Everything You Need to Know About Egg Donor Requirements
Donating eggs is one of the most generous gifts that a woman can give to fertility-challenged and LGBT+ families. It is literally a gift of life. Egg donation is most successful when the donor is physically and emotionally healthy. As such, it’s essential for prospective candidates to undergo a rigorous screening process.
While the requirements may seem strict, it’s this adherence to strictness that ensures that the egg donation process will yield healthy and safe results for both intended parents and egg donors.
FDA Requirements
Some egg donor requirements are regulated by the FDA, which is responsible for setting federal standards for all donor tissue programs, including donor eggs.
The FDA’s main focus is centered on preventing the spread of infectious diseases, specifically:
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), types 1 and 2
- Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
- Treponema pallidum (i.e., syphilis)
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Neisseria gonorrhea
In accordance with federal regulations, egg donation centers are required to review all relevant medical records for potential donor candidates, which includes a current physical examination and an updated medical history.
Health and Lifestyle
To qualify as a candidate, a number of physical factors need to be considered. For example, egg donors must be between the ages of 20 and 29 years old. This is because women in this age range are more likely to have a healthy ovarian reserve and high-quality eggs. Candidates must also maintain a healthy lifestyle. For example, being a smoker or having an unhealthy BMI can have a negative impact on egg quality.
Other physical requirements are more situational. For instance, at WCED, we don’t allow candidates who have been recently exposed to the Zika virus to initiate a donation cycle.
Additionally, egg donor candidates must undergo a psychiatric evaluation and demonstrate emotional and psychological well-being. This is to ensure that not only does the egg donor understand both the risks and benefits of the process, but also that her motivations for becoming an egg donor are appropriate.
Adhering to these requirements gives the donated egg the best possible chance of resulting in a healthy pregnancy, while also taking the donor’s health and safety into consideration.
Logistics and Other Considerations
Egg donor candidates must be willing to adhere to logistical requirements, such as being available for a certain number of appointments and being willing to commit to being listed with WCED as an egg donor for a minimum of six months. There are also some requirements that not everyone initially considers, such as being comfortable with taking injectable medication, traveling outside of the state of residence or traveling long distances within the state.
Becoming an Egg Donor at West Coast Egg Donation
At West Coast Egg Donation, it’s important to us that we honor both our intended parents and egg donors as they navigate this glorious journey. While expectations are high, it is because we want to ensure that the experience is positive for everyone involved.
To learn more about becoming an egg donor with WCED, please contact us.
