Egg Donation Process and Compensation FAQ
Commonly Asked Questions and Answers about Egg Donor Process
- How old do I have to be to donate my eggs?
We require our egg donors to be between the ages of 21 to 34 years of age, though exceptions are occasionally made for women between ages 18 to 21 and 34 to 35. - How much will I get paid for my time and services?
Our current compensation for your time, commitment and services is $8,000 at our CHR-New York program for a completed egg donation cycle (i.e. retrieval of eggs). If your cycle is canceled due to no fault of your own, compensation is $1,000. - What is the egg donation process like?
The egg donation process starts with an application. Once you are approved as a donor after a series of interviews and tests, you will be matched with a recipient. The egg donation cycle itself usually takes about 3-4 weeks, and involves self-injections with hormonal medications to help your ovaries produce multiple eggs. During this phase, you will have frequent office visits to monitor your progress. When our physicians determine that your eggs are ready for ovulation, you will trigger ovulation with a different type of injection, and egg retrieval is performed on the next day. For more details, please see our "what to expect" page. - What side effects will I experience (if any) from taking fertility medication?
Most egg donors go through the process with no side effects; however, some may feel bloating, weight gain, pelvic discomfort or moodiness. - How will egg donation affect my personal lifestyle?
Once on fertility drugs, you need to ensure that you have protected sexual intercourse for that month as well as the month following egg donation. From start to finish, you will generally have 10-12 doctor visits; the majority of these visits occur during the two weeks prior to egg retrieval. As these visits take place early in the morning, it is recommended that you live in or near New York, NY, where CHR is located. - Will I be more or less fertile after egg donation?
You will be more fertile in the month following egg donation. After one month, you will return to your normal fertility status. - How does egg donation affect my fertility in the future?
Egg donation does not appear to have any long-term effects on your fertility. - What are some of the medical risks or other medical complications that may occur if I donate my eggs?
Egg retrieval is always performed under ultrasound guidance. However, there is always a risk that a needle may puncture surrounding tissue or organs causing injury, bleeding and/or infection. There is also a small risk (less than 5%) of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. During ovarian hyperstimulation, the ovaries become enlarged and fluid may collect in the abdominal cavity causing bloating; a weight gain of 5-10 pounds and severe pelvic pain may occur. Hospitalization may be required if ovarian hyperstimulation progresses to a severe state. In addition, certain studies have suggested that some ovulation drugs are associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer; research in this area is ongoing, however, and more recent data refutes such a risk. - How long does the egg donation process take?
The egg donation process from treatment start to retrieval takes approximately one month. The egg retrieval itself takes minutes. - Will the couple who receives my eggs ever find out who I am?
If you sign up for the anonymous egg donation process, the couple will not find out who you are. They will know characteristics about you, but not your name or any other information that could lead to your identification. - What is involved with taking infertility medication?
The medications you will need to take are injectables. You will be required to give yourself injections one time per day for the first two weeks of the egg donation process and two times per day for the second two weeks. CHR nurses will teach you how to self-inject safely and are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions. - Will I be put under general anesthesia for egg retrieval?
We use intravenous (IV) sedation, which is administered by a nurse anesthesiologist. Occasionally, you may experience the following short-term side effects: nausea, vomiting, sleepiness. Therefore, we instruct you to rest for 24 hours after egg donation. You are also required to be picked up by somebody after the egg donation and mustn't drive for 24 hours. - How many eggs does the average donor produce?
Egg production depends on the individual and how they respond to the medication; the number of eggs produced by a donor can be as low as five and as high as 35 or more. - Will I experience a lot of pain or bleeding after egg retrieval?
No. You may experience some discomfort similar to menstrual cramps which may include the following: bloating, spotting, abdominal cramping. - How long will I have to be away from work or school after the egg retrieval?
We recommend modified bed rest at home for 24 hours after egg donation. - How long will it take for my body to return to normal after egg retrieval?
You should anticipate a menstrual period within 10 days after you donate. Following the next menstrual cycle, your body should be back to normal. - How often can I donate?
We allow up to four donations, each at least three months apart.
Learn more about our Egg Donation New York City program. If you have any additional questions, Contact us about our Egg Donor Program.
Last Updated: January 25, 2012
