Egg donation is a medical and legal process where a woman provides her eggs, or oocytes, to intended parents who cannot conceive using their own gametes. The medical procedure involves stimulating the donor’s ovaries to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved for fertilization in a laboratory setting. Legally, the donor is compensated for her time, effort, and commitment, not for the eggs themselves, and a contract is established to define parental rights.
Essential Eligibility Requirements
A woman must meet specific criteria focused on reproductive health and age. Most agencies and clinics require donors to be between the ages of 21 and 31, representing the period of optimal ovarian function and egg quality. Physical health is also carefully evaluated, including maintaining a Body Mass Index (BMI) within a healthy range, typically between 18 and 29.
Candidates must demonstrate a healthy lifestyle by being non-smokers and abstaining from drug use, as these substances can negatively impact egg viability. A history of regular menstrual cycles is required, indicating healthy hormonal balance. Many programs also prefer or mandate that a donor has completed some education beyond high school.
The Donor Application and Screening Phase
The process begins with an initial online eligibility questionnaire, followed by a detailed application gathering personal, medical, and family health history spanning at least three generations. This documentation helps identify any inheritable genetic conditions. If approved, the candidate progresses to a comprehensive screening phase involving medical and psychological assessments.
The initial medical vetting includes blood work to screen for infectious diseases, drug use, and hormone levels such as Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), which indicates ovarian reserve. A physical examination is also performed, including a transvaginal ultrasound to assess the ovaries and confirm the antral follicle count, which estimates the number of eggs that may be retrieved.
The psychological evaluation is mandatory, often including a structured personality test like the MMPI or PAI, along with counseling with a licensed mental health professional. This assessment ensures the donor is emotionally prepared for the commitment and fully understands the implications of the donation process.
The Medical Procedure: Stimulation and Retrieval
Once medically and psychologically cleared, the donor begins the ovarian stimulation phase, which typically lasts between 10 and 14 days. This involves administering daily injections of fertility medications, such as Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), to encourage the ovaries to mature multiple follicles simultaneously. The donor may also receive medications like leuprorelin or ganirelix to prevent premature ovulation.
Throughout the stimulation period, the donor must attend frequent monitoring appointments, which include blood tests and transvaginal ultrasounds. These checks allow the medical team to track the growth of the follicles and adjust medication dosages to maximize egg production and minimize the risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). Precise timing is paramount once the follicles reach the appropriate size.
The final step before retrieval is the “trigger shot,” an injection of human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), which is administered exactly 36 hours before the procedure. This hormone causes the eggs to undergo their final maturation and detach from the follicle walls, preparing them for collection.
The retrieval itself is a minor surgical procedure called transvaginal ultrasound aspiration, performed under light sedation. A thin needle is guided through the vaginal wall, using ultrasound imaging, to gently suction the fluid and mature eggs from each follicle. The procedure generally takes between 15 and 30 minutes, and the donor is monitored in a recovery area for about an hour afterward before returning home.
Compensation and Legal Framework
Compensation is provided for the donor’s time, effort, and commitment. Standard compensation for a single completed cycle in the United States typically ranges from $8,000 to $15,000, varying based on location, agency, and donor characteristics.
The payment structure is divided: a small portion is disbursed upon starting injectable medications, and the full balance is paid after retrieval. All medical expenses, travel costs, and associated fees are covered by the intended parents or the agency, ensuring the donor incurs no financial burden.
The legal framework requires the donor to sign an Egg Donation Agreement, a legally binding contract. This contract outlines the donor’s explicit waiver of all parental rights and responsibilities to any child conceived using her eggs, establishing the intended parents as the sole legal parents.