety

Your donor’s wellbeing is central at every step. Clinics actively monitor for and minimize risks, so serious complications such as OHSS are uncommon with modern protocols. If anything unexpected arises, The Genesis Group and your clinic will address it right away and communicate next steps clearly.

Start Your Journey with The Genesis Group

From match to embryos, you’re not doing this alone. The Genesis Group is here to guide the process, answer questions, and keep you in alignment with your family-building plan.

Want a quick reference to keep on track? Download our 8-Step Timeline Checklist and keep it handy as you move forward.

Editor’s Note: These guidelines are provided by The Genesis Group and do not replace personalized medical or legal advice. Always follow your clinic’s and attorneys’ recommendations for the best outcomes.