Female Egg Donation: How to Donate Eggs

Surrogacy, fertility, and egg donation
There are physical, psychological, and emotional issues to consider as part of the female egg donation process. Whether the eggs are provided anonymously or donated by request for an infertile relative or friend, women should be fully aware of fertility and surrogacy procedures and its potential life changing implications.

Women who may be unable to carry a child to term consider surrogacy. Gestational surrogacy involves an embryo made from the sperm and egg of you and your partner. A woman agrees to be implanted with the embryo and carry the child to term. The surrogate mother is not genetically related to the child, as her egg did not conceive it. The cost of a surrogacy can range from $85,000 - $140,000.

Egg donation is the process by which a female donates her eggs, so that an infertile couple may have a child. The eggs are not fertilized and therefore the donor should not feel they are giving away a baby but giving someone else the chance to become a parent. A physician will simply extract unfertilized egg cells from the donor’s ovaries.

How to Donate Eggs?
What is the egg donation procedure? Females who choose to donate eggs, as part of a fertility program are sometimes required to remain anonymous. Some clinics allow the option for the donor to be identified and interviewed by the couple seeking assistance to have a child.

Many fertility clinics require that a woman considering egg donation undergo psychological and emotional counseling prior to donation.

Women undergoing fertility or surrogacy procedures must be fully committed as egg donation is a time consuming medical process. Throughout a three to five week cycle, the egg donor will be injected with different types of medications, undergo several blood tests and ultrasounds. In addition, donors must abstain from sexual intercourse; avoid all drugs, and consuming alcohol. Some fertility agencies may require the women to modify their diets.

A few days after the final injection, the doctor extracts the eggs usually using a syringe-type instrument while the donor is under sedation.

Requirements
In most cases, the donor is required to be a healthy non-smoker between the ages of 21 to 35. The range is based on known health factors, which affect egg production in women outside this age group. Additionally, most fertility centers require the female egg donor has successfully birthed at least one child. The screening process includes gathering family medical history regarding certain diseases such as diabetes or cancer.

Female Egg Donation Compensation - donating eggs for money
Each case is unique and compensation varies, subject to regulations. The amount can range from hundreds to a few thousand dollars. Depending on the fertility clinic, the egg donor may be compensated at a flat rate, or by the couple seeking egg donation. In some instances, egg donors are reimbursed for travel, meals, accommodations, childcare expenses, and lost wages. The cost of donor eggs for couples using a surrogate or In vitro fertilization ranges from $10,000 to $20,000.

Upon completion of the egg retrieval, agencies such as Egg Donation, Inc. pay your fee from a trust account. Most centers will provide on your behalf an insurance policy to cover any medical complications not covered by your personal health coverage.

Egg Donation Agencies, Centers, and Clinics
Egg Donation, Inc. accepts applications online at eggdonor.com. Upon completion of the egg retrieval, the agency pays your fee. Check with your doctor for reputable egg donation agencies.