The Phone Interview

Well, today was my phone interview with my match coordinator. It lasted about an hour, and most of the information was stuff I had already put in my application. She asked me to tell her a little bit more about myself, basically expanding on all the personality questions. I asked her my list of questions too, and was happy with all of her answers. It sounds like a simple enough process, the biggest thing I'm afraid of is the daily injections! The next step is for me to sign some forms, my donor profile will be posted, and then I'll start the psych test (I guess they want to make sure you're not crazy! Actually, I'm sure it's just to make sure you can handle giving up your eggs and won't feel some unbearable connection to the child someday). After I'm matched, I'll talk with a geneticist and a lawyer, then I'll go in for my medical screening. Apparently that may require traveling to the recipient's doctor, so if they're not from around here, I hope it is somewhere that I've never been! After the screening - and blood draw
:( - I'll go on the pill so my cycle will be matched with the recipient's, and then I'll start the various injections. First is Lupron, to stop ovulation, then is a follicle-stimulating drug, and finally the "trigger" shot - HCG. About 36 hours later, the retrieval takes place. If I have to travel, I'll be wherever the recipient is for about 5 days during the retrieval process. After that, I go on bed rest, and then go home!

The girl was very nice, and we had a great conversation. She made me feel at ease about the whole process, and really made me feel like I was making the right decision. Based on my educational level, athletic abilities (and I'm sure physical attributes), the agency has classified me as a "top donor" which gives me even more compensation for my time, and a greater chance that I'll be matched with a couple right away, which is good, because I would really like to do this over the summer, with a retrieval sometime in August. It would be ideal, because I won't have to stress about school when I'm running around to these doctor appointments and injecting hormones into my body, and my husband will be working every day. Great way to spend summer vacation, huh?!

Anyway, I'm excited. I can't believe I actually decided to do this, and it looks like it's really going to happen! More updates to come!