Cryobank
Donor Database
Egg donation
How to Become an Egg Donor: Complete Guide and Answers from NGC Clinic Doctors
If you're considering becoming an egg donor, you're thinking about one of the most meaningful ways to help others build their families. This comprehensive guide addresses the questions most potential donors ask: What does the process actually involve? Will it hurt? How will it affect my life and future fertility?
As someone who has guided hundreds of donors through this process, I want to give you honest, complete information so you can make the best decision for yourself.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
According to current ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) guidelines [1], ideal egg donors should meet these criteria:
Age Requirements:
- Between 21 and 34 years old (preferred range)
- Some programs accept donors 18-21 with psychological evaluation
- Donors over 34 require special disclosure about age-related risks
NGC recruits donors between 21-30 years of age.
Health Requirements:
- BMI between 18.5-24.9 (varies by program)
- Non-smoker
- No history of drug use
- Very limited alcohol consumption
- No history of sexually transmitted infections
Medical History:
- No personal or family history of genetic disorders
- No history of certain mental health conditions
- No previous cancer diagnosis
- Healthy reproductive history
Lifestyle Factors:
- Reliable and responsible
- Able to commit to 2-3 months of visits
- Available for multiple clinic visits
- Psychologically prepared for the process
Step 1: Initial Application and Consultation (1-2 weeks)
What happens:
- ObGyn assessment (pelvic scan)
- Laboratory tests for infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis, syphilis)
- Hormone level assessment (AMH)
- Karyotyping
Time commitment: several hours total
Your questions answered: Process overview, timeline
Step 2: Comprehensive Medical and Psychological Screening (2-4 weeks)
Medical screening includes:
- Complete physical examination
- Specialist appointments and screenings
- Genetic carrier screening test
- Psychiatrist and addiction specialist screening
Psychological evaluation:
- Assessment by qualified mental health professional
- Discussion of motivations and expectations
- Counseling about emotional aspects of donation
Time commitment: 4-6 clinic visits over 2-4 weeks
Cost: All screening provided at no cost to you
Step 3: Matching and Legal Process (1-2 weeks)
What happens:
- Profile creation (if you pass screening)
- Invitation to a program (if you haven't been matched with a patient, your eggs will be reserved for NGC's large cryobank)
- Final medical clearance and initiation of ovarian stimulation
Important: You maintain anonymity.
Step 4: Hormone Stimulation Phase (10-14 days)
This is the most intensive part of the process.
Daily medications:
- Birth control pills initially to synchronize cycle (in some cases)
- Self-administered hormone injections (very thin needles)
- Fertility medications to stimulate multiple egg development
Monitoring visits (4-6 appointments):
- Transvaginal ultrasounds to track follicle growth
- Blood tests to monitor hormone levels
- Medication adjustments as needed
What you might experience:
- PMS-like symptoms (bloating, breast tenderness, mood changes)
- Mild abdominal discomfort as ovaries enlarge
- Fatigue or headaches
- Weight gain (2-5 pounds from fluid retention)
Step 5: Egg Retrieval Procedure (1 day)
The procedure:
- 15-20 minute outpatient procedure
- IV sedation (twilight anesthesia) - you won't remember anything
- Ultrasound-guided needle retrieval through vaginal wall
- Recovery time: 1-2 hours in clinic
Preparation:
- No food or drink after midnight
- Arrange someone to drive you home
- Take the day off work/school
Recovery expectations:
- Mild cramping similar to menstrual cramps
- Possible spotting for 24-48 hours
- Return to normal activities in 1-2 days
- Avoid heavy lifting or intense exercise for one week
Step 6: Recovery and Follow-up
Immediate recovery:
- Resume normal activities within 24-48 hours
- Your next menstrual period should arrive 1-2 weeks later
- One follow-up appointment to ensure normal recovery
Compensation: Provided after successful completion of retrieval
Is It Painful? What Will I Actually Feel?
During hormone injections: The injections use very thin needles (similar to insulin syringes) and most donors describe them as a minor pinch. Some experience slight bruising at injection sites, but significant pain is rare.
During stimulation phase: You may experience symptoms similar to PMS:
- Mild to moderate bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Headaches
How Much Time Will This Take? Do I Need to Take Time Off?
Total time commitment: 2-3 months from start to finish
Time off work/school needed:
- ~3-4 monitoring appointments during stimulation
- 1 full day for egg retrieval
- Possibly 1-2 additional recovery days
Daily time commitment:
- Daily injections: 5-10 minutes
- Some donors schedule injections for evening to minimize life disruption
Will This Affect My Future Fertility?
This is the most common concern among potential donors, and the scientific answer is reassuring.
The science: Each month, your body naturally recruits 15-20 eggs for potential ovulation. Only one usually matures and is released; the others are naturally lost. Egg donation medications help more of those "recruited" eggs mature instead of being wasted [3].
Research findings:
- No evidence that egg donation affects future fertility
- Donors go on to have healthy pregnancies at normal rates
- The donation process doesn't "use up" your eggs faster than normal
- Your ovarian reserve remains unchanged
What Are the Real Health Risks?
It's important to understand both the risks and their actual likelihood:
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS):
- Occurs in 1-2% of all cycles [4]
- Mild cases: bloating, discomfort (resolve in days)
- Severe cases: require monitoring, very rare (<1%)
- Modern protocols have significantly reduced severe OHSS
Procedure-related risks:
- Bleeding: rare, usually minor spotting
- Infection: less than 1% risk
- Injury to surrounding organs: extremely rare
- Anesthesia reactions: standard surgical risk
Long-term risks:
- No proven increased cancer risk [5]
- No evidence of premature menopause
- No impact on future pregnancy outcomes
How Much Compensation Do Donors Receive?
ASRM guidelines emphasize that compensation should reflect time, inconvenience, and discomfort rather than "payment for eggs" [6].
Typical compensation ranges:
- First-time donors: up to 80 000 RUR
- Experienced donors: from 100 000 RUR
- Premium donors: from 150 000 RUR
Payment structure:
- Paid after successful completion of retrieval
- All medical screening provided at no cost
Important considerations:
- Payment shouldn't be the primary motivation
- Consider the time investment when evaluating compensation
Will My Identity Be Protected?
Anonymity protections:
- Donors and recipients never meet
- Personal identifying information not shared
- Medical records kept confidential
- Legal protections in place
What recipients know about you:
- Your appearance (childhood and adult photos)
- Biometrics (height, weight, hair/eye color)
- Educational background
- Information about your relatives
- General medical history
- Personality questionnaire responses
What you won't know:
- Recipient's identity
- Whether treatment was successful
- Information about any resulting children
Future considerations:
- Some adult donor-conceived children may seek information about donors
- Consider your comfort level with potential future contact
What Are My Legal Rights and Responsibilities?
Before you begin:
- Legal consultation provided by clinic
- Contract clearly outlines all parties' rights
- No ongoing parental rights or responsibilities
- No financial obligations for resulting children
During the process:
- Obligation to follow medical instructions
- Responsibility to update clinic about health changes
- Commitment to complete the cycle once started
After donation:
- No legal connection to any resulting children
- No ongoing obligations to recipients
- Recommendation to inform clinic of significant health changes
Can I Donate Multiple Times?
ASRM recommendations:
- Maximum of 6 donation cycles per donor
- Limit is for safety, not because of proven harm
- Many donors complete 2-3 successful cycles
Considerations for repeat donation:
- Your ovaries need time to recover between cycles
- Each cycle carries the same small risks
- Psychological evaluation is repeated
- Same screening requirements each time
Time between cycles:
- Usually 2-3 months minimum
- Depends on your recovery and clinic schedule
- Regular monitoring of your health status
What to Look for in a Donation Program
Medical expertise:
- Board-certified reproductive endocrinologists
- Experienced nursing staff specialized in donor care
- Modern laboratory and surgical facilities
- Low complication rates
Comprehensive support:
- Thorough screening and counseling
- 24/7 availability for questions or concerns
- Clear communication about process and expectations
- Respect for your time and dignity
Ethical practices:
- Fair compensation policies
- Transparent consent process
- Appropriate limits on number of donations
- Compliance with ASRM and FDA guidelines
NGC Clinic's Commitment to Donor Safety and Support
Our approach:
- Individualized care for each donor
- Conservative stimulation protocols to minimize OHSS risk
- Experienced team with thousands of successful cycles
- Comprehensive support throughout your journey
Our track record:
- Less than 1% severe complication rate
- High donor satisfaction scores
- Many donors choose to cycle with us multiple times
- Strong relationships with legal and psychological professionals
Before You Apply
Self-reflection questions:
- Are you motivated by a genuine desire to help others?
- Can you commit 2-3 months to the process?
- Are you comfortable with the medical procedures involved?
- Do you have adequate support from family/friends?
- Are you prepared for the time commitment?
Practical preparation:
- Ensure you can attend multiple weekday morning appointments
- Arrange reliable transportation to clinic
- Plan for one day off for retrieval procedure
- Consider your work/school schedule during stimulation phase
Starting Your Application
What you'll need:
- Detailed personal and family medical history
- Information about your education and background
- Current contact information
- Reliable communication method
Next steps:
- Complete our online application
- Schedule initial consultation call
- Begin medical screening process (if eligible)
- Review legal agreements
- Start your donation cycle
Questions to Ask During Consultation
Don't hesitate to ask detailed questions about:
- Clinic's experience and success rates
- Specific protocols they use
- Their approach to minimizing risks
- Support available during the process
- What happens if you need to withdraw
- Compensation structure and timing
This process might be right for you if:
- You want to help others build families
- You meet the medical and psychological criteria
- You can commit to the time requirements
- You're comfortable with the medical procedures
- You have realistic expectations about compensation and outcomes
Consider waiting or choosing differently if:
- You're primarily motivated by financial need
- You're uncomfortable with any aspect of the process
- You can't commit to the full timeline
- You have concerns about future anonymity
- You're dealing with other significant life stresses
