How to become a strong egg donor candidate

Understandably, there are many required qualifications to donate eggs. After all, egg donation helps intended parents bring a new life into the world, and the smallest details can have a large impact. In addition to the basic requirements for every egg donor, there are other qualities that make for a great egg donor candidate. Take a look to see if you qualify for egg donation.

Health Qualifications for Egg Donation

To protect the health and well-being of the donors, intended parents, and donor-conceived children, egg donors must be between 21-29 years old, be in good physical and mental health, and meet certain behavioral criteria. Egg donors cannot use tobacco, nicotine, or illicit drugs. Donors must also be financially stable, and able to provide a full family medical history. These requirements are non-negotiable, as they keep everyone safe.

If you meet these initial requirements, there are some other qualifications for donating eggs to keep in mind.

Egg Donation Time Commitment

Donating eggs involves screening tests, medical appointments, a few weeks of medications, and a minor procedure to retrieve the eggs. While we do our best to work with our donors’ schedules, some of the steps in the egg donation process are time sensitive and must happen at a specific date or time. As you consider the qualifications to donate eggs, think about your schedule. You need the flexibility to meet your required appointments and take at least a day off for the egg retrieval.

Note: donating with an egg bank takes less time than donating with a donor agency. With an agency, an intended parent must choose you before you can begin the donation process. This can take months, with no guarantee of being matched. At an egg bank, eggs are frozen after retrieval, so you can start the process with your first period after being accepted as a donor. At our partner egg bank, SIMPLIFY, donating takes about two months from submitting your application to egg retrieval.

Understanding the Impact of Egg Donation

Becoming an egg donor is a major decision, and can’t be taken lightly. While egg donors do not have any parental rights and responsibilities, you must be secure with the knowledge that you will have a genetic relative in the world who you may never know. On the other hand, you should also be comfortable with the idea that a donor-conceived child might contact you once they become an adult. With easy at-home genetic testing, there’s no such thing as anonymous egg donation anymore. These are complex questions, and it’s important to consider them carefully. Fully understanding the process and what it means is an important qualification to donate eggs. If you have any questions, we’re happy to discuss them with you.

Bonus Qualifications to Donate Eggs

In general, intended parents tend to look for donors with some level of higher education (either with a college degree or currently seeking one), with interests and accomplishments. Much in the same way that extracurricular activities can round out a college application, having varied hobbies, passions, and achievements gives intended parents more opportunities to connect with your egg donor profile.

More important than checking off a bunch of boxes, though, is communicating who you are in your profile. Choosing an egg donor is an emotional experience for intended parents. Some parents look for donors that physically resemble themselves. Others might prefer a donor egg from someone who shares their passion for soccer, or loves reading. Of course, there’s never a guarantee even in families with shared genetics that children will have their parent’s interests. Still, finding a donor with similar personality traits helps some intended parents feel connected as they decide. So, the ability to clearly describe who you are and what you love is a bonus qualification for egg donation.

Egg Donors Change Lives

Not everyone meets the qualifications to donate eggs, but those who do are truly special. Egg donors give intended parents the chance to build a much-beloved family. If you meet the basic requirements and feel strongly about helping intended parents, we encourage you to apply.