Explore FAQ
At Nest Donor Bank, every question matters. Whether you’re giving the gift of donation or hoping to grow your family, we’re here with clear answers and heartfelt support. Explore the FAQs below to learn how Nest can guide you with care and compassion.
What is Nest Donor Bank?
Nest Donor Bank is a place where families begin. In partnership with Spring Fertility, we connect intended parents with donor eggs and embryos, while caring for donors who want to help others build families. We combine medical excellence with genuine compassion, so every person feels seen, supported, and understood.
How is Nest different from other donor banks?
At Nest, you’re never just a number in a database. We bring together world-class fertility care and a personal, guided experience. Every donor is thoroughly screened, every intended parent has a dedicated coordinator, and every journey is handled with transparency and kindness.
Who can work with Nest?
We welcome individuals and couples of all backgrounds. Whether you’re a heterosexual couple, an LGBTQ+ family, or a solo parent, you’ll find a supportive team and a path tailored to you.
Is Nest only for Spring Fertility patients?
No. While many families choose to continue care at Spring Fertility, you can also work with Nest and complete your cycle at another accredited fertility clinic.
Is egg donation safe?
Yes, egg donation is generally very safe when done under the care of experienced medical professionals. At Nest Donor Bank, we prioritize your health and well-being every step of the way, with thorough screenings and expert care to ensure a smooth and supported experience.
Does it hurt?
While everyone’s experience is unique, many donors describe the process as very manageable — and for most, any discomfort is short-lived.
In the 12-14 days leading up to the egg retrieval, you’ll take hormone medications to gently stimulate your ovaries. This part of the process can cause bloating, cramping, or a feeling of fullness — kind of like PMS symptoms — and some donors feel a bit uncomfortable during this time. We’ll be checking in with you often to make sure you’re feeling supported and everything is progressing safely.
The retrieval itself is done under light sedation, so you won’t feel pain during the procedure. Afterward, you might feel sore or tired, but most donors are back to their normal routine within a day or two.
Will it affect my future fertility?
No, egg donation does not affect your future fertility. Your body naturally selects a group of eggs each cycle, and the donation process only retrieves eggs that would otherwise go unused—leaving your future fertility intact.
What’s the difference between Egg Share and Traditional Egg Donation?
With Egg Share, you get to freeze some of your eggs for your own future use, while donating others to help a family in need—at no cost to you. Traditional Egg Donation means all the eggs retrieved during your cycle are donated to intended parents. Both options give you the chance to make a life-changing impact.
Who can become an egg donor?
Donors are typically healthy women between 21–32 years old. To ensure your health and the health of future families, you’ll go through medical, genetic, and psychological screening before donating.
Is the egg donation process safe?
Yes. Egg donation is a routine, outpatient procedure performed under anesthesia. At Nest, your comfort and safety always come first, and you’ll be supported by Spring Fertility’s expert physicians and nurses.
Do egg donors get paid?
Yes. Egg donors are compensated for the time, effort, and generosity they put into the process. Egg Share donors are compensated by preserving their own fertility by freezing eggs for their future, at no cost to them.
Why donate Your embryos?
Embryo donation is a profound act of hope and compassion. By choosing to donate, you’re offering another family the incredible gift of potential parenthood—transforming unused embryos into a beautiful opportunity for love, connection, and family building. Your generosity can help those struggling with fertility create the family they’ve longed for, turning what might otherwise remain frozen in storage or discarded into a living, breathing miracle.
Is there an age limit?
For autologous embryos (those created without donor sperm or eggs), there is no age restriction for the individuals providing the genetic material, as long as there are at least two euploid embryos available for donation. We accept euploid embryos graded AA, AB, or BA.
For embryos created using donor eggs or sperm, we accept untested blastocyst embryos with AA, AB, or BA grading, provided the egg donor was 30 years old or younger at the time of retrieval.
Do I have a say in who receives my embryos?
If you’d like to, absolutely. We understand how deeply personal this decision is. Our program offers you multiple donation pathways—closed, semi-open, and open—allowing you to choose the level of connection and communication that feels right for your situation. Whether you prefer complete anonymity or desire ongoing updates, we’ll support your preferences and ensure you feel comfortable and empowered throughout the process.
Can I choose how involved I am as a donor?
Yes — and your preferences are deeply respected. While we cannot guarantee anonymity due to the rise of at-home DNA testing and evolving family-building norms, you can choose the level of contact and involvement you’re comfortable with.
We offer three thoughtful donation models:
Closed, where there’s no direct communication
Semi-open, which allows for mediated annual updates
Open, which includes the possibility of direct communication
Each option is designed to honor your boundaries while also supporting the future child’s ability to understand their origin story in a way that’s age-appropriate and compassionate.
Can I donate my embryos if I’m not a Spring Fertility patient?
Yes! While we deeply value our existing patients, our embryo donation program welcomes compassionate donors from all fertility clinics. We’re committed to expanding opportunities for those wishing to share their embryos with loving families, regardless of where your fertility journey began.
Are embryo donors compensated for their donation?
We are deeply moved by the profound generosity of embryo donors who choose to share their most precious gift—the potential for life itself. Your decision to donate embryos is an extraordinary act of compassion that can transform another family’s dreams of parenthood. While we cannot provide financial compensation for this incredible gift, we recognize the immeasurable emotional value of your selfless choice. Our program is committed to honoring your generosity by ensuring these embryos are placed with loving, carefully vetted families who will cherish the opportunity you have created.
What is embryo donation?
Embryo donation is when a family who has completed their own fertility journey donates unused embryos to help another person, or couple, achieve parenthood.
Why would someone choose embryo donation?
How does the embryo donation process work?
The process begins when families who have completed their own treatment choose to donate their remaining embryos through Nest. These embryos are then carefully evaluated for quality, medical background, and, when available, existing genetic testing.
As an intended parent, you’ll be able to review available embryo profiles, which may include information about the donor family’s medical history, background, and whether the donation is open, semi-open, or anonymous. Your Nest coordinator will guide you through this step and answer any questions along the way.
Once you’ve chosen an embryo, both parties complete legal agreements to ensure the donation is handled with clarity and protection for everyone involved. After this, medical preparation begins: you’ll work with your fertility physician to prepare for transfer, and the embryo(s) will be thawed and transferred at your clinic—often Spring Fertility, though embryos can be shipped to other accredited clinics as well.
Throughout the process, Nest provides support and guidance to make sure you feel confident and cared for as you move forward toward parenthood.
What kind of information is shared about embryo donors?
How do I browse available egg donors?
Once you register with Nest, you’ll gain access to our secure donor database. You’ll be able to browse profiles at your own pace, with the support of your Nest coordinator to help you along the way
What information is included in a donor profile?
Profiles include a donor’s health and family medical history, genetic screening results, education, and personal background. Profiles also include photos, so you can get a fuller sense of who they are.
How many eggs will I receive from a donor?
The number of eggs varies by cycle, but at Nest we ensure a guaranteed minimum number of mature eggs. Your coordinator will review all the details so you know what to expect.
Can I use donor eggs at my own clinic?
Yes. While many families choose Spring Fertility, eggs can be shipped safely to other accredited fertility clinics.
How are potential embryos selected?
Embryo selection is based on both genetic testing and grading to ensure the highest chance of a successful pregnancy. We only accept embryos that have undergone genetic testing and meet our strict grading criteria of AA, AB, or BA. Additionally, the donor must have at least two or more embryos available to be considered. This careful selection process helps provide intended parents with the best possible outcomes.
Will we be in contact with the donor family?
The choice is entirely yours. We offer three thoughtful donation models: closed (no direct communication), semi-open (mediated annual updates), and open (direct communication). Each pathway respects your comfort level while prioritizing the potential child’s future understanding of their unique origin story.
What medical and psychological support is provided?
We provide comprehensive medical and psychological support throughout the embryo donation process. Egg and sperm source embryo donors undergo psychological evaluation and genetic counseling to ensure they fully understand the implications of donation. A joint psychological consultation is then conducted with both the embryo donor(s) and the intended recipient to facilitate informed decision-making. Additionally, the embryo recipient has a separate genetic match consultation with our genetic counselor to review compatibility and any potential genetic considerations. This thorough support system helps ensure the well-being of all parties involved.