How To Donate Your Eggs: Requirements, The Process, & Pay
Just like if a man wants to donate his sperm there are requirements a woman needs to meet before considering donating her eggs. Here they are.
By Jessica Sayers
September 27, 2020
Something that women should consider is donating their eggs. If you are healthy and able to donate your eggs you will be able to help couples create the family they always dreamed about since many women struggle with fertility right here in the United States. There are benefits for you too if you decide to donate your eggs, but not everyone who wants to donate their eggs is eligible since there are requirements that women need to pass. So if you are considering this, make sure you keep reading to discover what you need to know about donating your eggs.
You Need To Fit The Requirements
Just like if a man wants to donate his sperm there are requirements that women need to meet before they can even consider donating her eggs. According to Egg Donor America, there is a set of minimum requirements that women need to pass before they can continue to screenings and the actual process of donating eggs. First, there is an age range that a woman needs to fall into of being between 21 to 31 years old. They also need to be physically healthy if they want to be an egg donor, meaning that they need to have a body mass index (BMI) somewhere between 19-29 on the BMI index.
Also, a woman who wants to become an egg donor needs to have regular monthly periods, meaning that anyone who has irregular periods is instantly disqualified to donate. They must also have both of their ovaries so they can donate healthy eggs. They must also care for their body by not being a smoker or having any past history with substance abuse, including, but not limited to, alcohol, marijuana, prescription drug problem, and more. After you meet the minimum requirements for donating your eggs you will be able to make an appointment with a clinic so they can move onto screening tests.
There Are A Lot Of Screenings
Even after going through the requirements to become an egg donor, you still have to complete screenings before you can start the process to officially start donating your eggs. CCRM IVF mentions that the screens that you have to undergo to become a donor are both physical and mental screenings. The first physical screen you will have to go through is a family medical background check. You and your family medical history have to have no history of inheritable genetic disorders that can be passed on through the egg you are donating. You can also be disqualified to donate if you have gotten a tattoo or piercing where they did not use sterile equipment. One of the most important screenings that you will undergo is to find out about your fertility since you must be able to donate eggs and be fertile to continue with this process.
Since donating your eggs is not just something that can affect you physically, but also mentally, you need to go through psychological screenings as well. The clinic you are using needs to make sure that you are of a sound mind to make this decision. Additionally, since the process can be grueling on the body, they need to make sure you are mentally prepared to go through the process. And because of the psychological screenings, anyone who takes psychoactive drugs for any type of mental illness will also be disqualified to be an egg donor.
There Is A Process After Being Cleared To Donate
If you meet the minimum requirements and have passed all of the physical and psychological screenings then you are actually eligible to donate your eggs and start the official process. The process of donating your eggs is going to be similar to women who undergo IVF to help increase their chances of pregnancy. You will be receiving hormone injections to help you produce multiple eggs instead of one. So any woman who is not good with needles or is not comfortable applying the hormone with the needles themselves, will not be a good egg donor since this is a necessary step.
The Pay Is Good
Donating your eggs is something that can help change a family’s life by giving them the chance to get pregnant if the woman is struggling with fertility. Though knowing you are making a difference in someone’s life can make you feel warm and fuzzy inside and is payment enough, there is also a good payday that comes with being able to go through and successfully donate your eggs. Bright Expectations Agency says that egg donors can earn compensation anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000 per cycle. And though a woman has to go through a lot to get this payout, that type of money can help anyone in whatever financial situation they are in.
Whether you are trying to get out of debt, pay for a vacation, or put money into your savings account, earning between $5,000 and $10,00 per cycle can be a huge relief and make donating your eggs all worth it. One of the biggest questions that women have when it comes to the pay of donating their eggs is when will they receive the money. Many clinics follow a payment method that will give you a portion of the pay when you start your fraternity medication and the rest within 7 days after the eggs are received from you. But each clinic can be different so it is best to make sure you discuss this when you go in for your screenings so you know exactly when you can get paid.
You might also be interested in: Donating Your Eggs at CCRM