If you’re a curious soul always on the look-out for your next epic adventure, with a heart filled with wanderlust, the unexpected opportunity to travel as part of your egg donation cycle is a benefit that further highlights your journey through egg donation.
However, with all the medical logistics that must be planned out to coincide with travel, some egg donors feel a bit overwhelmed about egg donor travel. To help clarify possible misconceptions and further put your mind at ease as you prepare for your donor journey, we’ve compiled a list of questions and answers to help you become better acquainted with the expectations of egg donor travel.
Where might I be expected to travel in association with my egg donation cycle?
We work with fertility centers throughout the United States (and hopeful parents from around the world). Some of the most common locations where your might be matched to undergo an egg donation cycle include Portland, Oregon; Los Angeles, San Diego, or San Francisco, California; New York City, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; San Antonio and Austin, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Washington, DC.
During my egg donation cycle, how many trips will I be required to take?
Most fertility centers will ask you to make two trips through the duration of your egg donor cycle. Your first trip will be to undergo initial egg donor screening, followed by your egg retrieval trip planned at the end of your egg donation cycle.
How long will I be required to travel for my screening visit?
During your screening appointment, please plan on an overnight stay. Most fertility centers will schedule your screening visit during morning hours, with your appointment lasting 2-4 hours in duration. It is our priority to book your flight the day before your screening visit, thus ensuring you arrive and are settled well in advance of your appointment, allowing you to show up on screening morning refreshed and on time. Our aim is to then fly you home the afternoon of your screening visit.
How much advance notice will I have prior to my screening visit?
In general, most fertility centers understand the limitations to an egg donor’s schedule surrounding work, school, and family life, and take this into consideration when booking appointments for screening. Appointments typically take place Monday-Friday.
Will I incur any out of pocket expenses associated with my screening visit?
Financial arrangements for the cost of flight and hotel accommodations will be coordinated on your behalf directly by our office, and we will advance you funds for ground transportation and food to cover your costs while at your travel destination. Out of pocket expenses that might arise could include airport parking and airline baggage fees, which we will happily arrange to reimburse.
What egg donor travel is required during my egg retrieval visit?
The egg retrieval trip is approximately 6-8 days in duration, but the actual length of time will depend on clinic instructions and your response to medication. As was coordinated during your screening visit, financial arrangements for your flight and hotel accommodations will be made on your behalf by our office, in addition to the travel arrangements for a retrieval companion, and we will advance you funds for ground transportation and food to cover your costs while at your travel destination. We will promptly reimburse out of pocket expenses that might arise, including airport parking and airline baggage fees.
My school schedule only permits me to travel extensively during school breaks. How can I plan egg donor travel around my schedule?
Rest assured, our office and your fertility center will collaborate with you to avoid scheduling conflicts as a result of school, work, or family obligations. During the matching process, we will discuss your availability in great detail and plan out dates in advance that work for you, as well as for your hopeful parents, by avoiding any restrictions, or “black-out” dates, you may have.
During my egg retrieval trip, what is required of me?
During your egg retrieval trip, you will participate in early morning monitoring appointments leading up to your egg retrieval procedure, and will have free time during the day to explore the sights of your retrieval city, or unwind in the comfort of your hotel room.
Overall, egg donor travel affords egg donors the opportunity to fulfill a thirst for adventure, satisfying a bit of wanderlust by exploring your retrieval city, thus adding value to your overall egg donor experience. Contact our office today for more information about travel during an egg donation cycle.