FAQ'S Donors
Q: How many eggs is it normal for a woman to have?
A: You are born with approximately 2 million eggs. By the time you reach puberty you have approximately 200,000 eggs remaining.
Q: What medications are used to develop the eggs?
A: There are several medications that can be used to manipulate and stimulate your ovaries. These medications and some of their side effects are listed in the recipient, donor, and surrogate pages on this website.
Q: How many eggs are removed during the retrieval?
A: The average is 10-15 eggs aspirated per cycle, but donors can produce 16 or more eggs.
Q: If you aspirate 15 eggs will I reach menopause early?
A: NO, you develop many follicles each month, 1-2 of these follicles make it to maturity and ovulate. The medication stimulates the other follicles to grow and mature.
Q: Can a donor not produce enough eggs in a stimulated cycle?
A: Yes, if the doctor cancels the cycle for poor response the donor will be compensated between $650.00-750.00.
Q: What is poor response?
A: Normally- poor response is under four follicles.
Q: How are the eggs aspirated?
A: A vaginal ultrasound and needle guide is used. The needle goes into the vagina and then through the ovary into the follicle, which contains the egg.
Q: Do you feel any pain during the aspiration?
A: Some IVF centers use general anesthesia and some centers use local sedation. Either way you are very relaxed. You may feel some discomfort, but you shouldn’t be in pain.
Q: What do you feel after the aspiration?
A: You are bloated, a little sore, and your ovaries are enlarged.
Q: What are the normal activities after the procedure?
A: You MUST have someone drive you home. The best thing is to sleep the remainder of the day and take it easy for a few days post the retrieval. Your doctor may give you other guidelines about post-op activities
Q: Can the donor have intercourse during the stimulated cycle?
A:CCI prefers you NOT to have intercourse throughout the cycle, but the doctor will give you exact orders.
Q: When can I resume sexual intercourse?
A: You will need to wait at least a week after the aspiration, preferably after your period starts.
Q: When will I get my next period?
A: Your period will generally start 10-12 days after the aspiration.
Q: How many times can I be a donor?
A: This is up to you, and the IVF doctor, average is 1-5 times in a lifetime.
Q: How long does it take to be tested, before I know I passed?
A:The test cycle starts as soon as you are selected by a recipient couple, the testing takes approximately 3-5 weeks.
Q: What is the time frame to complete a donor cycle?
A: The stimulated cycle only takes about three weeks.
Q: When does the recipient receive the eggs from me?
A: 2-4 days after the egg aspiration.
Q: When will the recipient know if she is pregnant?
A: 12-14 days from the transfer date.
FAQ'S Surrogates
Q: Do you use my eggs for the pregnancy?
A: CCI does not do traditional surrogacy so you do not use your own DNA.
Q: Will I have any part in choosing my couple?
A: Yes. At CCI, we have the surrogate very involved in choosing the right couple for herself.
Q: Do I meet my couple before getting started?
A: Yes. Every surrogate and her couple will meet to confirm that they should move forward.
Q: Do you work with all types of couples?
A: Yes. At CCI, we work with all types of couples. We do not discriminate against age, ethnic background, marital status, or sexual orientation.
Q: Does CCI work with Out of State and Out of Country Intended Parents?
A: Yes. We work with couples throughout the United States and internationally.
Q: How many embryos are transferred back to the surrogate?
A: This is discussed and decided on between the Intended Parents, the surrogate and the doctor prior to the transfer.
Q: What is the average compensation for surrogacy to carry one baby?
A: This will be discussed during your phone screening and personal interview.
Q: Do you get compensated more for twins or triplets?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you have a phone list of available surrogates that I can speak with?
A: Yes. We have surrogates available with their consent.
Q: What kind of support does CCI provide?
A: CCI provides a case manager at the start of your match to help support you throughout the entire pregnancy. You will also have psychologists and monthly surrogate support groups.
Q: How long is the process to be a surrogate?
A: To be matched with a couple 1-3 months.
The testing to be a surrogate is 1-3 months.
The cycle of the embryo transfer is 3-4 weeks.
And of course the 9 months that you are pregnant.