Egg Donation: main page for prospective egg donors

IHR.com directory of egg donor programs

 
Why do it?

When a woman chooses to become an egg donor, she gives a woman who has been unable to have a child, the opportunity to become a mother. She can give the gift of life to a couple that yearns to have a child.

While some women become egg donors for altruistic reasons, others may donate eggs for financial reasons, or both.  Donors are usually compensated for their generosity and commitment of time. Egg donor compensation payment varies, but generally it ranges from $5,000 to $10,000.

In any case, the birth of a child is always a miracle. For some couples wanting a child, that miracle can only be achieved through the generous help of an egg donor. Many women who been egg donors have expressed just how rewarding it is to be a part of the miracle of creating new life.

Types of egg donors

You may be a donor as a "known egg donor" or an "anonymous egg donor":

  • Known egg donor - a donor known by the intended parent(s). She may a friend, relative, or acquaintance.
     
  • Anonymous egg donor - a donor in which the name and address are not known by the intended parent(s). Similarly, the identity of the intended parent(s) are not disclosed to the donor.

Egg donor minimum requirements

To apply to become an egg donor, minimum requirements must be met. Requirements are set by the clinic or egg donor agency, and do vary to some extent. Some examples of minimum requirements are that the donor candidate:

  • be between the ages of 21 and 32
  • be a non-smoker
  • have no personal/family history of drug abuse
  • have no personal/family history of alcoholism
  • have no personal/family history of depression
  • have an acceptable health history
  • have not gotten new tattoos or piercings in the last 12 months
  • have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 30. BMI is measured by using your height and weight (BMI calculator)
  • be able to make yourself available for all necessary appointments, including psychological evaluation, medical appointments at the IVF clinic or laboratories (or if from out of town, able to travel and stay for the medical appointments where the IVF clinic is located)
  • has a history of a past pregnancy (Can be helpful, but is not typically required)

Egg donor compensation

Compensation for egg donors generally varies between about $5000 and $10,000. Our Egg Donor Compensation Pay page explains more.

Next steps

After you've reviewed the above information, then here are the next steps:

  1. Read about How to become an egg donor - Contains information about where to apply, typical requirements, egg donor programs, questions to ask, and compensation.
     
  2. Read about the egg donation medical procedure for egg donors

Guidelines and publications