Eggs can be donated to you by someone you know, like a family member or friend, or you can find an egg donor through an egg bank or a donor egg agency. Egg banks have frozen eggs while working with a donor egg agency leads to fresh ("non-frozen") eggs.

We work with several egg donation agencies and egg banks  that can help you find the right donor. Before selecting an egg donor, you will be able to review their "donor profile" which will provide all pertinent information about the individual, including height, weight, race, and personal history.  Our Donor and Surrogacy nurses and in-house genetic counsellor will guide you through the process, help you understand what to expect, and ensure you are confident to proceed.

It can be more difficult to find a donor for certain racial and ethnic backgrounds.  Generally frozen egg banks will have a wider range of donors as the egg donors can come from a larger geographic area. Our donor and surrogacy team can often provide some guidance as they are very knowledgeable with all the different egg banks/donor egg agencies.

Donor Egg Banks

• Donor Egg Bank USA

Egg Donation Agencies

• Fertility Match
• Her Helping Habit
• Little Miracles
• Egg Helpers
• Extraordinary Conceptions (Based in the USA)

There are many factors to consider when deciding between an 'egg bank' (frozen eggs) or a 'donor agency' (fresh eggs).

Using an egg bank

When using an egg bank, you will have an opportunity to select a donor from available donor profiles.  The egg bank does all the work associated with the egg donor, including prerequisite screening and genetic testing.  In most cases, the egg donor will have already undergone ovarian stimulation and retrieval so the eggs are already frozen and available.   Arrangements for selection, purchase, and shipping of donor eggs will be between you and the bank.  When you are ready to start the egg donor cycle, the eggs will be shipped to our lab.

Markham Fertility Centre only works with egg banks that comply with Health Canada criteria, demonstrate high quality in the eggs that are made available, and that are ethical in their treatment of egg donors.

Using an agency to find a fresh (non-frozen) egg donor

The process is quite different - and often more time consuming - when using an agency .  When versus an egg bank.  An agency works with you to facilitate a match with a donor who will undergo ovarian stimulation and retrieval at Markham Fertility Centre. Once a match between you and the donor is made, the potential egg donor is then assessed by your specialist at Markham Fertility Centre.  If suitability criteria are met, the egg donor then proceeds  with ovarian stimulation and retrieval here at the clinic. The eggs are never frozen and are fertilized with the sperm of choice on the day of the retrieval.

There are many more considerations and we encourage you to reach out to our Donor and Surrogacy Team to learn more.

The legal issues can be complex. It is important to consult with an experienced fertility lawyer to understand the legal requirements and potential challenges involved in using a known egg donor.  There are a number of very qualified fertility lawyers in Ontario who can assist:

• Sara R. Cohen website: www.fertilitylawcanada.com
• Lisa Feldstein: website: www.familyhealthlaw.ca
• Sherry Levitan: website www.fertilitylaw.ca
• Shirley Levitan: website: www.familyandfertilitylaw.ca

Success rates using donated eggs depend on a number of important factors including the age and health of the recipient, and the quality of the eggs and sperm used at time of fertilization.  Our pregnancy rates using donor eggs ranges between 50 and 80 percent.

Using Eggs from an Agency or Egg Bank:  Markham Fertility Centre works with only approved, reputable egg banks and agencies.  We want to know that the egg donors have been properly cared for, that high ethical standards were upheld, and that they have a history of providing high quality eggs.  It is our experience that donor eggs coming from agencies and banks used by Markham Fertility Centre meet high standards and are of good quality.

Using Eggs from a Known Donor:  The quality of eggs from a known donor will depend on the age and medical history of the egg donor.  We prefer egg donors to be under 35 years old, but we also recognize that it is not easy to find a donor who is both willing and a good fit for you. We will have a better idea if your potential donor is a good candidate after completing a number of diagnostic tests and reviewing their medical history.

The number of eggs depends on many different factors including the age of the egg donor and the quality of the eggs. The number of children desired will also heavily influence the number of eggs that may be needed. The quality of the sperm and the pregnancy/medical/fertility history of the person who will carry the pregnancy is also important. Every situation is unique and you should speak with your fertility physician.

It is legal to donate eggs in Canada, however it is illegal to purchase eggs (ova) from a donor or a person acting on behalf of a donor.  This makes the process of finding an egg donor in Canada more difficult than in some other countries like the United States.  This is why most Canadians use egg donors from outside of Canada via an egg bank.  Whether you are using a known or anonymous donor, you should work with a lawyer who specializes in fertility and family law in Canada to ensure you are complying with the Assisted Human Reproductive Act (AHRA).

Frozen eggs come from egg banks. The donor already went through ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval.  The eggs were frozen immediately and are currently in storage. The donor's suitability was assessed prior to her cycle. The egg bank will clearly state whether a potential donor meets Health Canada requirements. One the intended parent(s) complete the purchase of the eggs, the eggs are shipped to MFC.  We thaw the eggs and proceed with fertilization.

To obtain fresh ("non-frozen") eggs, intended parent(s) work with an egg donor agency. The agency facilitates a match between the potential donor and the intended parent(s). The donor then needs to complete an assessment at MFC to determine her suitability to be an egg donor. Part of the process involves ensuring all Health Canada regulations are met.  Once the donor is approved, they then proceed with ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval at MFC. Once the eggs are in the lab, they are fertilized immediately with the intended sperm. The eggs are not frozen as they are used right away.

Known egg donor:  When selecting an egg donor from Canada, you will incur fees for various activities including: legal fees, the cost of the donor to undergo an IVF cycle, and the costs to thaw and transfer embryos into your uterus. There may be additional out-of-pocket expenses, such as for genetic testing, subsequent transfer of embryos, and future storage of eggs or embryos.  In total you can expect to pay in the range of $25,000.

Anonymous egg donor (fresh eggs or frozen eggs): Fees can vary widely and it largely depends on the specific agency/egg bank you are workign with. Some frozen egg banks will provide various guarantees for higher costs. Generally the cost is about $35,000-$40,000.