A donor egg cycle is very similar to a typical IVF cycle. In fact, the only real difference is that the eggs are retrieved from an anonymous donor instead of the IVF patient. Once the eggs are fertilized, the recipient must be ready to receive them. Therefore, the donor's and the recipient's cycles must be coordinated, which typically takes a couple of months.

The donor will undergo ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval - the first two stages of in vitro fertilization. At the same time, the recipient will receive estrogen replacement to prepare her uterine lining for receipt of the embryos. On the day of egg retrieval, semen will be collected from the male partner, and then combined with the egg in the lab to accomplish fertilization.

Once the male partner's sperm has successfully fertilized the donated eggs, an appropriate number of healthy embryos are then transferred to the recipient's uterus. Eggs and embryos not used during the current cycle may be cryopreserved for subsequent use.