California IVF Donor Egg Program

Start your path to parenthood with our donor egg program, using carefully screened eggs to help women and couples build a family.

California IVF Donor Egg Program

Start your path to parenthood with our donor egg program, using carefully screened eggs to help women and couples build a family.

California IVF Donor Egg Program

Our donor egg program offers women and couples the opportunity to experience pregnancy and parenthood using donated eggs fertilized with the partner’s sperm. After fertilization, embryos are cultured in our lab and transferred to the recipient’s uterus.

Since its inception, the program has maintained excellent success rates, helping many patients achieve healthy pregnancies — often at a lower overall cost than multiple unsuccessful IVF attempts.

While some view donor eggs as a last resort, understanding the process reveals that it can be a highly effective, rewarding option for those struggling to conceive. For many, it provides renewed hope and the chance to experience the joy and bond of carrying a child.

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Considerations When Using Egg Donors

Choosing to use an egg donor is a deeply personal decision. Understanding the process, the safeguards in place, and the emotional journey can help you feel confident and supported every step of the way.

Donor Screening & Selection

Donors are carefully screened for health history, including inherited disorders and medical issues that could affect pregnancy or donation safety.
Mental health professionals are part of the screening process.
When donors come from our own program, our staff personally meet and build relationships with them — while keeping donor identities anonymous to recipients.
Only the best candidates are selected to represent our practice and offer patients the highest chances of success.

Understanding the Emotional Aspect

Some patients initially feel that using a donor egg means “the baby wouldn’t be mine anyway.”
While adoption is a beautiful option, it can also involve complex barriers and long waiting periods.
When a donor provides eggs, she relinquishes all rights to them.
The recipient provides life to the embryo, and her role as the baby’s mother is unquestioned.
The bond between a mother and child is created through birth, care, and love — not just genetics.
Over the years, no woman in our program has regretted her decision to use donor eggs.

Our Approach to Donor Egg Treatment

Our physicians discuss all available options, including donor eggs and donor embryos, but will never pressure anyone into treatment.
Patients are encouraged to learn more freely, review donor profiles, and ask questions without cost or commitment.
A recipient must feel emotionally ready before beginning the matching process.
Our donor egg program has helped many patients, including those with:

Failed IVF cycles
Advanced maternal age
Recurrent pregnancy loss due to egg quality
Ovarian failure
Patients planning to freeze eggs for fertility preservation will have the eggs frozen on the same day as the egg retrieval.

Types of Donation

There are several ways to build a family through egg or embryo donation. Each option offers unique benefits depending on your comfort level, relationship with the donor, and financial considerations.

Known or Directed Donor

The donor is personally known to the recipient, such as a friend or relative. Our clinic provides full medical and psychological screening to ensure eligibility and safety.

Anonymous Donor

Both donor and recipient identities remain confidential. Contact details are never shared, and donors typically do not seek future contact. This option offers privacy and simplicity for both parties.

Shared Egg Donation

In this variation of anonymous donation, eggs from one donor are shared between two recipients. This reduces program costs, often making it similar in price to a standard IVF cycle for women in their late 30s and older. Our team coordinates all procedures and ensures anonymity for everyone involved.

Embryo Donation

Some women who need both donor eggs and donor sperm may choose to use donated embryos. These embryos come from previous fertility treatments or are created specifically using donor eggs and donor sperm.

This option offers a high chance of pregnancy at a more affordable cost compared to traditional IVF. The California Conceptions Donated Embryo Program provides excellent success rates using donor embryos. While this is sometimes called embryo adoption, the term isn’t technically accurate, as it does not involve a legal adoption process.

Donor Screening & Selection

Our goal is to make donor matching a comfortable, transparent, and personalized experience.

Donor Screening & Eligibility

All donors in our program meet strict state and federal screening guidelines. Each undergoes comprehensive medical, genetic, and psychological evaluations, including:

While no pregnancy can be completely risk-free, these steps minimize complications and ensure the highest level of care.

Personalized Matching

We review our screening and matching procedures with each patient and consider any specific preferences or requests in donor selection.

Comprehensive Profiles

Recipients can access full medical histories, questionnaires, and photos of donors before making a decision.

Expert Coordination:

Our donor coordinator guides the process and often helps identify ideal matches based on donor familiarity and previous pregnancy success.

Recipient Choice

The final decision always belongs to the recipient — you’ll never be required to choose a donor who doesn’t feel right for you.

Large Donor Pool & Extended Options

We maintain a diverse in-program donor pool, but can collaborate with outside agencies for specific traits or backgrounds.

Agency Partnerships

When needed, we partner with trusted services such as Donor Concierge (Gail Sexton Anderson, Ed.M.) to locate additional options.

Note: Using external agencies may include extra fees, but helps ensure the best possible match.

Getting Prepared

Once the matching process is complete, the treatment phase begins. This stage typically lasts 4–6 weeks and focuses on synchronizing both the donor’s and recipient’s cycles to ensure the best possible timing for embryo transfer.

Synchronizing Donor and Recipient Cycles

To align both cycles, medications—often birth control pills—are used first. You may then begin Lupron, a small daily injection that suppresses your ovarian function for a short time. Lupron usually starts 4–7 days before your next period. Before beginning this medication, you’ll have a pregnancy test and ultrasound to check your uterus and ovaries. At this time, the donor also begins Lupron (or medications such as Cetrotide or Ganirelix) to regulate her cycle. Once both cycles are aligned, your active treatment can begin.

Coordinating the Treatment Cycle

After synchronization, you’ll start estrogen patches while the donor begins ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins. A “lining check” ultrasound confirms that your uterine lining is ready. When the donor’s follicles reach maturity (usually 10–15 days), our team will contact you with instructions to stop Lupron and begin progesterone injections or vaginal inserts. At that point, we’ll also schedule sperm collection for the day of egg retrieval—typically two days after the call—in our private clinic collection room. In rare situations, a second sample may be needed.

Embryo Transfer & Next Steps

Once the egg retrieval is complete, your care team will keep you informed every step of the way — from the number of eggs collected and fertilized to the development of your embryos. The embryo transfer typically takes place about five days after retrieval. On that day, we’ll discuss how many embryos to transfer (usually no more than two) and guide you through the process, which is quick, comfortable, and performed under ultrasound guidance. Afterward, you can return home and rest while your team continues to monitor your progress.

Pregnancy Test and Follow-Up

About 8–10 days after your embryo transfer, you’ll have a blood test (quantitative HCG) to determine pregnancy. Your team will track how the hormone levels rise and adjust medications as needed. Continue all prescribed medications until your care team confirms next steps.

Get to Know Us

Curious about our donor egg program? Schedule a free tour to meet our team, explore our clinic, and get answers to your questions. Patients from across the country and around the world choose California IVF Fertility Center for our experience, compassion, and outstanding success rates.

Why Choose California IVF?

High Success Rates – Over 75% clinical pregnancy rate in patients under 40 using a single embryo that passed genetic testing.

Comprehensive Fertility Care – From initial testing and surgery to IVF, ICSI, PGT genetic screening, and donor egg/sperm programs, all under one roof.

Cost-Effective Multi-Cycle Packages – Specially designed packages that save you money per cycle while providing flexibility and ongoing support throughout your journey.

Scientific Expertise & Compassionate Care – Board-certified reproductive endocrinologists, supported by experienced nurse practitioners and embryologists, provide care in a welcoming environment.

Support You Can Trust

Our clinic is a close-knit team of dedicated professionals, creating a warm and supportive environment for every patient. We value open communication and are here to guide you through every step of your journey. While we know not every path leads to pregnancy, our team is committed to making your experience as positive and caring as possible, supporting you every step of the way.

Ernest Zeringue MD

Medical Director

Gary Gross

Linda Zeringue

FNP-BC

Ashley Cook

FNP-C

Lindsey DeBruler

DNP | FNP-BC

We are proud to announce our selection in the top 50 clinics selected by Newsweek for inclusion in the list of America’s Best Fertility Clinics. Modern medicine is what makes us great, but our staff is what really set us apart. We are currently ranked 36th in the nation!

California IVF and Insurance

California IVF provides fertility care for patients enrolled in the major insurance networks throughout Northern California. In addition to a collaborative arrangement with UC Davis, we are also contracted with Sutter Health, Dignity Health/Mercy, NorthBay Healthcare, Tricare, the VA, and most private insurance plans. Many Kaiser patients come to us when infertility and IVF services aren’t covered.

UC Davis Health System

Our collaboration with UC Davis began in July 2011. Our physicians hold university appointments, are actively involved in resident and medical student education, and have access to patient records within the UC Davis system, ensuring seamless, coordinated care.

Research and Development

We are actively involved in fertility research with several UC Davis projects focused on reproductive genetics. We are also advancing technologies that improve genetic testing of embryos and measure cellular products beyond current capabilities, helping to develop the next generation of fertility innovations.

Insurance Benefits

We partner with most major insurance networks to help patients maximize their fertility benefits. Our dedicated insurance coordinators guide patients every step of the way, ensuring they understand and make the most of their coverage.

What Our Happy Parents Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Couldn’t be more thankful for Cal IVF & Dr. Zeringue! The staff & nurses were really amazing & were always there to reassure me whenever I needed it. Got pregnant in our first IVF cycle! Will forever be so grateful for this team 🤍

Katie M.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We had an overall great experience with this clinic. Dr. Zeringue and his team were very professional and helpful. We had a very successful outcome.

Dana L.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Absolutely incredible staff, the kindness and thoughtfulness of each and every individual person was so sincere. After trying for years, two miscarriages and one ectopic pregnancy, my dreams of having a child was gone. Dr. Zeringue is the best Doctor for the job. My first time doing IVF and I am pregnant. It's all thanks to the wonderful team at California IVF. The entire process was smooth and stress-free. I 100% recommend Dr. Zeringue and his team for your IVF experience.

Rosina S.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

They help make dreams come true.. Thank you ALL!!

Denea S.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I absolutely love the staff at California IVF!!! Over 3 years ago we started facing our battle with fertility and received help from California IVF. Dr. Z and his staff were so supportive and helpful. Our first transfer was not successful,but we tried again and we had our daughter. Now 3 years later we are back at it again with our 2 remaining embryos. The staff remembered us right away and have been most helpful is starting up this process again.

Krisha P.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Had the best experience with dr. Zeringue and his staff. After a year of trying other options with other clinics, We were successful on our first ivf cycle here at California IVF, and couldn’t be happier we are now expecting twins.

Albert A.

Questions You Might Have

When does the embryo transfer happen?

The embryo transfer usually takes place five days after egg retrieval. You’ll receive updates along the way on the number of eggs collected, fertilized, and developing. On transfer day, we’ll discuss how many embryos to transfer (typically no more than two). The procedure is quick, painless, and done under ultrasound guidance — you can even watch it happen.

What should I expect during the transfer?

You’ll need a partially full bladder for better visualization of the uterus. The transfer is performed in a room near the lab and feels similar to a PAP smear, with minimal or no discomfort. Afterward, you can return home and rest.

When is the pregnancy test done?

About 8–10 days after transfer, we perform a blood pregnancy test (QHCG). If positive, the hormone levels are rechecked 2–3 days later to confirm they’re rising as expected. You’ll continue estrace and progesterone until around 12 weeks of pregnancy when the placenta takes over.

What if the pregnancy test is negative?

If the test is negative, you’ll stop all medications and should expect your period within a week.

Can a cycle be cancelled?

Yes, though it’s rare. Cancellations may occur due to poor or excessive ovarian response, ovarian cysts, or a change of heart from either donor or recipient. While success rates are high, there’s no guarantee regarding egg quantity, quality, fertilization, or pregnancy outcome.

How are donors compensated?

Donors are compensated for their time and effort, not for specific traits or outcomes. Costs may vary based on medications, lab work, and other factors. Our program maintains transparent and affordable pricing, similar to standard IVF cycles using a woman’s own eggs.

What about using donated embryos (embryo adoption)?

For patients needing both donor eggs and sperm, donated embryos are an excellent option. These embryos come from previous treatments or from donor sperm and eggs. This approach often offers high success rates and affordable pricing. Programs like the California Conceptions Donated Embryo Program specialize in this option — sometimes called embryo adoption (though technically it’s not adoption in the legal sense).

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