Recipients Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about Our Egg Donors
Tell us about Atlantic Shared Beginnings' Egg Donors
Atlantic Shared Beginnings’ Egg Donors are undisclosed. They are healthy women between the ages of 21 and 29 who do not smoke and want to give the gift of life to those faced with infertility. Atlantic Shared Beginnings does not disclose names or contact information between any of its participants – not donor to donor; not donor to recipient; not recipient to recipient. However, Shared Beginnings strongly encourages recipients to choose an egg donor who has the same perspective about future contact. There is an invaluable question on donor forms asking their perspective and interest in future contact. Read the Anonymity and Donors FAQs, and listen to the Anonymity video just below the FAQs.
How are donors screened?
- Medical Questionnaire
- Physical Exam
- Consultation with a Reproductive Endocrinologist
- Psychological Testing & Evaluation
- Infectious Disease & Genetic Testing
What will I know about my egg donor?
Once a donor has passed our testing, she becomes available for a waiting recipient to select. You will be able to see our available donors through the patient portal. Information provided includes: age, height, hair color, eye color, highest level of education, field of study, a vignette written by a psychologist and the donor and her family’s medical histories. What’s more, childhood pictures are available at the office.
We recommend viewing this helpful video about Anonymity and Egg Donation to learn how Atlantic Shared Beginnings handles anonymity.
How can I see Atlantic Shared Beginnings' donor profiles?
Once you have requested and had your free initial consultation, you will be given access to Atlantic Shared Beginnings’ donor and embryo profiles. Information provided includes: age, height, hair color, eye color, highest level of education, field of study, a vignette written by a psychologist and the donor and her family’s medical histories. What’s more, childhood pictures are also available.
Will the donor I select know who I am, or be able to find out about me?
The short answer is no, donors will not know who you are or be able to find out about you: Atlantic Shared Beginnings works with undisclosed donors.
However, some recipients and some donors have asked for the opportunity, in the future, to allow the donor conceived child/adult to be free to make contact. We have found a creative way to accommodate those who want future contact, and those who don’t. View this Anonymity and Egg Donation video by Program Director Natalie King for details.
Questions about Our Pathways to Pregnancy
Our Pathway FAQs consist of the video overview above, as well as a comprehensive set of text FAQs by Pathway.
Pathway 1 - Fresh Donor Egg Transfer Pathway FAQs
How does Pathway 1 work?
The Fresh Donor Egg Transfer Pathway guarantees you will achieve a pregnancy or up to 3 blastocysts for transfer, whichever comes first. You will select an egg donor. On the day of her retrieval a small number of fresh eggs will be fertilized. The resulting embryo(s) will be cryopreserved, and you will then begin preparing for your Frozen Embryo Transfer. After the transfer, a pregnancy test will be performed. If you are not pregnant, you will have two more blastocysts. The first embryo transfer cycle is included in the fee. The second and third cycles are additional.
What if no embryo develops with the fertilization?
If a good quality embryo does not develop with the first fertilization attempt, more eggs will be fertilized at no extra charge.
What if more than one embryo develops with the fertilization?
If more than one embryo develops with the fertilization and you achieve pregnancy with your first transfer, the remaining embryo(s) belong to you. After program graduation you can elect to have those embryos stored for future use.
Do I get to see photos of the donors?
Yes, childhood and current photos are available to recipients who are accepted into the program as well as other information about the donor’s health and personality.
Can I use my own egg donor?
Many times, this may be possible. This is only possible if there are eggs available from your previous donor for the subsequent transfer or if your donor is willing to cycle again. We will always try to accommodate these requests but cannot guarantee them.
Can I use the same egg donor for all my transfers?
The Shared Beginnings program guarantees three transfers. If your eggs do not fertilize, we will attempt fertilization again with another subset of eggs. Failed fertilization does not count as one of your transfers.
I would like to do genetic testing on my embryo(s), is this an option?
No. Genetic testing (PGT) is not an option in the 3-Transfer Guarantee Program due to the minimal number of eggs fertilized at one time. With the Shared Beginnings Six Fresh Egg Cohort Program.
Can I buy more eggs from my donor if I get pregnant for future use?
Yes. If additional eggs are available from your donor, cohorts of 6-8 vitrified eggs can be purchased for $14,000 after program graduation. This option is not part of the Shared Beginnings program and successful transfer is not guaranteed. This option can be discussed further with the program director or your physician at your initial appointment.
I do not live in North Carolina; can I still participate in this program?
Many of our patients travel to participate in the Shared Beginnings Program. Although travel expenses are not included in the program price, the affordability of the program makes travel a possibility for most patients.
Many steps of the program can be completed away from the clinic. You will however have to travel to the clinic for some appointments. Click here for nearby Raleigh-Durham hotel options.
Can I transfer more than one embryo?
Single blastocyst transfer is recommended. The physicians will discuss the best options for a healthy pregnancy with each patient.
Can I have my embryos shipped to my local clinic?
Not with the 3-Transfer Guarantee Program, but if this is important to you, with the Six Fresh Egg Cohort program your embryos can be created at Shared Beginnings and shipped to your clinic for the transfers. This option can be discussed with the program director to make sure the transfer and shipping goes smoothly.
My insurance has fertility coverage, how will this work?
The Shared Beginnings Program Fees are a discounted bundle package and cannot be billed to insurance. Itemized statements will not be generated or provided to patients.
Can I use my own donor sperm?
Yes, however not all donor sperm meets criteria to be used in the Shared Beginnings Programs. This option can be discussed further at the new patient consultation with the Program Director.
I have already had a lot of the required tests completed; can I use these records?
Many previous test results can be used and will not have to be repeated. Your records will be reviewed and we will discuss which will need to be repeated.
How are egg donors chosen?
Our patients know what they want. When you sign up for the Shared Beginnings Program you will be given a list of egg donors to choose from for creating an embryo that fits your family. We will work closely with you and help you through the selection process.
Pathway 2 - Donor Egg Cohort Pathway FAQs
How does Pathway 2 work?
The Donor Egg Cohort Pathway will fertilize 6 donor eggs via ICSI, and culture them. The resulting embryos which are cryopreserved. Shared Beginnings guarantees you will have at least one good quality blastocyst, or we will repeat the process at no additional charge. Patients typically have 2-5 embryos cryopreserved. Embryo transfer cycles are not included in this pathway.
What if no embryo develops with the fertilization?
If a good quality embryo does not develop with the first fertilization attempt, more eggs will be fertilized at no extra charge.
What if more than one embryo develops with the fertilization?
If more than one embryo develops with the fertilization and you achieve pregnancy with your first transfer, the remaining embryo(s) belong to you. After program graduation you can elect to have those embryos stored for future use.
Do I get to see photos of the donors?
Yes, childhood and current photos are available to recipients who are accepted into the program. You will also see other information about the donor’s health and personality.
Can I use my own egg donor?
No. Egg donors are anonymous in the Shared Beginnings program so your own egg donor cannot be used. We do offer a traditional donor program at our clinic that would be better suited for private donors.
Can I use my husband’s/partner sperm?
Absolutely! We understand the importance of genetic ties and have tailored this program to support patient preferences.
I would like to do genetic testing on my embryo(s), is this an option?
Yes. Genetic testing is an option in the Shared Beginnings 6-Fresh Donor Egg Program. This option can be discussed with the program director or your physician at your initial appointment. Fees associated with genetic testing for embryos in this program are additional.
Can I buy more eggs from my donor if I get pregnant for future use?
Yes. If additional eggs are available from your donor, cohorts of 6-8 vitrified eggs can be purchased for $14,000 after program graduation. This option is not part of the Shared Beginnings program and successful transfer is not guaranteed. This option can be discussed further with the program director or your physician at your initial appointment.
I do not live in North Carolina; can I still participate in this program?
Many of our patients travel to participate in the Shared Beginnings Program. Although travel expenses are not included in the program price, the affordability of the program makes travel a possibility for most patients. Many steps of the program can be completed away from the clinic.
You will however have to travel to the clinic for some appointments. Click here for nearby Raleigh-Durham hotel options.
Can I transfer more than one embryo?
Single blastocyst transfer is recommended. The physicians will discuss the best options for a healthy pregnancy with each patient.
Can I have my embryos shipped to my local clinic?
YES! With our 6-egg cohort program, embryos can be created at Shared Beginnings then shipped to your clinic for the transfers. This option can be discussed with the program director to make sure the transfer and shipping goes smoothly.
My insurance has fertility coverage, how will this work?
The Shared Beginnings Program Fees are a discounted bundle package and cannot be billed to insurance. Itemized statements will not be generated or provided to patients. Transfer Cycles are not included under the program fee and can be billed to insurance. Itemized statements for Transfer Cycles will be generated and provided to our patients.
Can I use my own donor sperm?
Yes, however not all donor sperm meets criteria to be used in the Shared Beginnings Programs. This option can be discussed further at the new patient consultation with the Program Director.
I have already had a lot of the required tests completed; can I use these records?
Many previous test results can be used and will not have to be repeated. Your records will be reviewed and we will discuss which will need to be repeated.
How are egg donors chosen?
Our patients know what they want. When you sign up for the Shared Beginnings Program you will be given a list of egg donors to choose from for creating an embryo that fits your family. We will work closely with you and help you through the selection process.
Pathway 3 - Donor/Donor Embryo Pathway FAQs
How does Pathway 3 work?
The Donor/Donor Embryo Pathway is unique. Our recipients choose both their egg donor and their sperm donor to create an embryo profile that fits their family. The resulting embryo(s) will be cryopreserved, and you will then begin preparing for your Frozen Embryo Transfer. After the transfer, a pregnancy test will be performed. If you are not pregnant, you will begin preparations for another frozen embryo transfer. After three transfers if you are not pregnant, qualifying patients may elect to have three more tries or their money back minus administration fees. Occasionally we will have a limited number of available cryopreserved embryos immediately available.
What if no embryo develops with the fertilization?
If a good quality embryo does not develop with the first fertilization attempt, more eggs will be fertilized at no extra charge.
What if more than one embryo develops with the fertilization?
If more than one embryo develops with the fertilization and you achieve pregnancy with your first transfer, the remaining embryo(s) belong to you. After program graduation you can elect to have those embryos stored for future use.
Do I get to see photos of the donors?
The Donor/Donor embryo program uses only anonymous donors.
Can I use my husband’s/partner sperm?
The Donor/Donor embryo program uses only anonymous donors. If you wish to use your own or partner sperm, Shared Beginnings offers this option with our other two programs. Please see 3-Transfer Guarantee Program or 6-egg Cohort Program.
Can I use my own egg donor?
No. Egg donors are anonymous in the Shared Beginnings program so your own egg donor cannot be used. We do offer a traditional donor program at our clinic that would be better suited for private donors.
Can I use the same egg donor for all my transfers?
Many times, this may be possible. Because eggs are not reserved in the program, this is only possible if there are eggs available from your previous donor for the subsequent transfer. We will always try to accommodate these requests but cannot guarantee them.
What if I get pregnant on my first transfer, will I have remaining embryos?
No. Program graduation occurs with a single pregnancy and any embryos remaining will be offered to new recipients.
What if the eggs do not fertilize?
The Shared Beginnings program guarantees three transfers. If the eggs do not fertilize, we will attempt fertilization again with another subset of eggs. Failed fertilization does not count as one of your transfers and this will be covered under the original program fee.
I would like to do genetic testing on my embryo(s), it this an option?
Yes. Genetic testing is an option in the Shared Beginnings Donor/Donor Embryo program. This option can be discussed with the program director or your physician at your initial appointment. Fees associated with genetic testing for embryos in this program are additional.
Can I buy more eggs/ embryos from my donor if I get pregnant for future use?
Yes. If additional eggs are available from your donor, cohorts of 6-8 vitrified eggs can be purchased after program graduation. If embryos are remaining, these can be reserved for a future attempt. This option can be discussed further with the program director or your physician at your initial appointment.
I do not live in North Carolina; can I still participate in this program?
Many of our patients travel to participate in the Shared Beginnings Program. Although travel expenses are not included in the program price, the affordability of the program makes travel a possibility for most patients. Many steps of the program can be completed away from our clinic. You will however have to travel to the clinic for some appointments. Click here for nearby hotel options.
Can I transfer more than one embryo?
Single blastocyst transfer is recommended. The physicians will discuss the best options for a healthy pregnancy with each patient.
Can I have my embryos shipped to my local clinic?
No. Embryos within this program cannot be shipped, however his is an option with our 6-egg cohort program.
My insurance has fertility coverage, how will this work?
The Shared Beginnings Program Fees are a discounted bundle package and cannot be billed to insurance. Itemized statements will not be generated or provided to patients.
Can I use my own donor sperm?
This option can be discussed further at the new patient consultation with the Program Director.
I have already had a lot of the required tests completed; can I use these records?
Most blood and other tests will not have to be repeated if results are less than a year old. Other tests such as the saline contrast ultrasound will have to be repeated.
How are embryos in the Donor/Donor program chosen?
Our patients know what they want. When you sign up for the Shared Beginnings Program you will be given a list of egg donors as well as compatible sperm donors to create a profile that fits your family. Occasionally, we have a limited number of frozen embryos currently available. We work closely with our patients and will guide you through the process of selecting donors.
Pathway 4 -Crossover Pathway FAQs
How does Pathway 4 work?
The Crossover Pathway will fertilize two sets of 6 donor eggs via ICSI, culture them, and cryopreserve all resulting embryos. Shared Beginnings guarantees you will have at least one good quality blastocyst from each cohort, or we will repeat the process at no additional charge. Patients typically have 2-5 embryos cryopreserved. Transfer cycles are not included in this pathway.
The sets of donor eggs can come from two different donors or the same donor, over two cycles.
Two sperm sources can be used, one source each for one egg cohort.
What if no embryo develops with the fertilization?
If a good quality embryo does not develop with the first fertilization attempt, more eggs will be fertilized at no extra charge.
What if more than one embryo develops with the fertilization?
If more than one embryo develops with the fertilization and you achieve pregnancy with your first transfer, the remaining embryo(s) belong to you. After program graduation you can elect to have those embryos stored for future use.
Do I get to see photos of the donors?
Yes, childhood and current photos are available to recipients who are accepted into the program. You will also see other information about the donor’s health and personality.
Can I use my own egg donor?
No. Egg donors are anonymous in the Shared Beginnings program so your own egg donor cannot be used. We do offer a traditional donor program at our clinic that would be better suited for private donors.
Can I use my husband’s/partner sperm?
Absolutely! We understand the importance of genetic ties and have tailored this program to support patient preferences.
I would like to do genetic testing on my embryo(s), is this an option?
Yes. Genetic testing is an option in the Shared Beginnings 6-Fresh Donor Egg Program. This option can be discussed with the program director or your physician at your initial appointment. Fees associated with genetic testing for embryos in this program are additional.
Can I buy more eggs from my donor if I get pregnant for future use?
Yes. If additional eggs are available from your donor, cohorts of 6-8 vitrified eggs can be purchased for $14,000 after program graduation. This option is not part of the Shared Beginnings program and successful transfer is not guaranteed. This option can be discussed further with the program director or your physician at your initial appointment.
I do not live in North Carolina; can I still participate in this program?
Many of our patients travel to participate in the Shared Beginnings Program. Although travel expenses are not included in the program price, the affordability of the program makes travel a possibility for most patients.
Many steps of the program can be completed away from the clinic. You will however have to travel to the clinic for some appointments. <a href=”https://www.tripadvisor.com/HotelsNear-g49463-qRDU-Raleigh_North_Carolina.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Click here for nearby Raleigh-Durham hotel options.</a>
Can I transfer more than one embryo?
Single blastocyst transfer is recommended. The physicians will discuss the best options for a healthy pregnancy with each patient.
Can I have my embryos shipped to my local clinic?
YES! With our 6-egg cohort program, embryos can be created at Shared Beginnings then shipped to your clinic for the transfers. This option can be discussed with the program director to make sure the transfer and shipping goes smoothly.
My insurance has fertility coverage, how will this work?
The Shared Beginnings Program Fees are a discounted bundle package and cannot be billed to insurance. Itemized statements will not be generated or provided to patients. Transfer Cycles are not included under the program fee and can be billed to insurance. Itemized statements for Transfer Cycles will be generated and provided to our patients.
Can I use my own donor sperm?
Yes, however not all donor sperm meets criteria to be used in the Shared Beginnings Programs. This option can be discussed further at the new patient consultation with the Program Director.
I have already had a lot of the required tests completed; can I use these records?
Many previous test results can be used and will not have to be repeated. Your records will be reviewed and we will discuss which will need to be repeated.
How are egg donors chosen?
Our patients know what they want. When you sign up for the Shared Beginnings Program you will be given a list of egg donors to choose from for creating an embryo that fits your family. We will work closely with you and help you through the selection process.
