Originally published: Friday Jan. 29th
Hello! I’m Shelly Galvin and this is my first post on Fertility Focus… so I’m a little nervous as well as excited. I’m what you could call a part-timer at here at IntegraMed. I’m not a medical professional by any means! What I am, however, is the lady who’s helping plan and create our new website, AttainFertility.com, which will debut in a couple of months. (More on that as we approach The Big Reveal.)
Joining the Fertility Focus family is very important to me since talking with you helps us know what’s important to you and allows us to write articles that we hope you’ll find useful. I want to thank you for letting us into your lives as you try to conceive. I’m deeply honored to be part of your conversations.
Something I hope to do here is also give back to you by providing access to information on topics that you’ve expressed interest in. So let’s jump to it…
Earlier this week, Lynne, a member of our community, asked about egg donors and their legal rights. It’s an excellent question and one to understand as you consider using donor eggs.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, most egg donors are required to be at least 21 years old. You should check with your local clinic for the specific requirements.
Ultimately, it’s up to you regarding what kind of relationship you want to have with your egg donor, if any. The majority of the time the donor remains anonymous during the process and has no contact with you or your child. Some programs allow the donor’s identity to be revealed once the child is of legal age. And some families choose to have an open and ongoing relationship with the donor.
Laws regarding egg donation vary by state. It’s best to contact a lawyer to understand the regulations in your state before beginning your egg donor search or choosing a program.
And now I’m opening it up to the floor… do you have words of wisdom for others who are considering using an egg donor?
