Egg donation is a significant medical and personal undertaking where a woman provides her oocytes to help an individual or couple achieve pregnancy. Due to the health implications for the donor, recipient, and resulting child, clinics maintain extremely high eligibility standards. These requirements maximize the chance of a successful outcome while minimizing medical and genetic risks. Prospective donors must navigate a multi-stage screening process examining physical health, genetic background, psychological readiness, and commitment to the medical protocol.
Physical and Demographic Eligibility Criteria
Initial screening focuses on demographic and physical metrics that influence egg quality and procedural safety. Age is a defining factor, with most programs requiring donors to be between 21 and 29 years old, though some accept candidates up to 34. This narrow window ensures the highest number of high-quality eggs, which directly impacts the procedure’s success rates.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a stringent physical requirement, often capped around 28. This restriction is implemented because a BMI outside a healthy range can complicate the medical process and affect the body’s response to hormonal stimulation medications. Non-smoking status and the complete absence of recreational or illicit drug use are mandatory, as these substances negatively impact ovarian function and egg viability. Candidates must demonstrate good physical health, confirming they are fit enough to undergo the regimen of hormone injections and the subsequent surgical retrieval procedure.
Comprehensive Medical and Genetic Screening
Once physical criteria are met, candidates proceed to an intensive medical and genetic evaluation phase. A detailed review of personal and family medical history, often spanning three generations, is conducted to identify patterns of inherited conditions like certain cancers, heart disease, or psychiatric issues. This comprehensive history flags potential genetic predispositions that could be passed on through the donated eggs.
Infectious disease screening is performed in compliance with regulatory bodies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which mandates testing for communicable diseases. This involves blood tests for pathogens such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. The goal is to prevent the transmission of infectious agents through the donated tissue, ensuring the health and safety of the recipients and the offspring.
Genetic carrier testing is a significant component of screening, identifying whether a donor carries genes for serious inherited disorders, even if she shows no symptoms. Donors are screened for common conditions like Cystic Fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, and spinal muscular atrophy. The results allow the medical team to select a donor whose genetic profile is compatible with the sperm provider, significantly reducing the risk of the resulting child inheriting a genetic condition.
The final medical assessment involves the donor’s ovarian reserve, which indicates her potential to produce a sufficient number of eggs during the stimulation cycle. This is done through blood tests and imaging, specifically measuring the Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) level and performing an Antral Follicle Count (AFC). AMH provides an estimate of the remaining egg supply. The AFC uses a transvaginal ultrasound to count resting follicles, which helps predict how the ovaries will respond to fertility medication. These markers, along with age, estimate the expected yield of eggs, optimizing the chance of a successful cycle for the intended parents.
Psychological Assessment and Procedural Commitment
Beyond physical health, requirements extend to a rigorous evaluation of the candidate’s mental and emotional preparedness. A mandatory psychological evaluation, conducted by a licensed mental health professional specializing in third-party reproduction, ensures the donor fully understands the long-term implications of her decision. This assessment adheres to guidelines set by organizations like the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and involves a clinical interview and standardized psychological testing.
The evaluation assesses the donor’s motivation, emotional stability, and coping mechanisms to ensure she is mentally equipped to handle the physical and emotional demands of the process. Tools such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) or the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) may be utilized to gain insight into the donor’s personality traits and identify mental health conditions. The psychologist also confirms that the donor has a realistic understanding of her lack of legal and parental rights to any resulting children.
A donor must demonstrate a high level of commitment to the entire cycle, which is a significant time investment. This includes being available for frequent, often early morning, monitoring appointments involving blood tests and ultrasounds over several weeks. The donor must also be prepared to administer daily injectable hormonal medications precisely as prescribed, requiring strict adherence to the medical protocol. Finally, the donor is required to obtain legal counsel and sign contracts detailing her rights, responsibilities, compensation, and agreements regarding future contact or anonymity.