Fertility Blog

At a glance → Egg donors at Illume must be 21–32, have a BMI between 19–29, and live within 90 minutes of Norwalk, CT → From matching to egg retrieval, the full egg donation process usually takes about 6–11 weeks → Screening takes about 4–8 weeks and includes medical exams, genetic testing, infectious disease testing, and a psychological evaluation → The donation cycle itself takes about 2–3 weeks and includes 5–8 monitoring appointments at our Connecticut clinic → Donors receive $15,000 per completed donation cycle, with compensation provided after egg retrieval Becoming an egg donor is a meaningful decision that can help another person or couple build the family they’ve been hoping for. This guide from Illume's donor team explains what to know before you apply, including details about eligibility, screening, and the donation process.

Finding out you may need fertility treatment in order to conceive is overwhelming. While we can’t take all the stress away completely, we can give you the tools and information that you need to tackle this journey feeling more prepared for what lies ahead.

You’ve finally made it to your egg retrieval! As you prepare for this big milestone, let's walk through the biggest side effects of IVF egg retrieval - what to expect, what symptoms to look out for, how to spot OHSS, and what comes next on your fertility journey.