As a company, we place a high emphasis on education and so, we want you to be prepared for what medications you might take in an IVF/Egg Donor Cycle. The previous donors on our team have been through this and we are here to support you. Please take the time to review the medications and the videos. If you have questions, do not hesitate to reach out to our team.
The following medications are the oral and injection medications we typically see prescribed during a cycle. There is always a possibility that your clinic will follow a different protocol with different medications depending on how your body is responding.
On Day 2 or 3 of your period, the clinic will instruct you to start birth control.
Once instructed by the clinic, you will begin daily injection medications of Menopur with Gonal-F OR Follistim
Reason for Use: Stimulate Growth and Maturation of the Eggs
Common Side-Effects of the Above Medications: headache, breast tenderness, bloating, fluid retention, mood swings
To view videos of mixing and injecting the above medications, watch the videos linked below.
After 4-6 days of administering the stimulation medications, Cetrotide OR Ganirelix are added with the previous injections you are already administering.
Reason for Use: Prevent Ovulation
Common Side-Effects: headache, nausea, abdominal pain, skin reaction
To view videos of mixing and injecting the above medications, watch the videos linked below.
If you are a traveling donor, you will travel to the retrieval city around day 7 or 8 of administering the injection medications and you will be there until your Egg Retrieval takes place. (You will be traveling for approximately 7-10 days.)
Around day 10 of injections, you will be getting close to taking the trigger shot which could be Lupron (Leuprolide) OR Novarel (Pregnyl, Ovidrel, HCG)
Reason for Use: Stimulate LH Surge and Trigger Ovulation
Common Side-Effects for Lupron (Leuprolide): headache, fatigue, hot flashes
Common Side-Effects for Novarel (Pregnyl, Ovidrel, HCG): pelvic discomfort, bloating
To view videos of mixing and injecting the above medications, watch the videos linked below.
Exactly 36 hours after the trigger shot, the Egg Donation Retrieval will take place.
Retrieval day, you will be put under anesthesia and given an IV.
You will be fasting (no food or drink) before your procedure.
Drink as much water as possible the day before your procedure to aid in getting your IV started since you will not be able to eat or drink anything the day of the procedure.
If traveling, you will typically be able to go back home 36 hours after your retrieval.
Depending on your bloodwork levels at the time of retrieval, your physician may order you medications for post-retrieval. Any single or a combination of the following medications could be prescribed.
Reason for Use: Help bring Estrogen levels back to normal
Typically one pill per day for 8 days post-retrieval
Surrogacy is more than medical. It’s deeply spiritual. And discerning a call to carry (or to let someone carry for you) isn’t always easy. Whether you’re pursuing surrogacy, preparing to carry for someone else, or just navigating unfamiliar terrain, you’re not alone. Called to Carry is a 14-day devotional for women of faith walking through the sacred, complex, and often hidden journey of surrogacy. Get your free copy today.