Egg Donation Disqualifications: 5 Things to Know

Helping someone else build a family by donating her eggs is something that only a select few women feel called to do. And while it’s a noble gesture to even consider egg donation, not everyone will meet the stringent criteria. You might be wondering if you’ve got what it takes to be an egg donor. Here are 5 things to know about egg donor disqualifications.

1. What are all the requirements to donate your eggs?

There are several primary requirements that must be met in order for you to donate eggs. Medical requirements must be met to ensure the best possible outcome, and they are non-negotiable.

Between 21-28 years of age
BMI under 28
Have regular monthly periods
No reproductive disorders or abnormalities
Physically and emotionally healthy
Non-nicotine user, non-smoker, non-drug user; no vaping or psychotropic drug use
Not currently on the Depo-Provera shot
Not currently using the Implanon/Nexplanom arm implant

In addition, a donor must be:

Willing to be under consideration for 6 months
Willing and able to respond to communication within 24 hours

2. What disqualifies you from donating eggs?

A number of factors are taken into consideration when a candidate submits an egg donor application. As mentioned previously, age is important. If a candidate is much older or younger than the required age range, she is more likely to yield poor quality, or aneuploid, eggs. These eggs have an abnormal number of chromosomes and cannot develop into viable embryos.

Other key factors that disqualify you from donating eggs are medical and mental health history. While no one’s family health history is completely clean, certain diseases and disorders will prevent an applicant from moving forward. Genetic testing during the medical workup can uncover such conditions. While it’s always disappointing when a cycle is cancelled, it is also important information for the donor to have.

Something else to keep in mind? Your level of commitment. Due to the time sensitive nature of egg donation, donors must be responsible, communicative and respectful of appointments and schedules. Consider your ability to make the donor cycle a priority; unresponsiveness is one of the most common egg donor disqualifications.

3. Is contraception important?

Yes! Contraception is crucial, in fact, both to the success of the donor cycle and for your own safety. Applicants are asked what kind of contraception they are using. This is important for a number of reasons.

Donor candidates using a method of contraception that does not allow for regular monthly menstruation are ineligible. Certain pills, IUDs and implants alter hormones, which can have a negative impact on the cycle. Without a regular period, it is also not possible to track and sync with the intended mother or gestational carrier prior to the retrieval. A candidate who is not currently on birth control will be instructed to take it during the donor process.
Donors who are not using contraception (or are having unprotected sex) are at a higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases. STD testing is part of a donor’s medical workup, and it is critical that she remain STD free for the duration of her participation in the program.
While taking the required injectable medications prior to retrieval, a donor is extremely fertile. The medication induces a larger number of follicles than the body would normally produce, which means that the risk of pregnancy is much higher. To prevent this, donors must abstain from intercourse during the medication phase of the process until she gets her next period after the egg retrieval.

4. Are financial factors considered?

While a donor applicant’s personal financial situation has no bearing on her ability to become an egg donor, there are a few things to keep in mind. Donors may be responsible for IUD removal if one is implanted. They are responsible for providing results from a current pap smear (within the last 12 months) as well as local transportation to and from appointments. There are no other financial expectations of the donor; all testing, medication and travel costs will be covered or reimbursed.

5. Is it possible to reapply to be an egg donor?

It depends. If there were certain circumstances (such as availability or method of birth control) that caused your application to be rejected, you may be considered down the line. Other factors, such as family medical history or an unsuccessful egg donation cycle, would make a donor ineligible to reapply. If you are a previous donor who receives approval from the fertility clinic to donate again, you can certainly reapply!

Here at ConceiveAbilities, we are looking for women who are healthy, open and ready to commit to helping create a family. If you meet that criteria and are ready to give the gift of a lifetime, we would love to meet you! Contact our egg donor team to take the next step.