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Egg Donor Requirements
Do you qualify to donate eggs?
Most healthy women between 21 and 29 meet our basic requirements. Here's everything we look for — and what to do if you're not sure.
Quick Assessment
Could you be an egg donor?
A quick look at the basics. If most of these apply to you, you're likely a great candidate.
I'm between 21 and 29 years old
My BMI is between 18 and 28
I don't smoke or use nicotine products
I don't use recreational drugs
I have regular menstrual cycles
I'm in good overall physical and mental health
I'm a U.S. citizen or legal resident
If you checked most of these boxes, you likely qualify. Keep reading for the full details — or skip ahead and apply now.
Full Requirements
What we look for
Every requirement exists for a medical or legal reason. Here's what each one means — and why it matters.
Age: 21–29 Years Old
Egg quality and quantity are highest during your twenties, which gives intended parents the best chance of a successful pregnancy. The minimum age of 21 ensures donors can provide legal consent for the process. Some agencies accept donors up to 30 or 31 — if you're close to 30, we encourage you to apply and we'll evaluate on a case-by-case basis.
BMI: Between 18 and 28
A healthy BMI indicates that your body will respond well to fertility medications and that the egg retrieval procedure can be performed safely. BMI is calculated using your height and weight. If you're slightly outside this range, don't assume you're disqualified — apply and we'll discuss your specific situation during screening.
Non-Smoker
Smoking and nicotine use — including vaping, e-cigarettes, and nicotine patches — negatively affect egg quality and can compromise the donation cycle. You must be completely nicotine-free. If you've recently quit, talk to us about timing — the key is that you're nicotine-free throughout the donation cycle.
No Recreational Drug Use
Recreational drug use, including marijuana, is not permitted during the egg donation process. Drug screening is part of the medical evaluation. Prescription medications used as directed by your doctor are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
U.S. Citizen or Legal Resident
Due to legal and contractual requirements, egg donors must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. This ensures all legal agreements are enforceable and that you can complete the process without immigration-related complications.
Regular Menstrual Cycles
Regular periods indicate healthy ovarian function, which is essential for a successful donation cycle. If you use hormonal birth control, that's fine — we'll evaluate your baseline cycle during the screening process. Irregular periods don't automatically disqualify you, but they'll be discussed during your medical evaluation.
Good Physical and Mental Health
You should be in generally good health with no significant chronic conditions. A history of serious mental health conditions, particularly those requiring hospitalization, may affect eligibility. Current use of certain psychiatric medications — including some antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications — is evaluated individually. If you take medication for a mental health condition, apply and we'll discuss your specific situation during screening rather than assuming you're disqualified.
Both Ovaries Intact
Both ovaries must be present and functional for the egg donation process. If you've had ovarian surgery, cysts removed, or other procedures, you may still qualify — this is assessed during medical screening.
No History of Hereditary Genetic Diseases
Egg donors undergo genetic screening to minimize the risk of passing hereditary conditions to children born from donated eggs. A family history of certain conditions — such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or Huntington's disease — may affect eligibility depending on whether you carry the gene.
Stand Out
What makes your profile stand out
These aren't requirements — they're qualities that intended parents often look for when selecting an egg donor. Having them may increase your match rate and your compensation.
College Education or Enrollment
Many intended parents value education in a donor's profile. If you're currently enrolled in or have completed college, this is often a positive factor in matching.
Previous Successful Donation
Experienced donors with a proven track record are in high demand. If you've completed a previous egg donation cycle, you may qualify for higher compensation ($10,000–$15,000+).
Specific Ethnic Backgrounds
Intended parents often seek donors who share their ethnic or cultural background. Donors from diverse ethnic backgrounds are frequently in high demand.
Athletic, Artistic, or Academic Achievement
Intended parents sometimes look for donors with notable achievements — varsity athletics, musical talent, strong academic records, or professional accomplishments. These factors can increase your compensation and match speed.
High AMH Levels
AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) indicates ovarian reserve — essentially, how many eggs you're likely to produce. High AMH levels are tested during screening and can significantly increase your value as a donor. You won't know this until screening, so don't worry about it when applying.
Good to Know
Common disqualifiers
We want to be upfront about situations that typically prevent egg donation. If any of these apply, egg donation may not be right for you at this time.
Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Active smoker or nicotine user unwilling to quit
BMI significantly outside the 18–28 range
History of substance abuse or current recreational drug use
Fewer than two functional ovaries
Certain IUD types that cannot be removed before the cycle
Significant family history of hereditary genetic disorders (confirmed carrier)
If something on this list applies to you now but may change in the future — like quitting smoking or finishing breastfeeding — we'd love to hear from you when the timing is right.
After You Apply
How we evaluate your application
Meeting the basic requirements is just the first step. Here's what happens after you apply.
Application Review
Within 48 hours
Our team reviews your application within 48 hours. We'll look at your basic demographics, health history, and photos to determine initial eligibility.
Phone Interview
Scheduled after initial review
If your application looks promising, we'll schedule a brief phone call to discuss your interest, answer questions, and confirm details from your application.
Medical Screening
Comprehensive evaluation
Qualified applicants undergo comprehensive medical screening including blood work, genetic testing, ultrasound, and a physical exam — all at no cost to you. This screening alone is valued at over $1,000.
Psychological Evaluation
Final screening step
A required psychological screening ensures you're emotionally prepared for the donation process. This is fully covered and gives you valuable insight into your own wellbeing.
I almost didn't apply because I wasn't sure I'd qualify. The screening process was thorough but the team made it easy, and I learned a lot about my own health in the process.
Rachel T.
Egg Donor · 2024
Common Questions
Requirements FAQs
Honest answers to the questions every potential egg donor asks about eligibility.
Yes — being on hormonal birth control does not disqualify you from donating eggs. Most forms of birth control (pills, patches, rings) are fine. You'll be asked to stop your birth control before starting the donation cycle so the fertility clinic can assess your baseline cycle and begin the stimulation protocol. Certain IUDs may need to be removed before the cycle, which your doctor will discuss with you during screening.
It depends on the specific medication. Some antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are compatible with egg donation, while others may affect eligibility. SSRIs and similar medications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis during screening. If you're currently taking medication for a mental health condition, we strongly encourage you to apply — our medical team will review your specific situation rather than applying a blanket rule. Many donors on common medications have successfully completed donation cycles.
If your BMI is slightly outside the 18–28 range, don't assume you're automatically disqualified. BMI is one factor among many that our medical team considers. If you're close to the range — say, a BMI of 29 or 30 — apply and we'll evaluate your overall health profile during screening. The BMI guideline exists to ensure safe response to fertility medications and a safe retrieval procedure, but borderline cases are assessed individually.
Our standard age range is 21–29, but if you're 30 or recently turned 30, we encourage you to apply. Egg quality doesn't drop off a cliff at 30 — it's a gradual process. Some donors at 30 have excellent ovarian reserve and egg quality. We'll evaluate your candidacy based on your full health profile, including AMH levels and other screening results, rather than strictly on age alone.
No — unlike surrogacy, egg donation does not require you to have had a previous pregnancy or children. Many egg donors are young women in their twenties who have never been pregnant. The egg retrieval process is separate from pregnancy, and your ability to have children in the future is not affected by donating eggs.
Yes — tattoos and piercings do not disqualify you from donating eggs. The only consideration is timing: if you've gotten a tattoo or piercing very recently (within the last 12 months), some clinics may want to confirm there are no infection risks through standard blood work, which is already part of the screening process.
A family history of cancer doesn't automatically disqualify you. The genetic screening focuses primarily on hereditary genetic disorders that can be passed directly to children — conditions like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or Huntington's disease. Common cancers that develop later in life (such as breast or colon cancer) are noted in your profile but don't typically prevent donation. Your specific family history will be reviewed during the screening process.
You need to be completely nicotine-free throughout the entire donation cycle, which typically lasts 4–6 weeks. This includes cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, nicotine patches, and nicotine gum. If you've recently quit, we generally recommend being nicotine-free for at least 3 months before beginning a cycle. If you're in the process of quitting, reach out to us — we can discuss timing and help you plan accordingly.
Think You Qualify? Apply Today.
The application takes about 20 minutes. If you meet most of the requirements above, we'd love to hear from you — even if you're unsure about one or two items.
Earn $8,000–$15,000 per cycle. All medical and legal costs covered.
