Egg Donor FAQ’s

Becoming an egg donor is an extremely generous act, but it’s also a serious commitment, and you might have a lot of questions before you decide to donate. If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for here, please contact us. We’d be happy to help you better understand the egg donation process.

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Application & Qualifications

I’m interested in becoming an egg donor. How do I get started?
We would love to hear from you. Please fill out an egg donor application to be considered. If you have questions about the process, check out our blog, 8 Tips for Completing Your Egg Donor Application, for more information.
Why was my egg donor application denied?
We understand a denial can be disappointing, and we apologize if our process feels unclear. While we used to share specific reasons, we found that some applicants would adjust their responses in future applications.

To protect recipients and ensure all donors meet our standards, we’ve joined other egg donor programs to help keep this information private.

Please feel free to review our egg donor requirements, and if you believe you’ll qualify in the future, we welcome you to reapply.

Thank you for your understanding.

Who is eligible to become an egg donor?
Prospective egg donors that become part of our program meet our minimum requirements, which include but aren’t limited to:

  • Being between the ages of 19 and 30
  • Has normal reproductive function
  • Being within the BMI range of 18 and 29
  • Being a U.S. Citizen or having a valid Work Visa/Green Card
  • Can provide 3 generations of family medical history

You can view our full list of egg donor requirements for more information.

Where can I find my application status?
Please check your email (including your spam folder) for updates about your application. It takes our team about 2 weeks to review an application. If you haven’t heard back in over 2 weeks, please contact us so we can let you know the status.
Why are the egg donor requirements so strict?
We receive thousands of applicants every month, and less than 1% of applicants are accepted into the program. The screening process is very rigorous as we want to make sure our donors are healthy and ready to donate. Our goal is to give our recipients, who have undergone many infertility challenges, the best possible chance of conceiving a healthy baby with the help of our egg donors.
Why is BMI a requirement to donate eggs?
Medical evidence shows that people with a BMI under 18 or over 29 are at a higher risk for developing medical complications. Our donors’ health and safety are our primary concerns, which is why we only accept donors with a BMI between 18 and 29.
Can I donate eggs if my tubes are tied?
Yes, you are still eligible to become an egg donor if your tubes are tied.
Am I eligible to be an egg donor if I only have one ovary?
Unfortunately, our egg donor program requires two functioning ovaries to ensure the best chances of success during the egg retrieval process. While having one ovary doesn’t impact your ability to have children, it does mean there are fewer follicles available to stimulate, which can lower the potential yield of mature eggs for donation.
I recently gave birth. When will I be eligible to donate my eggs?
Congratulations! You’ll be eligible to become an egg donor once you’re at least 5 months postpartum, are no longer breastfeeding, and have had at least 2 consecutive normal periods. These requirements are in place to ensure hormonal stability for the donation process.
Why is education a requirement to be an egg donor?
Many intended parents hold a minimum of a college degree and highly value education. More often than not, they are looking for a donor whose background and education are similar.

Each donor is on her own journey. Many begin college immediately after high school or complete certifications that help them on their next step.

For that reason, we require that our donors hold a high school diploma or equivalent as a minimum. This is also to ensure our donors understand and have informed consent throughout the entire process.

Am I eligible to donate eggs if I'm adopted or donor-conceived?
Yes, adopted and donor-conceived women are eligible to donate if they meet our egg donor requirements, including providing 3 generations of medical history.
Can I donate eggs if I have mental health issues?

Eligibility depends on symptom severity, duration, medication use, family history, and other aspects of diagnosis and treatment. Our primary goal is to protect the donor’s emotional and mental well-being throughout the process, following standard industry guidelines.

Can I donate eggs if I have PCOS or endometriosis?

For the safety of the donors, those with endometriosis and PCOS are not eligible to become egg donors with our program. This is due to the reduced likelihood of a successful egg donation cycle and the increased risk of medical complications.

Can I donate eggs if I am on Depo Provera or a contraceptive implant such as Implanon or Nexplanon?
If you are accepted into our program based on the review of your application, you would need to agree to discontinue the use of Depo Provera or remove your contraceptive implant. You may choose to use another form of contraceptives, such as birth control pills, the patch, Nuva Ring, or an IUD (non-hormonal preferred).

In addition, if you choose to discontinue using Depo Provera or remove your contraceptive implant to participate with us, we would need to wait until you have two consecutive menstrual cycles before we can complete the medical screening. This can take anywhere from a month to a year, depending on the person.

As a first step, we’d recommend you apply online to see if you meet our medical requirements. If you pass this phase and are invited to an interview, you can discuss with your coordinator whether it’s worth discontinuing the use of Depo Provera or removing your contraceptive implant.

Can I donate eggs with an IUD?
Yes, you can still be an egg donor if you have an IUD. If you have any IUD, non-hormonal or hormonal, such as Mirena or Skyla, you will be able to donate, pending your test results. As long as your testing parameters are within our program limits, we will allow you to cycle with your IUD in place. If there are concerns, we may give you the option to have your hormonal IUD removed with your own physician and retested to see if you qualify.

While in the program, you may use another form of contraceptives, such as birth control pills, the patch, Nuva Ring, or a non-hormonal IUD (Paraguard). As a first step, we’d recommend you apply online to see if you meet our medical requirements. If you pass that phase and are invited to an interview, you can discuss with your coordinator whether it’s worth having the IUD/implant removed.

Can I be on birth control while donating eggs?
Yes, you can continue to use birth control pills, the Patch, an IUD, or the Nuva Ring during our egg donation program. The only forms of contraception that we do not allow during your participation as an egg donor are Depo Provera or a contraceptive implant such as Implanon or Nexplanon.
I’ve never been pregnant. Can I still be an egg donor?
Yes, you are still eligible to donate your eggs. Unlike surrogate requirements, having a history of pregnancy is not a requirement to be an egg donor.
Can I donate eggs if I smoke or vape?
Unfortunately, applicants who currently smoke or vape are not eligible to donate. Ingesting tobacco or nicotine (including nicotine products such as gum and patches) can impact the quality of eggs and the egg donation cycle.

However, if you go smoke and nicotine free for several months and can commit to staying smoke-free during the program (approximately 3-6 months), we encourage you to apply to be an egg donor.

Will tattoos disqualify me from donating eggs?
No, tattoos will not disqualify you from becoming an egg donor as long as you received them under sterile conditions. The FDA enforces this requirement, mandating that applicants not be at increased risk for infectious diseases that could have been transmitted through non-sterile needles.
What do you mean by requiring three generations of medical history?
Three generations includes yourself, your biological siblings, parents, aunts/uncles, and grandparents on both sides of the family. If you have children, we’ll ask for his/her/their medical information as well.

You will need to be able to list any medical and/or genetic conditions, and psychological conditions, along with age of onset, as well as any deaths across the three generations. Our clinical geneticist needs this information to determine your eligibility for the program.

What if I don't have medical information on both sides of my family?
Unfortunately, you cannot move forward in our egg donor program if you can’t provide this information.
Why do I need to provide three generations of medical history?
We require three-generation medical histories as part of our screening for serious genetic conditions that can potentially be passed on to offspring. We do everything we can to give our recipients the best chance of having a healthy baby and appreciate your help and diligence. In addition, we want to provide intended parents with the ability to share comprehensive medical history with their donor-conceived child.

Reimbursements for Egg Donors

How much is egg donor compensation?
As an egg donor with Fertility Match Maker, you could earn up to $60,000. In addition to the cycle reimbursement, donors receive the following benefits:

– Up to $500 once accepted into the egg donation program
– Earn $1k every time you refer a donor who cycles

Medical care:
You’ll receive thousands of dollars worth of free medical and genetic testing.

Insurance:
We’ll fully insure you to cover medical treatments related to your egg donation.

Dream Fulfillment:
Because of you, someone now has a chance to have a family.

Refer a Friend:
When you refer a friend who is accepted into the program and completes an egg donation cycle, you can earn up to $1,000.

Do egg donors from ethnic minority backgrounds or those with higher education degrees get more reimbursement?
No, reimbursement is standard for donors regardless of educational or ethnic background. We encourage women of all ethnic backgrounds to apply. No race is immune to infertility, and there are many recipients in need of an egg donor.
Is egg donor compensation taxed?
Yes, the reimbursement you receive for your time and effort spent during the egg donation process is considered taxable income.
Why is it called “donation” if donors are getting paid?
We reimburse for the time and effort involved, not the actual eggs. As an illustration, if a donor cycles but for one reason or another doesn’t produce eggs that a recipient will be able to use, the donor will still be reimbursed.
Do you reimburse per egg?
We reimburse per cycle completed and for the effort involved, not by egg. Therefore, a donor is reimbursed the same whether we receive 0 eggs or 12 from a completed egg donation cycle.
How many times can I donate my eggs?
Per the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines, we allow donors to cycle up to 6 times in their lifetime. Typically, donors donate several times. The success of previous cycles along with the donor’s willingness determine how often the egg donor will ultimately donate.
Do I need to be matched to a recipient to be reimbursed?
We’re a frozen donor egg bank, so the reimbursement process is different from a fresh egg donor agency. With us, there’s no waiting to be matched to a couple or recipient. Once you’re accepted to our frozen egg donation program, you can cycle immediately and get reimbursed quickly.
Can I refer a friend to be an egg donor?
Yes, if you’re a donor at Fertility Match Maker and you refer a friend who is accepted into the program and completes an egg donation cycle, you can earn up to $1,000. There is no limit to the number of referrals you can make. Contact your coordinator for more details.

Egg Donation Process

Where do my donor eggs go after donation? Can I choose who receives them?
We only work with intended parents whose IVF clinics have qualified them to become egg donor recipients. This involves rigorous testing as well as comprehensive psychological evaluations and counseling.

The egg donation process is anonymous for donors and donor egg recipients. This means you will not know who receives eggs from your retrieval, and the recipient will not know your identity.

The exception to this is if you opt into being an ID egg donor. This is an optional program that would allow any child conceived from your donation to be able to contact you once they turn 18 years old. The parents would also have to opt-in to the program for the child to receive any contact information from you.

How does an egg retrieval procedure work?
Egg retrieval is a quick outpatient procedure that takes about 15-20 minutes at our partnering fertility center. You’ll be under twilight sedation, unconscious but breathing on your own. Once you are comfortably asleep, a reproductive endocrinologist will retrieve your eggs using a vaginal needle and ultrasound guidance.

After the eggs are retrieved, you will rest for about an hour before being released. You’ll need a friend, significant other, or family member to drive you home. As for side effects, you may have some post-procedure cramping, spotting, and bloating. Most donors resume normal activity the next day with little to no side effects.

What tests does the egg donor medical screening involve?
You will be required to have a physical and pelvic exam, infectious disease testing, including genetic screening, and a mental health evaluation including a health history and an evaluation of your comfort level with the donor egg program.
What do monitoring appointments involve?
During your egg donation cycle, you’ll be required to come to the office for monitoring appointments. These appointments are typically in the morning and will include a blood test to evaluate hormone levels and/or vaginal ultrasound to measure your follicles. These help determine your daily medication dosage. You will be given a calendar at the beginning of the cycle, which will guide your schedule. The days you need to be seen in the office can and will change.

Your schedule will need to be flexible during your donation cycle, as many of these appointments may need to be scheduled with less than 24 hours’ notice.

How long does the entire egg donation process take?
From completing the medical application to finishing a cycle, the average time span is about 3-4 months. It takes about 2-3 months to complete the screening process and 1-2 months to complete each cycle.
What’s the difference between egg donor agencies and egg banks?
Egg donor agencies focus on fresh egg donations, while egg banks focus on frozen donor eggs. With a fresh egg donor agency, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be matched with a recipient, so there’s a risk that you may not be reimbursed for your time and services. Fresh egg donors have much less control over timing, traveling, and other aspects of the egg donation process.

Frozen egg banks make it simpler and more convenient for donors. Once accepted, you can donate right away and you can donate up to 6 times. You’ll receive your reimbursement after you’ve completed your donation and you’ll work with the same team each time you donate.

Why am I required to live within two hours of the monitoring sites?
During the course of an egg donation cycle, you will be required to visit the monitoring site for approximately 3-6 appointments so we can monitor you and your progress. These appointments will take approximately 30 minutes. Because of the frequency of these visits, we require donors to live within 2 hours of a location. If you do not reside near any of our monitoring sites, we do offer an egg donor travel program.

Anonymity & Legality

What is an ID Option Donor?
Our ID Option Donor Program gives egg donors the option to release their identity and contact information to the donor-conceived child when that child reaches the age of 18 and requests that information.

Once you’ve chosen to be an ID Option donor, you may not change your mind as this may be an important factor in the recipient’s donor selection.

Do I bear any responsibility to children that result from my donated eggs?
No. You will not be legally bound to any donor-conceived children. Should you be diagnosed with any serious medical issue that may be genetic, however, we do mandate that you contact us. Likewise, should there be any adverse outcomes reported from the use of your donated eggs you will be notified by our genetics team with any pertinent information.
Will I meet the parents who use my donated egg or any donor-conceived children?
No, we do not offer an open egg donation program. You will not receive information about who uses your donor eggs, and recipients will not receive personal information about their donors. However, you can elect to be an ID Option egg donor. In this case, when the donor-conceived child reaches 18, they will be given the option to contact you. Learn more about this program here.

Risks & Side Effects

What are the risks involved with egg donation?
Egg donation, like any medical procedure, comes with some risks, though they are uncommon. We counsel all donors thoroughly on these risks to help them make an informed decision. As a leading egg bank, we monitor donors closely to minimize the chance of complications. Key risks include:

Pregnancy: Some eggs may not be retrieved, so donors have a high pregnancy risk for a period post-retrieval. Pregnancy is a preventable risk. We advise abstinence or protection during this time.

Infection: The infection risk post-retrieval is under 1%, reduced further by prescribed antibiotics.

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): Rarely, excess ovarian fluid can cause bloating in the abdominal cavity. Only 1-3% of donors experience significant OHSS, which we help prevent by adjusting medications.

Ovarian Torsion: In extremely rare cases (0.3%), the ovary can twist, causing severe pain. Donors are advised to avoid high-impact activities temporarily to lower this risk.

Is egg donation painful?
Generally speaking, the side effects of the egg donation process are mild and not painful. Most donors experience cramping and bloating, similar to what you may feel during a menstrual cycle. You will be self-administering injectable fertility medications for several days using a very small needle by pinching your skin and injecting the medication. For the actual egg retrieval, you won’t feel anything since you’ll be asleep under twilight sedation. Most donors are able to resume normal activity and return to normal activities the next day.
What if complications occur and I need medical treatment?
As an egg donor at Fertility Match Maker, you will be covered under a primary insurance policy for any complications directly related to your donation cycle. Your health is paramount to us, and we will cover the medical costs in the extremely rare event that you experience complications as a result of being an egg donor under the parameters of the policy.
Will I gain weight?
The process will not cause you permanent weight gain – you may gain a few pounds during the egg donation process because of bloating and larger ovaries, but this should go back to normal with your period.
Will I regret becoming an egg donor?
Unfortunately, some donors experience egg donor regret. We do our best to make sure our donors feel confident in their decisions by providing counseling and conducting thorough interviews.
Does egg donation cause ovarian cancer?
There are no studies that show any link between egg donation and ovarian cancer.
If I donate my eggs, can I still have kids?
There are no conclusive studies indicating that egg donors are at an increased risk of experiencing infertility issues related to egg donation. Plenty of our donors get pregnant after donating eggs.
Will donating eggs deplete my egg supply quicker?
Donating eggs will not deplete your egg supply quicker. Every cycle, about 15-20 eggs are recruited to mature inside follicles. However, only one follicle reaches maturity and releases an egg for ovulation; the rest stop growing and are discarded by the body.

In an egg donation cycle, medications are given to fully develop all of the eggs that were naturally recruited for that cycle. We are only able to stimulate and retrieve the recruited eggs for that month. We are unable to simulate or retrieve follicles or eggs that your body did not select for that cycle.

Will donating eggs affect my hormone levels?
There is no long-term impact on your hormone levels. However, during your cycle your hormone levels will be temporarily elevated.
What are the side effects of fertility medications?
The medications utilized during a donation cycle are generally well tolerated. Potential side effects include bloating, moodiness, cramping, aching, PMS-like symptoms, headaches, nausea, hot flashes or breast tenderness.
How long do I take injectable fertility medicine?
The donation cycle will vary from person to person based on their own stimulation (everybody stimulates differently), but the general time frame for self-administering shots is anywhere from 9 to 14 days.

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