Tips On Finding Your Family Medical History

If you’re serious about exploring the idea of donating your eggs, you know that the screening process includes a detailed look at your family’s medical history. This helps our donor egg recipients, know about any inherited diseases or genetic disorders for the health of their future children. But knowing your own family history also helps you, the egg donor. This history is part of you and it’s something you deserve to know about. But getting all of this information can be tricky. Here’s a rundown on the information you need to provide for our egg donation application, and tips for obtaining it.

Family History You Need to Know

First of all, egg donors need to provide a detailed family profile of their nuclear family (mother, father, and siblings). This includes physical features such as eye and hair color, religious and ethnic background, and any special talents. It’s important that our egg recipients know about their egg donors as people, in addition to their medical history, and this information is very helpful.

When you apply, you’ll also need to have on hand medical history about not only you and both of your parents, but your siblings and your own children, if you have any. You’ll also need to know about your aunts, uncles, and grandparents on both your mother’s and father’s side. This honest information is vital for the well-being to our hopeful recipients and their future children.

Here’s the medical information you’ll need to provide for your family members:

• Ethnic background
• Current age
• If the relative is deceased, the age and cause of death
• Any genetic, medical, or health condition. These include:
  • Heart problems
  • Blood conditions
  • Respiratory conditions
  • Urinary conditions
  • Skin or dermatological issues
  • Muscle, bone, or joint conditions
  • Problems with the endocrine system or metabolism
  • Neurological conditions
  • Issues with vision, hearing, or other senses including the sense of smell
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Reproductive health problems, including miscarriages
  • History of cancer
  • Birth defects
• Any mental health conditions
• Any history of substance abuse

How Do You Obtain Your Family’s Info?

This may seem like a long list, but it’s all vital info for the screening process. So how do you go about finding all this information? The best way is simply to ask! Chances are, your family members will love to share, especially your grandparents and older relatives. (Let’s be honest—people like to talk about themselves.) These conversations might help you have closer relationships, and you’ll learn more about your family and yourself at the same time.

But what if these questions feel awkward? What if you’re not ready to share your egg donation plans? If you’re uncomfortable broaching the topic, here are some creative ways to start the conversation about family medical history:

• “I need it for my own personal knowledge.” Everyone wants to find out more about themselves, and one way to start is by looking at our families. (That’s one reason genealogy is growing in popularity.) You can also say you’d like this information if you’re interested in starting your own family one day.
• “I need it for a class project.” Are you a student? Many subjects offer a reason to explore your own history, from biology to history to psychology. (And who knows—you might actually have a class that uses family history in your future.)
• “I’m seeing a new doctor and they requested this information.” Many medical professionals want to know your family’s medical history, it would not be out of the ordinary to need this information when seeing a new doctor, especially an OB/GYN.
• “A friend got her family medical history, and it was really helpful for her.” Talking about “a friend” can often help an awkward conversation get started.

Beyond being an egg donor, your family history involves your health and well-being too. This valuable information could help you when you have your own family in the future, and help you understand more about your own background. Think you’re ready? Check out our assessment. Or if you have more questions about the egg donor requirements see our FAQs or contact us.