The Break Up

After my donation, I was definitely eager to get back on the donor database. Women who have successfully donated before are deemed "proven donors," and are typically chosen quicker than first timers. I contacted my nurse a month after my retrieval, and she said she would speak to the medical directors about my interest in donating again. Apparently no one can just get back on the list... Waited a few days and no response. So I called back to the main office... and I waited... and waited. Finally a week later I got a call from one of the staff members at SG thanking me for my donation, but that I would not be back on the donor database at Shady Grove. I was shocked to say the least, but their justification shocked me even more.

In one of my previous postings I described Shady Grove's "Shared Donor Program." Basically up to 3 couples can share a single donation from a single donor. In my case, I donated 14 eggs to two couples (each couple got 7 eggs). As a first timer, I was told that this is a pretty good number. However, if I would have been involved in a shared program between three couples (each receiving 4 or 5 eggs), each couple has a slimmer chance of getting viable eggs. Remember that the couples can freeze unused embryos, so they next time they want to try to get pregnant there is no need to call back in the donor... which costs more money. The bottom line is that SG makes more money per cycle when multiple couples are involved, and each couple gets many many eggs. I was told by the staff member that SG wants girls who can consistently produce 20+ eggs, and I just didn't meet the cut. (She worded that a little nicer...) Did your jaw drop too?

Still wanting to donate again... I was back to square one.