Is one of your New Years’ resolutions to become an egg donor in 2024? It’s likely that you have some questions…and you’ve come to the right spot for some answers. At Extraordinary Conceptions, we have been helping families bring children into the world through the helping hand of surrogacy and egg donation for nearly two decades. We have all the answers and information you need to know before you begin your egg donor process.

Today, we’re covering some of the most frequently asked questions we heard. Hopefully, this can help clear up any questions or concerns you have about egg donation before beginning your application. If you come away with any more questions, please contact our team—we would love to hear from you.

Is Egg Donation Painful?

The egg donation process involves several steps which might cause physical discomfort, but typically, it is not regarded as very painful.

Before a donor undergoes her egg retrieval procedure, she will be expected to take certain medications in order to stimulate egg development. This medication is usually taken by daily injection. While this is not especially painful, it is uncomfortable and can be challenging for those with a fear of needles.

The egg donation retrieval is minimally invasive and typically, donors will be given a mild sedative for the procedure. While it may not be incredibly painful, many do report post-procedural cramping, and bruising at the needle site.

Can You Still Get Pregnant After Donating Eggs?

Many of our potential egg donors have not yet had children themselves, yet plan to eventually. Because of this, we are often asked if egg donors can become pregnant when they are ready to have children. Our answer is yes, most egg donors (without other existing fertility issues) have no problem conceiving. However, there are some rare risks to know about before deciding to become a donor. There is a possibility that egg donation procedure can lead to organ damage which may cause complications like infertility.  This risk is very rare, but it is important for future egg donors to consider.

How Does Egg Donation Affect Fertility?

All egg donors are required to take fertility medications ahead of their procedure in order to stimulate egg development. These drugs directly affect your fertility, though it’s typically not permanent. For example, egg donation agencies request that their donors refrain from heterosexual intercourse while they are in the medication phase of their procedure, as it can easily lead to unplanned pregnancy. (This will cause your donor agreement to be severed.)

As we mentioned above, there is a small chance of infertility as a result of egg donation. This risk is specifically tied to the retrieval procedure itself. In very rare cases, the retrieval procedure can cause changes to the pelvic organs, which can lead to infertility and other gynecological issues.

What are the Main Egg Donor Requirements?

There are several concrete egg donor requirements, though some specifics may vary depending on what agency you go through and where you live. At Extraordinary Conceptions, all US-based donors must meet the following requirements:

  • All donors must be between the ages of 18 and 29
  • All donors must have a BMI of 30 or less
  • Donors cannot smoke, vape, or use recreational drugs.  (Once you’ve quit smoking tobacco for over two months.)
  • All donors must be in good health and not currently using Depo Provera
  • Donors cannot have any history of genetically transmitted diseases,  STDs over the past year, or history of HIV/AIDS
  • Donors cannot currently be breastfeeding—but you can apply once your baby is weaned.

What is the Egg Donation Age Limit?

Currently, egg donors must be over the age of 18. This is because anyone younger than 18 is not legally considered an adult, and cannot enter into the contract required to be an egg donor. Donors over the age of 29 will also not be considered at this time. While we are well-aware that women in their 30s are very fertile and have healthy eggs, this age limit has been set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. If women older than 30 would like to help a family struggling with infertility, we recommend looking into surrogacy, as the age limit is much higher.

How Do I Match With a Family?

At Extraordinary Conceptions, our team helps donors every step of the way—once your application has been completed and you have been prequalified, you’ll go on our international database which is viewable to intended parents only. When a family shows interest, our team will contact you. We’ll be by your side the entire process.