Egg & Embryo Donations in Chattanooga and Knoxville

Donating Eggs

To begin the screening process for participating in our egg donor program, you must call or email the Fertility Center and mention your interest in qualifying to donate your eggs. Potential participants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a non-smoker between the ages of 21 and 33 (21-28 for first-time donors)
• Have no new tattoos or piercings within the last six months
• Have a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or lower

After an initial screening by our donation coordinator, prospective egg donors will:

• Receive an abbreviated medical history form to complete
• Come to our office for an interview with Shirley (all potential donors must bring proof of a current pap smear and their photo ID to this visit)
• Schedule a time to take the MMPI personality test
• Meet with our counselor, Andy, who will discuss the process and consents
• Meet with Dr. Donesky for a physical exam, hormone evaluation, and testing for communicable diseases

All approved donors (and spouses of married donors) are required to sign consents for participation in Fertility Center’s egg donor program, waiving all rights to any children resulting from their donated eggs.

Egg Donor Consent Form

Approved Egg Donors

Approved donors are assigned a donor number to help ensure that their names and identities remain confidential. The Fertility Center will then create a page for each donor with a photo and personal information for couples interested in using donated eggs to review.

Donors receive $3,000 for each cycle after egg retrieval and may be chosen to participate in up to six cycles. The couples who receive the eggs remain completely anonymous.

Certain repeat screenings are required within 30 days of an egg donation. Repeat egg donors must undergo another screening and exam every six months. If a repeat donor has donated within six months of her initial screening, an abbreviated medical history process is acceptable.

Donating Embryos

The first step for potential embryo donors is completing an application and providing medical records. These couples have already been screened for infectious diseases prior to participation in an IVF cycle as mandated by federal regulations. Couples receiving the donated embryos cover all fees and expenses, so there are no costs involved for couples who donate embryos. The entire process is handled in-house at Fertility Center, so there are no additional fees for outside agencies or contracted services.

Donor couples must also complete an anonymous medical history form and sign consent forms relinquishing all rights of embryo ownership to the Fertility Center and, ultimately, to any anonymous couples receiving the embryos.

Couples who have struggled with infertility are often more than willing to share the blessing of potential children with others. The Fertility Center helps match these generous couples with men and women who have not yet achieved their dream of parenthood. All embryo donations coordinated through the Fertility Center are completely anonymous. However, couples who wish to participate in open embryo donation are referred to the Snowflakes Program through Nightlight Adoptions.

Donating Sperm

The Fertility Center does not accept sperm donations for monetary compensation. However, if you’re interested in becoming a recipient of donor sperm, the Fertility Center can help. Learn more about how to become a sperm donation recipient here.