Should I Donate My Eggs?

Questions to consider before applying to be an egg donor

Maybe you’ve seen an article or ad about egg donation and asked yourself, “Should I donate my eggs?” Donating eggs is a wonderful gift to the intended parent(s). It is also a big, complex decision, and not something to be taken lightly. If you’re wondering if egg donation is right for you, this article will go through a few questions to explore before applying.

1) Do I Meet The Basic Requirements For Egg Donation?

This might seem obvious, but the first step in considering if you should be an egg donor is making sure you meet the initial requirements. Egg donor requirements are pretty strict, as they are designed to protect the health and safety of the donor, recipient, and any resulting children. Donors must meet age and BMI criteria, cannot use illicit drugs, tobacco, or nicotine products, and must be in a financially and emotionally stable living situation. Donors must also provide a detailed family medical history. If you do not meet any of these requirements, then you will not be accepted as an egg donor.

2) Can I Commit To The Egg Donation Process?

While we try to make the donation process as convenient as possible for our donors, there are certain required commitments along the way. The process takes about two months from application to egg retrieval, and involves a series of screening tests and frequent medical appointments, including gynecological exams (all of our medical procedures are done at Pacific Northwest Fertility, our partner clinic). The donation process itself involves regular self-injections of hormone medication, and the retrieval, while brief, involves general anesthesia, and you will have to take at least a day off from work or class. Donors must also abstain from sexual intercourse during the donation process. While you consider if you should be an egg donor, ask yourself if you are willing and able to commit to these responsibilities, and if you have a strong support system to help you along the way.

3) Am I Comfortable With the Idea That I Will Not Know the Donor-Conceived Child?

If you meet the general requirements and can fulfill the responsibilities of an egg donor, great! The next two questions are at the emotional heart of egg donation. As an egg donor, you will not have any parental rights or responsibilities for any resulting children. Most donor egg programs have closed donations, meaning the donor and recipient do not meet, and limited identifying information is shared. When deciding if you should donate your eggs, you must decide if you can accept knowing that you have a genetic relative in the world, without any contact with them.

4) Am I Comfortable With the Idea That the Donor-Conceived Child Might Contact Me?

On the other hand, we’ve written extensively about how truly anonymous egg donation doesn’t exist anymore. Easy access to at-home genetic testing means it’s very possible that the donor-conceived child might be able to identify you as their donor and reach out as an adult. Additionally, there is a growing belief that donor-conceived children have a right to know their donor’s medical history, and some states have legislation to that end. In Washington state, for instance, donor-conceived children can access their donor’s name and medical history when they turn 18 (unless the donor opts out beforehand). So, while there is no guarantee that a donor-conceived child will or won’t contact you, you should be prepared for both possibilities while you consider if you should donate your eggs.

If this seems complex–it’s because it is! Donating your eggs is, quite literally, giving the gift of life, so it’s no surprise that it’s an important decision worth considering carefully. If you can answer “yes” to all these questions, then you may be a great candidate for egg donation. If you still have questions about whether you should donate your eggs, that’s also completely understandable, and we’re here to help – reach out to us today.